Physical Therapy Assistant

Summary

The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)is assigned to the Physical Therapy Department within Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) at the Veterans Affairs Gulf Coast Health Care System in Biloxi, MS, which is a Complexity Level 1c high complexity facility. This position serves the outpatients in the walk-in and scheduled clinics.

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Duties

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Duties include but are not limited to:

The PTA's routine clinical activities are under the general supervision of a Licensed Physical Therapist. All therapy notes and consults generated by the PTA are reviewed and co-signed by the Licensed Physical Therapist.

The PTA works under the authority and reports directly to the Supervisor, Physical Therapy Section. The completed work is reviewed periodically for appropriateness, conformance to the departmental therapy policies and requirements and effectiveness in meeting goals.

The PTA is viewed as a clinician, whose skills are well beyond entry level competence, demonstrating the ability to perform with a high degree of autonomy.

The PTA independently selects and adapts the procedures and techniques to be used, documents process and outcome in the patient's medical record and modifies programming based on the findings of the reassessment in accordance with previous training or accepted practices.

The PTA independently makes recommendations regarding treatment or modifications to treatment plans and actively participates with physicians and nurses in planning rehabilitative treatment procedures.

The PTA independently documents all patient care rendered and initiates consults for appropriate patient care equipment inherent to the physical therapy scope of practice. All patient care documentation and consults for equipment will be reviewed and co-signed by a licensed Physical Therapist.Establishes and maintains contact with other key staff involved in patient care via written, telephone and personal communication on regular basis at VA Medical Center and VISN level.Receives and interprets requests or instructions for procedures from the physical therapist or physician. Plans and implements specialized treatment programs and applies physical therapy procedures to patients under the general supervision of a physical therapist. Employee may carry out or oversee the work of lower graded assistants to accommodate requests.Completes a preliminary review/examination of patient data (including medical history), compiles and organizes pertinent information, and develops/presents a patient profile to be used in assessing patient's status.Assists therapist in development of a comprehensive specialized treatment plan that includes long- and short-term goals.Assists in the performance of, or independently performs, highly specialized and diversified treatment procedures.Modifies intervention environment, tools, materials, and activities in response to each veteran's response to treatment.Prepares and presents written and oral reports for the ward physician, physiatrist, nursing staff, fellow therapists and all other professionals concerned with the patient's care.Maintains a safe work environment to include non-technical maintenance of equipment, safety checks, cleaning, stocking, etc.Demonstrates and maintains full competency in the use, pre-cleaning and/or reprocessing of reusable medical equipment.Maintains a high level of competence through participation in continuing education programs.Completes the Minimum Data Set (MDS) or Functional IndependenceMeasure (FIM) as required by policy.

Work Schedule : Monday- Friday 08:00am-4:30pm(Subject to Change Based on the Needs of the Facility)

Telework : Not available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 520-00277-F???????

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.
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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.
• 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.
• Education. Individuals must meet at least one of the requirements below:
  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.
  (1) 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. (e) 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.
  English Language Proficiency . PTA candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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 Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/ registration requirements that apply to this occupation. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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:

Grade Determinations :

GS-8 PTA : Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade

In addition to the basic requirements, 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.

Ability to modify treatment techniques based on the learning needs and perceptions of the patient.

5. Ability to identify critical changes (e.g. vital signs, pain, mobility and alertness) in patient conditions to determine their medical and functional status.

6. 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: Have experience with medical rehabilitation; Demonstrate dependability and customer care ethic; Outpatient care experience preferred

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-08.

Physical Requirements: Work includes regular and demanding physical exertion in standing, bending, kneeling, reaching, gripping, and walking in order to position patients and make equipment assessments/modifications. Fine and gross motor skills are essential for adjusting equipment (wheelchairs, adaptive seating systems, etc.), handling tools, and making precise modifications. Moderate to heavy lifting is required to assist patients and operate equipment. Regular and recurring physical exertion is required, including lifting, positioning, and transferring patients, as well as moving and adjusting wheelchairs or other mobility equipment (can range from light to moderately heavy objects, typically up to 45 pounds).Sitting is required in meetings and for conducting administrative work. Above average agility may be desirable in defending oneself (or others) against physical

attack/abuse. Work requires physical health, normal use of arms and legs, and good visual and auditory acuity. Incumbent must be licensed to operate a motor vehicle

Education

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

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.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

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.

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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