Physical Therapy Assistant

Summary

The Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) provides treatment that promotes the prevention, remediation, and rehabilitation of acute and chronic physical dysfunction. The PTA participates with the PT in planning and implementing complex treatment programs and applies physical therapy procedures to patients. The duties and responsibilities of this position are carried out within SAVAHCS including various clinical, administrative, and patient care areas associated with PM&RS.

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Duties

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Major duties to include but not limited to:

• Implements the plan of care for patient cases, advance the program, and continually review the patient's condition to determine their medical and functional status.
• Performs specific interventions and monitors and captures progress of the patient/client using knowledge of physical therapy data collection and assessment techniques.
• Responsible for the execution of routine and specialized physical therapy treatment of patients. The PTA is allowed individual creativity and initiative to execute treatment program goals and objectives set forth by the treating physical therapist.
• Implements treatment plan using knowledge of techniques related to the patient's disability and needs.
• Executes treatments for all types of diagnoses both routine and complex including but not limited to orthopedic, neurological, integumentary conditions of all degrees of severity. Many cases are complex where multiple diagnoses complicate treatment.
• Provides evidence based skilled interventions including, but not limited to: therapeutic exercise; therapeutic activities; therapeutic modalities; manual treatment; neuromuscular re-education; self-care and management training; patient/caregiver's education and group therapy; balance; body mechanics; flexibility; strength, etc.
• Modifies treatment techniques based on the learning needs or perceptions of the patient.
• Identifies critical changes (e.g., vital signs, pain, mobility, and alertness) in patient conditions to determine their medical and functional status.
• Utilizes considerable tact and resourcefulness in an effort to provide motivating factors to encourage patients to work toward rehabilitation goals.
• As a physical therapy team member, the PTA may be required to provide periodic in-services as requested by interdisciplinary team members. Instruction and/or patient education may include physical therapy interventions/modalities, body mechanics, transfer techniques, bed positioning, range of motion exercises and application of slings, splints, and braces. Communicates effectively with interdisciplinary treatment team members regarding patient function.
• Instructs patients and caregivers in varied interventions to provide materials to enhance compliance with home exercise programs.
• Administers thermo-therapy, cryotherapy, hydrotherapy, electrical stimulation, TENS, diathermy, ultrasound, iontophoresis, low level laser therapy, traction, therapeutic exercises, and skin/wound care dressing as indicated by a Licensed Physical Therapist. Recognizes significant change and/or adverse reaction to treatment and initiates effective action immediately.
• Meets 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.
• Assists in gait training and remedial muscle re-education. Facilitates the provision of adaptive and durable medical equipment provided by the physical therapist.
• Maintains the linen supply, cleans equipment, changes sheets on the treatment tables, and adheres to infection control procedures.
• Maintains clinic treatment records, attendance records, schedules patients when indicated and completes encounters daily.
• Documents treatment and treatment outcomes per the physical therapy treatment plan in the electronic medical record.
• Orders departmental supplies for the inpatient or outpatient physical therapy gym depending on assignment.
• Attends regularly scheduled departmental and physical therapy section meetings.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the range of treatment and skills needed for all adult patients related to physical limitations, unique psychological needs, and age associated illnesses and conditions.

Work Schedule : Full-Time/ Monday - Friday, 0730-1600

Telework : Not Available

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.
• 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 :

• 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: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education:
  
  
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
  
  
  • Exceptions for Non-Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant:
    
    
    • 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).
    • Non-licensed individuals shall only provide care under the direct supervision of a licensed PTA or PT who meets all state regulatory requirements.
    • Non-licensed individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until licensure is obtained.
    • Temporary appointments of non-licensed PTAs may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment.
  • Failure to Obtain Licensure: In all cases, non-licensed PTAs must actively pursue meeting requirements for licensure starting from the date of their appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the non-licensed PTA with the written requirements for licensure, including the time by which the license must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. Failure to obtain licensure during this time period may result in termination of employment.

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).

Grandfathering Provision: 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 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 standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

Grade Determinations:

GS-5 Experience: No experience beyond the basic requirements listed above.

GS-6 Experience: Applicants must have at least 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5).

-AND-

In addition to experience, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Knowledge of evidence based physical therapy practice.
2. Ability to perform physical therapy data collection and use of objective measures in order to carry out patient plan of care.
3. Ability to modify treatment approaches, within the scope of the established treatment plans, to reflect patients' changing needs.
4. Skill in promoting physical therapy services by providing training and interventions within the assigned areas.

GS-7 Experience: Applicants must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6).

-AND-

In addition to experience, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Ability to perform in depth chart review to implement treatment plans.
2. Ability to independently use objective measures to assess progress, in accordance with the plan of care for complex patient cases.
3. Knowledge of contemporary physical therapy practice.
4. Ability to consult with the PT to assess progress, modify treatment and set discharge plan.

GS-8 Experience: Applicants must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7).

-AND-

In addition to experience, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Ability to independently implement treatment plan using knowledge of techniques related to the patient's disability and needs.
2. 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.).
3. 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.
4. Ability to instruct patient on varied interventions to provide materials to enhance compliance with home programs.
5. Ability to modify treatment techniques based on the learning needs and perceptions of the patient.
6. Ability to identify critical changes (e.g. vital signs, pain, mobility and alertness) in patient conditions to determine their medical and functional status.
7. 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: Prior experience in inpatient and/or outpatient setting.

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: May require moderate to heavy lifting involving but not be limited to assisting with transfers or gait training of the client while providing physical therapy. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

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.

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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