Physical Therapist

VA Careers - Physical Therapy: physical therapist provides professional independent physical therapy services in the assigned area with the general supervision of the Physical Therapy Supervisor. The employee meets all regulatory and statutory requirements including graduation from an approved program in Physical Therapy from a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited college or university and holds a current license to practice Physical Therapy

MAJOR DUTIES:

• Responsible for independently providing assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals.
• Examination and evaluation includes a medical history systems review special tests and measures including neuromuscular sensorimotor musculoskeletal cardiovascular and/or respiratory functions as indicated.
• Plans and implements initial and subsequent treatment programs based on their evaluation and examination.
• Examples of treatment given by this staff physical therapist include: therapeutic exercises; functional training for home community and work; manual therapy techniques electrotherapeutic modalities; physical agents and mechanical modalities; wound management and respiratory care.
• Plans and implements appropriate patient education programs involving the patient family and significant others in the instructional process.
• Evaluates patients needs for assistive devices and adaptive appliances recommends adjustments for prosthetic/orthotic devices and makes minor adjustments to obtain maximal functional benefits.
• Uses outcome measures to document patients progress towards established goals modify interventions and plan of care and for discharge planning.
• Completes all patient care documentation in accordance with rehabilitation policy.
• Communicates readily with the multidisciplinary treatment team advising the team of patients needs and progress; this communication occurs through team meetings written reports and verbal communication such as personal and telephone conversations.
• Assists the clinical education coordinator in arranging and providing educational experiences for physical therapy students that affiliate at the facility.
• May be assigned the responsibility of attending and participating in various specialty clinics within the medical center.
• Plans and presents in-service education programs on occasion as requested by the unit Education Coordinator or Program Manager.
• Assists in providing patient coverage for absent staff members to insure continuity and quality of care.
• Follows established Program and Division policies and procedures related to fire disaster and security measures.
• Responsible for following scheduling guidelines. Ensures that workload is properly credited.
• Follows established procedures and policies in hazardous material handling/communication equipment safety infection control/universal fluid precautions and other safety procedures that have been developed for Physical Therapy.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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.

• 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.

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: Candidates must be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).
• Education: The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below:
  • Bachelors degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. OR
  • Masters degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. OR
  • Doctorate degree in physical therapy.
• • 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.
• 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.
  • Exception: Non-licensed PTs who otherwise meet the basic requirements in this standard may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate PT at the GS-11 grade level under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 (a)(1)(D) for a period not-to-exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such PT provide care only under the supervision of a PT who is licensed. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment.

• 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 findings 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.