Physical Therapy Assistant

PTAs at this level apply advanced practice skills to treat complex patients with a special emphasis on Parkinsons and Multiple Sclerosis serving local regional and national areas but to also include clinical duties serving other neurological conditions to meet the needs locally and where gaps exist.

• Performs direct patient care (face-to-face and virtual formats) within at least 50% of the time focused specifically on treatment and management of MS and Parkinsons Disease.
• Has experience knowledge and comfortability of patients served within the neurological clinical spectrum to include specific experience Multiple Sclerosis Parkinsons Disease.
• Some patient care duties outside of Neuro Rehab area may be assigned depending on clinical demand to include inpatient and outpatient services.
• Demonstrated ability to apply advanced clinical knowledge to provide clinical guidance to other staff members in the department.
• Assists in the development planning and implementation of monitors of quality of care with respect to patients with neurologic diagnoses as part of the comprehensive health care services delivered to the patients within VA Puget Sound.
• Supports the clinical team in determining gaps in policy and clinical practice guidelines and work to close those gaps.
• Uses clinical reasoning and creativity to independently solve complex problems related to meet the needs of patients.
• Documents in a timely concise manner per section documentation and consult management requirements.
• Anticipates patients needs and recognizes patients ability to use a variety of stock custom and adaptive equipment to optimize functionality and independence.
• Supports delivery and training in the use of patient specific equipment in a timely efficient and accurate manner utilizing the processes related to the procurement of prosthetic equipment.
• Will integrate the latest research and evidence-based practices into program development policy formulation and clinical guidelines to ensure high-quality care.
• Utilizes data-driven approaches to evaluate and improve therapy services considering factors such as geographic location and specific diagnoses to tailor interventions.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 7 am - 3:30pm
Telework: Ad Hoc Only
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

• 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 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.

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.

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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.
• Education. Individuals must meet at least one of the requirements below:
  • 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
  • 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.
  • Graduate of military physical therapy assistant programs that meet the educational requirement and have successfully passed the NPTE for PTAs.
• 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.
• English Language Proficiency. PTA candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations:

Physical Therapy Assistant GS-9

• Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower addition the candidate must demonstrate one of the following:
  • A minimum of 2000 hours of clinical practice directly in the specialty area and completion of 60 contact hours of selected continuing education coursework. This time must be within the past five years; or
  • Advanced Practice Proficiency (APP) in the specialty area recognized by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA); or
  • An additional academic degree related to the health care mission.
• Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and addition to the basic requirements the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Ability to mentor other staff in advanced clinical guidelines and best practices.
  • Ability to serve as a subject matter expert (SME) for healthcare providers in specialty practice areas regarding physical therapy care.
  • Ability to present advanced knowledge in the therapeutic interventions and clinical practice guidelines with the healthcare team.
  • Ability to interpret and apply clinical practice guidelines.

Preferred Experience:

• • • Neuro rehab preferred experience to include MS and Parkinsons Disease
    • Program and/or Project Development Experience
    • F2F and Virtual delivery of care models

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-09.

Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting 45 pounds and over; Moderate lifting 15-44 pounds; Light lifting under 15 pounds; Heavy carrying 45 pounds and over; Moderate carrying 15-44 pounds; Moderate carrying 15-44 pounds; Moderate carrying 15-44 pounds; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking standing crawling kneeling repeated bending 1 hour; Both legs required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Mental and Emotional Stability;

Environmental Factors: Outside and Inside; Working alone;