Physical Therapy Assistant

VA Careers - Physical Therapy: position is located in the section of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&R) of Physical Integrated Medicine Service (PIMS) at the Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The incumbent carries a full patient caseload and is responsible for maintaining appropriate patient records in accordance with PMR VA and Joint Commission policies and standards. The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) provides treatment that promotes the prevention remediation and rehabilitation of acute and chronic physical and psychosocial dysfunction at the basic introductory level. Position can include both acute inpatient hospital and outpatient treatment locations. Weekend and holiday workdays are expected.

Typical duties may include but are not limited to:

• Receive and interpret requests or instructions for procedures from the physical therapists or physician. Plans and implements therapy for patients under the close and sometimes direct supervision of a physical therapist. - Completes a chart review and obtain a subjective history.
• Administers therapy to patients incorporating accepted modalities and treatment standards per the American Physical Therapy Association (PTA) under the close and sometimes direct supervision of a physical therapist.
• Demonstrates familiarity and basic competencies in all clinical modalities exercise and functional activities to enhance patient independence.
• Communicates with treating physical therapist to allow for development and modification of treatment plans. Persuades and motivates veterans and family members to participate in treatment plan and comply with indicated regimens and post-discharge activities. Interacts with the patient and family goals for treatment under the close and sometimes direct supervision of a physical therapist.
• Fits adjusts and instructs patients in the use of orthoses prostheses and mobility appliances. Instructs motivates and assists patients to learn activities of daily living and improve functional activities.
• Prepares and presents written and oral reports for the physical therapist and fellow healthcare professionals concerned with the patients care as needed. Participates in family and multidisciplinary team meetings to identify patients needs reports on patients goals and progress and to assist in planning patients treatment program.
• Maintains a safe work environment to include non-technical maintenance of equipment safety checks cleaning stocking etc. Develops safe work habits to prevent injury to patients co-workers and self. Reports to Supervisory Physical Therapist the need for equipment or items necessary for patient treatment.
• Maintain a high level of competence through participation in continuing education programs clinical in-services and on-line training.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• 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.

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. PTA candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Education. Individuals must meet at least one of the requirements: (1) Associate degree from an accredited community college junior college college or university in a physical therapy assistant education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education; OR (2) Graduate of foreign physical therapy assistant degree programs that meet the educational requirement and have successfully passed the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) for PTAs. OR (3) Graduate of military physical therapy assistant programs that meet the educational requirement and have successfully passed the NPTE for PTAs.
  • NOTE: To verify education you must supply either a copy of your college transcripts (may be unofficial) or if qualifying via military program a copy of the completion certificate for that program.
• Licensure. Current full active and unrestricted license as a PTA in a State Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. Puerto Rico) of the United States or District of Columbia.

1. Employees may be reassigned promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
2. Employees in an occupation requiring a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher-grade levels.
3. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of this standard.
4. Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.
5. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

• Ability to independently implement treatment plan using knowledge of techniques related to the patients disability and needs.
• Ability to independently provide varied and multifaceted physical therapy interventions based on the established care plan (e.g. therapeutic exercise balance body mechanics flexibility strength gait training neuromotor development physical agents functional training etc.).
• Knowledge of physical therapy data collection and assessment techniques in order to perform specific interventions and to monitor and capture progress of the patient/client.
• Ability to instruct patient on varied interventions to provide materials to enhance compliance with home programs.
• Ability to modify treatment techniques based on the learning needs and perceptions of the patient.
• Ability to identify critical changes (e.g. vital signs pain mobility and alertness) in patient conditions to determine their medical and functional status.
• Ability to work with PTs and other interdisciplinary healthcare team members to evaluate patient information for planning modifying and coordinating treatment programs and discharge planning.