Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• The basic requirements for employment as a VHA physical therapist are prescribed by Public Law 96-151 codified in 38 U.S.C. § 7402
• To qualify for appointment - all applicants for the position of physical therapist in VHA must meet the following: Citizenship
• Candidates must be a citizen of the United States
• After a determination is made that it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens - necessary personnel may be appointed on a temporary basis under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 without regard to the citizenship requirements of 38 U.S.C. 7402 or any other law prohibiting the employment of or payment of compensation to a person who is not a citizen of the United States
• Candidates must meet all other requirements for the grade and position concerned
• Board Certification
• Board certification means having successfully passed a Board Certification examination administered by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS)
• Post-graduate Fellowship
• A post-graduate fellowship is a planned program of post professional clinical and didactic education for a physical therapist who demonstrates clinical expertise in an area of clinical practice related to the practice focus of the fellowship
• (Fellows are frequently post-residency prepared or board-certified specialists)
• A post-graduate fellowship program includes advanced clinical and didactic instruction within a subspecialty area of practice with mentored clinical experience and sufficient and appropriate patient population to create an environment for advanced clinical skill building
• Education and experience
• The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below: (1) Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist
• (2) Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist
• (3) Doctorate degree in physical therapy
• 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
• 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 Loss of Credential
• A PT who fails to maintain the required license must be removed from the occupation - which may result in termination of employment
• At the discretion of the appointing official - an employee may be reassigned to another occupation - if qualified - and if a placement opportunity exists
• Grandfathering Provision
• All licensed PTs employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and licensure that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: (1) Employees grandfathered into the GS-0633 occupational series as PTs may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation
• (2) PTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of this 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
• (3) PTs initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration - meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard and must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• (4) If PTs who are grandfathered under this provision leave the occupation - the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• Knowledge of Contemporary Professional Physical Therapy Practice
• To be creditable - a candidate must have demonstrated possession of the required knowledge - skills - and abilities associated with the scope of physical therapy practice
• The candidate's experience may be evidenced by one or more of the following: (a) Active professional practice
• Active professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional PT as defined by APTA or the appropriate licensing board
• Experience gained after graduation but prior to licensure is creditable provided the candidate was utilized as a graduate PT and subsequently passed the licensure examination
• (b) Completion of a post-graduate fellowship or a post-graduate residency program may be substituted for creditable experience on a year for year basis
• Quality of Experience
• Experience is only creditable if it was post degree experience as a professional PT and is directly related to the duties to be performed
• Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to or exceeding the professional PT experience at the next lower grade level Grade Determinations: GS-12 Physical Therapist (Full Performance Level) 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 below: Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities: 1
• 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
• 2
• 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
• 3
• 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
• 4
• 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
• 5
• Ability to determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals - optimize outcomes and maximize functional independence
• 6
• Ability to independently provide clinical oversight of Physical Therapy Assistants as 7 well as students on clinical affiliations who are in Doctoral PT Programs or PTA Programs
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: Pre-placement and periodic physical examinations are required for hybrid occupations to ensure workers are placed in positions where they can perform the essential functions of their job considering their physical - mental and emotional capacities - without endangering their health or the health of their co-workers
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY This position is for Ralph H Johnson VAMC or Clinical Based Outpatient Clinic
• This position provides Physical Therapy services and delivers consistent and high-quality care to Veterans
• The position is in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) department at Charleston - SC
• The incumbent carries a full patient load
• is responsible for maintaining
• appropriate patient record in accordance with Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation - VA and JCO policies and standards
• Duties: Responsible for the examination and treatment of Veterans referred to the Physical Therapy Department
• Designs - conducts - and evaluates education - experiences within specialty content area for staff members and seeks educational opportunities to enhance the Physical Therapy Department - PM&RS - and the Medical Center
• Establishes and maintains contact with key staff involved in Veteran care via written - telephone - and personal communication on a regular basis at the Medical Center level
• Represents the Physical Therapy Department and PM&RS at various clinical and administrative meetings at the discretion of the Supervisory Physical Therapist
• Clinical Skills: Conducts comprehensive Veteran examinations to identify rehabilitation problems and establish treatment goals
• Develops and implements treatment plans designed to meet established goals
• Supervises physical therapy assistant in Veteran's plan of care
• Evaluates Veteran response to treatment and modifies the treatment plan to provide optimum outcome
• Orders appropriate Durable Medical Equipment and instructs Veteran in the safe use of the equipment
• Makes recommendations to PCP and Specialty Care
• Additional Duties: Performs ancillary assignments - including program management duties on an occasional basis - where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial (less than 25% of the duty time)
• Supervises clinical training experience for PT students
• Performs under the direction and supervision of the Supervisory Physical Therapist - Inpatient (IP) & Outpatient (OP) at Charleston (CHS)
• Work Schedule: Tuesday-Saturday 07:30am-4:00pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 57846F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VHAEDRPProgramSupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized