Physical Therapist

VA Careers - Physical Therapy: for this position may include (but are not limited to):

• Develops implements and modifies treatment utilizing specialized interventions and strategies.
• Consults with referring providers and multidisciplinary team members.
• Serves as a consultant and resource person for other staff.
• Evaluate work of subordinate staff and resolve problems interfering with patient care delivery.
• Assist patient in solving problems determine appropriate equipment and home set up recommendations for safe discharge planning.
• Provides appropriate treatment for disabilities.
• Assists in the evaluation and treatment of other referred patients.
• Solves problems related to contemporary physical therapy adapting and modifying specialized treatment plans activities and procedures to meet the needs of an inpatient/outpatient population including musculoskeletal and neuromuscular disorders.
• Demonstrates a full professional understanding of the theories of treatment of physical therapy.
• Teach patients and family members and to effectively serve as a consultant for health care providers regarding the delivery of care in Inpatient rehabilitation.
• Communicates readily with the multidisciplinary treatment team advising the team of patient needs and progress exchanging discharge planning information with them.
• Employs unusual motivational techniques to enlist patient participation and adapts equipment and procedures to carry out a full range of complex treatment activities.
• Responsible for the care upkeep and sanitation of equipment used and may perform the regular duties of a higher-level therapist in his/her absence.
• Can perform as a Student Clinical Training Supervisor which includes planning scheduling coordinating evaluating and implementing the student affiliation program.
• Responsible for student orientation instruction and counseling and acts as a liaison with affiliated colleges and universities participating with faculty members in evaluation and revision of program and curriculum.
• Reviews the objectives and goals of the students affiliations and plans learning experiences accordingly; incumbent evaluates each students performance and participates in school/medical center conferences regarding students or curriculum.
• Incumbent works independently. He/she is responsible for the inpatient physical therapy programs and clinics to which he/she is assigned and confers with the supervisor at periodic intervals for the purpose of keeping him/her informed of problem cases workload and progress reports.

Performs other necessary duties as required.

Work Schedule: Tuesday-Saturday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM EST
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 55209F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: None
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

English Language Proficiency: Individuals appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74 to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA must be proficient in written and spoken English. See Chapter 2 section D paragraph 5a this part.

Education and Experience: The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below (copy of transcripts with confer date required with application package):

1. Bachelors degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
2. Masters degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
3. Doctorate degree in physical therapy.
   • NOTE: Prior to 1995 the terminal degree for PTs was either a bachelors or masters 1995 CAPTE accredited all baccalaureate masters and Doctor of Physical Therapy terminal degree programs. Effective 2002 CAPTE changed its scope of accrediting activities of PT education programs to include only those programs that culminate in post-baccalaureate degrees(eliminating the baccalaureate degree). Effective 2015 professional physical therapy education programs have only offered the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree to all new students.
   • NOTE: Individuals must be a graduate of a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited college or university. The CAPTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to accredit entry-level physical therapy programs. Verification of accredited programs may be obtained from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) at .
   • Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet the requirements in subparagraph 3b if they have a full unrestricted and current license to practice physical therapy in a State Territory or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia. The Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) is a non-profit organization created to assist the United States (U.S.) Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly INS) and U.S. state licensing authorities by evaluating the credentials of Foreign Educated Physical Therapists (FEPTs) who wish to immigrate and work in the U.S. Although the licensing of physical therapists in the U.S. is a right and responsibility of each jurisdiction foreign educated individuals must undergo an educational credentials assessment for substantial equivalency to the first professional degree in the US. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) is committed to protect the public and to provide leadership within the field and practice of physical therapy. FSBPTs Foreign Educated Standards Committee has developed standards that represent best practices in evaluation services. The Credentials Evaluation Standards were developed with input from the physical therapy credentialing agencies that are licensed to use FSBPTs Coursework Tool.

Licensure: Individuals hold a full current and unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a State Territory or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia. Copy of licensure required with application package

Grandfathering Provision: See the Additional Information section of this announcement for more information related to the Grandfathering Provision of this announcement.

GS-12 Grade Determinations:

GS11 Assignment - PTs at this level are responsible for providing assessment and treatment intervention. PTs plan and modify treatment based on a patients response to intervention and/or change in medical condition. PTs at this level may be given general assignments in an physical therapy program area where advanced specialized knowledge is not required or may serve as the sole PT such as in an outpatient clinic. Licensed PTs may provide oversight and delegate patient care responsibilities to a Physical Therapy Assistant and/or delegate non-patient care duties to non-licensed staff. PTs that are not licensed must practice under the close supervision of a licensed PT.

Education Experience and Licensure: In addition to the basic requirements candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level hold a valid unrestricted state license and demonstrate all the KSAs identified below.

Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to make autonomous clinical decisions in a Direct Access environment. This includes ability to independently evaluate and treat patients who seek physical therapy services.
• Skill in performing examinations and evaluations of individuals who have or may develop impairments activity limitations and participation restrictions related to conditions of the musculoskeletal neuromuscular cardiovascular pulmonary and/or integumentary systems while considering the effects attributable to unique psychosocial and environmental factors.
• Ability to interpret findings from examination and evaluation select appropriate test and measures and integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations.
• Ability to establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate rehabilitation intervention including referral to another provider for further consultation as clinically indicated.
• Ability to determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination finding with the patients preferences in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals optimize outcomes and maximize functional independence.
• Ability to independently provide clinical oversight of Physical Therapy Assistants as well as students on clinical affiliations who are in Doctoral PT Programs or PTA Programs.

Preferred Experience: Acute care neuro vestibular power mobility bracing and amputee experience preferred.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit Requirements: Must be able to lift push stoop squat kneel crouch and reach.