Physical Therapist

Summary The Physical Therapist (PT) serves as a staff therapist in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service line. He/she provides direct patient care and works independently with the physical therapy supervisor, being available for consultation as needed for clinical direction. This staff physical therapist position will complete task for for Central Alabama Veteran Healthcare system (CAVHCS) and/or its related Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC). Responsibilities This is an open continuous announcement. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available. The Staff Physical Therapist will function in accordance with federal law, practice acts in accordance with state licensure boards, and the Standards of Practice for Physical Therapists and the Physical Therapy Code of Ethics as published by the American Physical Therapy Association. Administrative functions of the Staff Physical Therapist include the following: 1. Contributes to the efficient operation and function of the physical therapy program. 2. Understands and adheres to policies and procedures for the Geriatrics, Extended Care & Rehabilitation (GEC&R) Service. 3. Participates in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) and PT staff performance improvement, program development and regular monitoring of important aspects of care. 4. Ensures compliance with applicable JC and VHA standards within the physical therapy program. 5. Ensures proper supply levels are maintained for patient care related to physical therapy. 6. Participates in Physical Therapy, PM&R and GEC&R staff meetings. Clinical functions of the Staff Physical Therapist include the following: 1. Evaluates patients as appropriate for their age and diagnosis. 2. Demonstrates treatment competency. Functions within scope of practice to perform diagnostic tests. Changes treatment as appropriate and necessary. Achieves Functional Independence Measure (FIM) certification, when required; and uses FIM terminology when appropriate in documentation. 3. Establishes goals and eventual discharge plans based on evaluation findings and planning with the treatment team, patient, family, and/or significant other. 4. Develops and carries out physical therapy treatment plans, including exercise prescription, to meet individual rehabilitation objectives. Conducts treatment interventions with individuals or with groups. 5. Completes assessments for patient's ability to use mobility, pain management and/or adaptive equipment. Trains patients on the proper use of the appropriate device(s) and submits the order. 6. Conducts home evaluations and visits as necessary. 7. Resolves problems without supervisory guidance, to meet complex and challenging needs of the patients in rehabilitation. Assists other physical therapy staff members as needed with administrative or clinical duties. Education 1. Conducts in-service training lectures on various treatment techniques and discusses patient designed treatment plans. Evaluates, revises and develops training materials, aids, methods and plans, being free to explore basic theories and principles of PT with students and other GEC&R staff. 2. Provides patient and family education programs. Other Administrative Responsibilities: 1. Uses the computer system for storing and retrieving electronic documents and files, transmitting, and receiving e-mail, activating printers, requesting leave, and accessing the electronic health record. 2. Communicates anticipated leave for coordinating coverage; communicates unanticipated leave in accordance with GEC&R Service policies. 3. Covers administrative positions/responsibilities within the service when assigned. At the full performance level, PTs are responsible for independently providing assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals. Staff PTs at this level practice autonomously, making recommendations and referrals to other medical specialties/services as clinically indicated during ongoing assessment of patients under their care. The staff PT may also develop and provide individualized clinical training experiences for PT or PTA students. PTs at this level may be given general assignments in any/all areas where physical therapy services are deemed necessary, and/or may serve as the sole PT at a less complex facility. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments as deemed appropriate given the needs of a facility. Travel between campuses is required. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm. Work Schedule is subject to change based on agency need. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 59675F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements 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 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 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. English Language Proficiency: Individuals appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA must be proficient in written and spoken English. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. Education and experience: The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below: Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. 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. 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: 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 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 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-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. 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 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.