PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSISTANT

Summary

Physical Therapy Assistant collaborate with the primary Physical Therapist then draw upon a broad base of practical knowledge and a well-developed treatment skill set in order to reach predetermined patient goals by independently modifying techniques within the established plan of care. They implement the plan of care for patient cases, advance the program and continually review the patient's condition to determine their medical and functional status.

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Duties

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VA Careers - Physical Therapy :

• Implement the plan of care for patient cases, advance the program and continually review the patient's condition to determine their medical and functional status.
• Provide evidenced based skilled interventions including, but not limited to, therapeutic exercise, therapeutic activities, therapeutic modalities, gait training, transfer training, manual treatment, neuromuscular re-education, self-care and management training, patient/caregiver's education and group therapy.
• Meet with the physical therapy staff and other healthcare team members to evaluate and discuss patient information for planning, modifying and coordinating treatment programs and discharge planning.
• Demonstrate knowledge of anatomy, physiology, physics, kinesiology, psychology, pathophysiology, and surgical procedures as they relate to human function. The PTA will also possess knowledge relative to the impact of aging on the cardiopulmonary, visual, auditory, sensory, perceptual, and musculoskeletal systems.
• Assesses the need for and the patient's 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.
• Interviews patients and caregivers to gather information for ongoing patient assessment.
• Observes patient's ability to perform specified tasks and provides preliminary assessment of information on patient's physical and functional status.
• Performs ongoing assessment of patient's physical and functional status.
• Assists therapist in development of a comprehensive specialized treatment plan that includes long- and short term goals. Persuades and motivates veterans and family members to participate in treatment plans and comply with indicated regimens and post-discharge activities. Interacts with the patient and family regarding goals for treatment.
• Prepares and presents written and oral reports for fellow therapists and all other professionals concerned with the patient's care. Participates in family and multidisciplinary team meetings to identify patient's needs, report on patient's goals and progress and to assist in planning patient's treatment program.

Work Schedule : 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Tuesday - Saturday

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

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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 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 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

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 :

• Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
• 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. c.
• 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.
  • Exceptions for Non-Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant . (a) Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements, but who do not possess state licensure, may be appointed, pending licensure, as a graduate PTA on a full-time temporary appointment under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7401(a)(1)(B) and not to exceed two years in accordance with the timeframe in 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). (b) Non-licensed individuals shall only provide care under the direct supervision of a licensed PTA or PT who meets all state regulatory requirements. (c) Non-licensed individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until licensure is obtained. (d) Temporary appointments of non-licensed PTAs may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment.
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.
• English Language Proficiency . [PTA candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate 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.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate 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.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

(a) Ability to independently implement treatment plan using knowledge of techniques related to the patient's disability and needs. 6

(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.

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

The 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.

Physical Requirements: Work includes regular and recurring physical excretion, with long periods of standing, bending, kneeling, walking, reaching, gripping, sitting, twisting, pulling or pushing carts with inventories or activities involving retrieving items from shelves and cabinets. and patient transfers. Moderate to heavy lifting is often required but no greater than 35 lbs. The position demands significant physical stress and strain such as lifting patients, crouching and crawling on mats, and occasionally defending him/herself against combative patient assigned to the incumbent. The work involves moderate risks or discomforts requiring normal safety precautions typical of a hospital setting. Employees will be required to follow universal infection control precautions that may include having to "gown and glove" when providing treatment to patients. Sitting at meetings, desks or computer terminals for documentation purposes is also required.

Education

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

All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties as described in the qualification standard] on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure/trademark/registration/certification. 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 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 4 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.

Receiving Service Credit for 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.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

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.

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