Occupational Therapist - Recruitment-Relocation Incentive

Summary

The Primary Purpose of the Position: OT serves as a member the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service under Program VII; performance level is responsible providing comprehensive assessments and interventions in an outpatient clinical setting.

The O rganizational Location of the Position: to provide services within the VA North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS) in multiple locations to include Tyler, Dallas, Garland, Fort Worth, and Bonham. Primary assignment location is Tyler VA OPC.

Learn more about this agency

Duties

Help

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until 07/01/2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 01/05/2026, with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month.

Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for a Highly Qualified Individual.

Duties include but not limited to:

• Veterans are scheduled for evaluation considering caseload complexity and acuity of medical condition. Coordinates Veteran schedule with other interdisciplinary team members.
• Evaluations reflect the complexity through Occupational profile and client history; Assessments of occupational performance; Clinical decision-making and development of a patient centered plan of care.
• Assess the patient's medical conditions, functional capabilities, limitations, restrictions, and rehabilitation potential.
• Evaluation findings are used to develop and implement comprehensive patient treatment plans including objective, measurable goals, and timeliness for completion.
• Implements complex and innovative therapeutic techniques not limited to: Therapeutic media, lifestyle coping skills and modifications, complementary and alternative modalities (CAM), cognitive therapy and mobility training to maintain or achieve veteran's physical and/or emotional rehabilitation potential.
• Demonstrates a full professional understanding of selective therapeutic techniques and modalities related to the patient population being treated.
• Demonstrates knowledge of occupational therapy principles and techniques consistent with current clinical standards based on OT theory and evidence- based practice.
• Receive and triage patient referrals/consults, patient self-referrals, adheres to consult compliance established guidelines and is knowledgeable of admission criteria for each program (inpatient/outpatient) for appropriate continuum of care placement.
• Schedules Veterans for treatment, considering priority and frequency of care and coordinating schedules with other members of the treatment team. Flexibility of schedule must be maintained to allow for unscheduled patients and for family conferences. Assists with coverage to other PM&R clinics as needed.
• Maintains current concepts and trends in Occupational therapy and evidence- based medicine/rehabilitation practices through literature reviews, study of current research, clinical practice, and through attendance to continuing education courses, conferences, and in-services.
• Complies with annual educational requirements: mandatory training and continuing education hours as required by facility and Occupational Therapy state board to maintain professional license/registration and competency.
• Keeps comprehensive records of innovative treatment procedures for future application by other staff members. Uses research evidence-based examination and evidence-based exercise prescription for more-effective patient care.

Work Schedule : 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday, with occasional weekend and holiday coverage.

Telework : Not available

Functional Statement # :53714-F, 53715-F, 53716-F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Authorized for highly qualified employee.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases

Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66 .

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA

Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

• 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, driver's 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 interest. In 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.

Qualifications

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 and/or Experience. The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements: (a) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. OR (b) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that ACOTE would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. OR (c) Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy.
• Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements above if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license referred to in subparagraph [3e] of this appendix.
• Certification. Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT.
• State Licensure. Candidates must possess a full, current, and unrestricted state license, to practice occupational therapy in a state, territory or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or in the District of Columbia.
• English Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Exceptions for the Graduate Occupational Therapist. (1) OT graduates from an approved occupational therapy program who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements, but who do not possess NBCOT certification and/or state licensure, may be appointed, pending certification and/or licensure, as a graduate OT on a full-time temporary appointment] not-to-exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2).(2) Graduate OTs may only be appointed at the GS-9 grade level and may not be promoted/converted to the GS-11 level until licensure and/or certification is obtained. For grades levels at or above the developmental GS-11 grade level, the OT must be certified and licensed.(3) A graduate OT may provide care only under the direct supervision of a licensed OT who meets all state regulatory requirements.(4) Temporary graduate OT appointments may not be extended beyond two years, or converted to a new temporary appointment.

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 :

Occupational Therapist, GS-09: Education, Experience, or Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements.

Occupational Therapist, GS-11:

Education, Experience, or Licensure: (a) Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level and directly related to the position being filled; OR (b) Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related field; OR (c) Doctorate in occupational therapy.

Demonstrated [Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) . In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

(a) Knowledge of occupational therapy practice.

(b) Ability to administer/interpret evaluation findings to develop and coordinate intervention plans, including goals and methods of treatment.

(c) Ability to implement intervention plans directly or in collaboration with others.

(d) Skill in monitoring an individual's response to interventions and modify treatment plans and reevaluating as indicated.

(e) Ability to communicate and or collaborate with patients, family members, caregivers, interdisciplinary professionals and/or other individuals verbally and in writing.

(f) Knowledge of health and safety regulations to minimize risk in the provision of patient care and the environment of care.

(g) Knowledge of applicable regulations governing documentation, reimbursement and workload entry in accordance with established professional practice.

Occupational Therapist, GS-12:

Education, Experience, and Licensure: Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled. Examples of the GS-11 experience includes: Practice independently and responsible for the assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized tools; Modifies standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools; Select and provide direct occupational therapy interventions and procedures with routine complexity to enhance safety, wellness, performance in activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), education, work, play, leisure, and social participation; demonstrate an understanding of the theories of treatment in occupational therapy and their proper application through the use of activity analysis, behavioral intervention, frame of references, and therapeutic procedures.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

(a) Knowledge of occupational therapy principles and techniques consistent with current clinical standards based on OT theory and evidence based practice. Knowledge is inclusive of physical, occupational, cognitive, and psychosocial functional deficits.

(b) Ability to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with all internal and external stakeholders.

(c) Ability to use critical analysis, clinical reasoning, and creativity to independently solve complex problems related to adapting and modifying assessments, treatment plans, activities and procedures to meet the needs of patients.

(d) Skill in procuring, fabricating, adjusting, adapting, and modifying orthoses, splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment).

(e) Ability to conduct OT related in-service and clinical training.

Preferred Experience:

• At least two years of experience in an outpatient rehabilitation clinic setting.
• Experience in general and complex evaluations with skills/knowledge to establish treatment plans for multiple diagnosis (neuro, ortho, pain management, hand therapy, pre/post-surgical care, psycho-social etc.).

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-12.

Physical Requirements: Sitting, walking, standing, twisting, bending, stooping, reaching/overhead, grasping and pinching with hands and fine manipulation, straight pulling, puling hand over hand, pushing, climbing, and kneeling. Required lifting light to moderate up to 44 pounds and carrying light to moderate up to 44 pounds. Required functional hearing with/without hearing aids, near vision correctable at 13-16", Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, the ability to use both eyes, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors. Sitting is required for meetings, administrative work and occasionally driving. Significant physical stress and strain such as transferring patients, crouching and crawling on mats, and occasionally defending self against combative patients. Work is performed in the clinics, wards, exercise areas, office, and conference rooms, occasionally in the home. May be exposed to infectious diseases, medical and psychiatric emergencies.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: The Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy or higher degree must be fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). Verification of accreditation may be made obtained from: School Directory - ACOTE (acoteonline.org)

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

NOTE: If your school was accredited by Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) at the time of graduation, but is no longer listed on the: Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) website: School Directory - ACOTE (acoteonline.org), you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Help

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.