PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT

Summary

PLEASE READ THE COMPLETE ANNOUNCEMENT TO ENSURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND SUBMIT A COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKET.

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and will remain on file through December 31, 2025. Eligible applicants will be referred each month as vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.

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Duties

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In compliance with VA Policy & union requirements/recommendations for Title 38 clinical positions, internal facility employees must receive first consideration prior to hiring managers making selections externally to other applicants. So, this internal announcement ensures this is met by posting all positions internally to facility employees throughout the year. This announcement does not signify that a vacancy exists at this time . Should a true vacancy become available in this occupation/specialty, applicants will be reviewed & referred to hiring managers for consideration at that time. You will receive notification when/if your application progresses to the next stage of recruitment.

This announcement may be used to fill various positions. You must choose which duty location and specialty you wish to be considered for. You may select multiple duty locations and specialties, but you must select at least one when you apply. You will be considered for the duty location(s)/specialties that you select when you apply.

Note : There may not be any current vacancies at the time of this announcement, however, applicants may be considered for future vacancies that become available until the announcement closes.

Some positions/specialties may be eligible for Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) , a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

As a Licensed Independent Provider, the Physician Assistant practices autonomously and in coordination with health care professionals and other individuals. The incumbent provides a wide range of health care services, including the diagnosis and management of acute, chronic, and complex health problems; health promotion; disease prevention; health education; and counseling to individuals, families, groups and communities. Must be an excellent communicator and team player who is adaptable to the needs of a growing medical center. The Physician Assistant provides quality patient care in collaboration with other health care professionals. The incumbent will perform specific duties within his/her approved scope of practice.

Other duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Providing care for Veteran patients, sometimes under the review and/or co-signature of a physician.
• Performing overall assessment of patients' conditions through history taking, record reviews, physical examinations, etc.
• Diagnosing and developing individualized treatment plan in various clinical settings.
• Writing orders for diagnostic testing including, but not limited to laboratory, X-rays, imaging studies/EKGs, ventilator management, blood and urine tests and any other special testing and studies whenever indicated.
• Prescribing medications and providing education and counseling to Veterans and their families regarding medical condition, prescribed treatments and drugs, diagnostic options, review of treatment plans, discussions of patient goals, etc.
• Developing meaningful goals to assist patients and their families in attaining the optimum level of physical, physiological, sociological, and psychological balance within the limitations imposed by their illnesses.
• Contributing to the achievement of quality care standards, and actively participates in patient safety initiatives.
• Establishing professional working relationship with clinical service providers within the medical center, Outpatient Clinics (OPCs), and the Community Base Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).
• Other related duties as assigned.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

Work Schedule: Various work schedules available. Some positions may require rotating call coverage, weekdays, nights, weekends and/or holidays. The supervisor will determine the actual work schedule (FT, PT, Intermittent & the specific work shift) upon selection based on the needs of the organization.

Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment) : May be Authorized for some specialties. Former EDRP participants are not eligible to apply for EDRP. Contact the VISN 8 Compensation Center of Excellence at View email address on click.appcast.io for questions/assistance. Learn more

Telework : Not Available

Virtual : This is not a virtual position.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
• 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).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

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.

Physician Assistant Basic Requirements

• United States Citizenship: Must be a US Citizen.
• Education: Must be a graduate of a training program which is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education of PA (ARC-PA) or one of its predecessor organizations & must also meet one of the following: (1) Master's degree in any discipline; or (2) Bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a Physician Assistant.
• Certification: Successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) (or is in the process of taking the exam).
• License: Currently hold, or will hold, a full and unrestricted license to practice in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia. PAs must maintain current registration in the State of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active and current licensure in that State.
• English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.

Grade Requirements: In addition to the basic qualification requirements, the grade level of a PA is based on a combination of training and experience.

• Physician Assistant-I (PA-I):
  • Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements.
  • Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. PAs at this grade are expected to present the following minimum skill set:
    
    
    • Ability to utilize the principles of PA practice in the care of assigned patients to provide appropriate care.
    • Ability to perform patient history and physical.
    • Ability to formulate a plan and provide treatment to the patient.
    • Ability to provide patient care that is abreast of changing concepts and advancements in the profession.

• Physician Assistant-II (PA-II):
  • Experience and Education. PAs at this grade is at the intermediate grade level and has had progressively increasing responsibility and experiences as indicated in the KSAs listed below. Individuals will have demonstrated the ability to analyze and solve more complex medical problems than at the entry level grade and can utilize their training in the successful practice of patient care and participate in team problem solving. Individuals demonstrate the KSAs of PA-II intermediate level by:
  • Two years of successful practice as a PA. -or-
  • Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Office of Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by VA, ARC-
  • A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. PAs at this grade should be able to demonstrate, develop, or acquire the following skill set not met upon appointment for PA-II:
  • Skills to analyze and solve complex medical problems.
  • Ability to function autonomously and make independent medical decisions.
  • Skill to incorporate training and experience into the successful practice of patient care including telehealth medical care.
  • Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment for improvement of services for patient care.
  • Ability to practice with colleagues and peers collaboratively.
• Physician Assistant-III (PA-III):
  • Experience and Education. PAs at this grade are at the full performance level and lead and organize patient care independently, practice within multi-disciplinary teams, and coordinate all aspects of patient care across the health care system. They utilize advanced clinical knowledge and judgment in decision-making and evaluating outcomes. They function as experts in clinical practice and/or in areas related to the assigned roles and responsibilities, may serve as mentors for transitioning PAs, and may provide training for health care students. Individuals can demonstrate the KSAs for the full performance level by:
    
    
    • Three years of successful practice as a PA. -or-
    • Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Office of Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by VA, ARC-PA, U.S. Armed Forces, or another accrediting agency and one year of professional practice as a PA. -or-
    • A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and one year of professional practice as a PA.
    • Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. PAs at this level should be able to demonstrate, develop, or acquire the following skills set not met upon appointment for PA-III:
      
      
      • Ability to clinically evaluate facility patient care delivery systems and validate or identify barriers to safe and effective patient care.
      • Skill to consistently demonstrate an elevated level of expertise and autonomy in diagnosing and treating seriously ill, multi-symptomatic patients through facility Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE) and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE).
      • Ability to present clinical findings and recommendations to appropriate management officials.
      • Ability to clinically facilitate the delivery of patient care in collaboration with health professionals, health managers, and other health care personnel.
      • Ability to implement and initiate clinical changes to established treatment protocols based upon new medical literature research findings to enhance patient delivery care for improved patient outcomes.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit full performance level of this vacancy is PA-III. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of PA-I to PA-III.

Physical Requirements: Must pass a pre-employment physical examination as required by VA Handbook 5019. This examination is administered by VA Occupational Health. This position requires moderate lifting up to 44 lbs., carrying objects up to 15 lbs., frequent reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, hands and legs, use of cranes and motor vehicles, walking & standing up to 8 hours, bending and climbing and able to hear whisper. The incumbent must be physically, emotionally and mentally stable in order to efficiently perform the essential functions of this position without hazard to themselves or others.

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

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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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.

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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.