Physical Therapy Assistant

Duties include but not limited to:

• Responsible for the provision of direct treatment of patients under the direction of a licensed Physical Therapist.
• Demonstrate knowledge of anatomy physiology physics kinesiology psychology pathophysiology and surgical procedures as they relate to human function.
• Possess knowledge relative to the impact of aging on the cardiopulmonary visual auditory sensory perceptual and musculoskeletal systems.
• Assesses the need for and the patients ability to use assistive devices and adaptive equipment. If appropriate issues it to patients and trains them in the proper use of the device(s).
• Resolves problems that interfere with delivery of physical therapy care.
• Functions autonomously in carrying out patient education treatments and applying physical therapy procedures for which competency has been established and in accordance with state laws or local facility regulations and APTA documents.
• Adept at modifying the treatment plan therapeutic activities and interventions based on the changing needs goals and performance of the patient.
• Alerts the Physical Therapist overseeing the care of the patient when modifications are needed to the treatment plan when either the established goals or timeframes for achievement of those goals has been attained.
• Demonstrates the teaching skills required to provide education to patients family members caregivers students and other healthcare professionals.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate both orally and in writing with patients family members caregivers students and other healthcare professionals.
• Able to effectively communicate with health care providers involved in patient care via written telephone and personal communication on a regular basis at the William S. Middleton VAH.
• Performs competent written documentation of progress notes.
• Participates in interdisciplinary care planning conferences prn.
• Performs competent documentation in CPRS of progress notes and discharge summaries.
• Documentation is consistent with Joint Commission and local hospital/ PM&R Service requirements regarding content and timeliness.
• Enters consults to the Prosthetics service for rehabilitation equipment in accordance with PM&RS and local medical center policies.
• Actively supports and promotes all programs of PM&RS.
• Performs other tasks that are consistent with the mission of PM&RS and the Medical Center.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 am-4:30 pm
Compressed/Flexible:May be available
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• 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.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities visit

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.

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.
• Education: Individuals must meet at least one of the requirements below:
• (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.
• 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: Must be proficient in both spoken and written English.

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-05
Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.

Physical Therapy Assistant GS-6
Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade AND
Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities. You must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of evidence based physical therapy practice.
(b) Ability to perform physical therapy data collection and use of objective measures in order to carry out patient plan of care.
(c) Ability to modify treatment approaches within the scope of the established treatment plans to reflect patients changing needs.
(d) Skill in promoting physical therapy services by providing training and interventions within the assigned areas.

Physical Therapy Assistant GS-7
Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade AND
Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities. You must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) Ability to perform in depth chart review to implement treatment plans.
(b) Ability to independently use objective measures to assess progress in accordance with the plan of care for complex patient cases.
(c) Knowledge of contemporary physical therapy practice.
(d) Ability to consult with the PT to assess progress modify treatment and set discharge plan.

Physical Therapy Assistant GS-8
Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade AND
Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities. You must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) Ability to independently implement treatment plan using knowledge of techniques related to the patients disability and needs.
(b) 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.).
(c) 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.
(d) Ability to instruct patient on varied interventions to provide materials to enhance compliance with home programs.
(e) Ability to modify treatment techniques based on the learning needs and perceptions of the patient.
(f) Ability to identify critical changes (e.g. vital signs pain mobility and alertness) in patient conditions to determine their medical and functional status.
(g) 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.

Preferred Experience: Experience in orthopedics and geriatrics.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-5 to GS-8.