Physical Therapy Assistant

Summary

This position is in the Physical Therapy Section of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) in the Ann Arbor VA Health System. The Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) provides treatment that promotes the prevention, remediation, and rehabilitation of acute and chronic physical and psychosocial dysfunction.

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Duties

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VA Careers - Physical Therapy :

Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Advanced knowledge of physical therapy data collection and assessment techniques across outpatient, acute care, subacute care settings.
• Functions as a clinical resource and consultant for PTA peers, helping guide treatment approaches and supporting decision-making.
• Providing department and medical center wide in-services and training.
• Leads and communicates work assignments, priorities, and scheduling information to PTA staff.
• Coordinates with staff PTs to select topics and organize PTA in-services or case studies to enhance team knowledge and skills.
• Presents at least one in-service each year to PT staff on a clinically relevant topic.
• Completes leadership and team-building TMS modules and leads PTA team-building activities.
• Supports department safety initiatives and ensures adherence to PT standards of practice, documentation expectations, and applicable performance measures including maintaining active role on the Safe Patient Handling Committee.
• Providing caregiver and home management training to patients and families having appropriately adapted complex/multi-step instructions to individual learning styles of those receiving the instructions.
• Receives and interprets requests or instructions for procedures from the Physical Therapist. Plans and implements treatment programs and applies Physical Therapy procedures to patients under the supervision of a Physical Therapist. Consults with the licensed Physical Therapist regarding complex or special problem cases.
• Lead PTA may carry out or oversee the work of a lower graded assistants to accommodate requests.
• Secures the confidence and cooperation of Veterans during treatment. Interacts with the patient and family to explain therapy procedures, discuss treatment plans and motivate Veterans and family members to comply with indicated regimens and post-discharge activities. Instructs, motivates, and assists patients to learn and improve functional activities.
• Independently develops therapeutic regimens for Physical Therapy patients based on the assigning Physical Therapist's patient evaluation and goals. Modifies the interventions based on the patient's response.
• Completes a review of patient data (including medical history). Assists in and renders a course of treatment based on the assessed needs of the patient, developing progressive types of Physical Therapy treatment programs. This is done in consultation with the Physical Therapist.
• Screens, advises, and assists Veterans through the Physical Therapy regimen. Adapts and adjust Physical Therapy procedures as needed. Assists Physical Therapist's in the development of a comprehensive specialized treatment plan that includes long and short-term goals.
• Independently modifies or adapts specialized treatment approaches with prior approval of the Physical Therapist. Makes modifications within the scope of the established treatment plan to reflect the changing needs of the Veteran and his or her sociocultural context. Modifies intervention environment, tools, materials, and activities in response to each Veteran's response to treatment. Adapts the technical procedures and approaches to meet Veteran's needs.
• Completes all required computerized computer documentation.
• Maintains a clean and safe work environment to include non-technical maintenance of equipment, safety checks, cleaning, stocking, etc. Develops safe work habits to prevent injury to patients, co-workers and self. Reports to Chief of Physical Therapy and the need for equipment or items necessary for patient treatment. Follows infection control and all other safety procedures.
• Maintains a high level of competence through participation in continuing education programs.
• Assists with the clinical education of student Physical Therapist assistants, and the supervision and training of volunteers, work students and other healthcare practitioners.
• Attends all regularly scheduled department meetings.
• Performs other related duties, or responsibilities as assigned to support the overall mission of the Physical Therapy department or the Medical Center.
• Maintains daily clinic and equipment logs for survey readiness.

Work Schedule : Monday-Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm

Telework : Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 94504-0

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.
• 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.
• 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).]

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 outlined in paragraph 3, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Physical Therapy Assistant, GS-9

(1) Experience. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade, GS-8 . In addition, the candidate must demonstrate one of the following:(a) A minimum of 2000 hours of clinical practice directly in the specialty area, and completion of 60 contact hours of selected continuing education coursework. This time must be within the past five years; or, (b) Advanced Practice Proficiency (APP) in the specialty area recognized by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA); or, (c) An additional academic degree related to the health care mission.

(2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities . In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:(a) Ability to mentor other staff in advanced clinical guidelines and best practices.(b) Ability to serve as a subject matter expert (SME) for healthcare providers in specialty practice areas regarding physical therapy care.(c) Ability to present] advanced knowledge in the therapeutic interventions and clinical practice guidelines with the healthcare team.(d) Ability to interpret and apply clinical practice guidelines.

Reference: VA Handbook 5005/139, Part II, Appendix G23 dated March 17, 2006. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. Some walking, standing, bending and carrying of light objects such as paper, books, etc., may be required. Computer work that requires long periods of continued data entry may cause eye strain or muscle strain from long periods of sitting. There may be occasional instances when the duties require pushing a patient in a wheelchair; there is no heavy lifting of patients nor transferring of patients.

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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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.