Duties
Clinical:
The Occupational Therapist Clinical Education Coordinator develops and administers clinical training programs for occupational therapy students, occupational therapy assistant trainees, associated health trainees, facility staff and/or occupational medicine and rehabilitation therapy disciplines. These assignments occur at active, affiliated VA facilitates where specialized occupational therapy treatment programs are provided.
Ability to coordinate and maintain academic agreements and assignments for student affiliations with universities, colleges and other academic organizations
Demonstrates advanced knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy across multiple areas of practice, and the demonstrated ability to apply this advanced knowledge to provide clinical guidance to Staff OTs.
Ability to balance responsibilities and to work with great autonomy.
Designs, conducts and evaluates educational experiences for Occupational Therapy students, associated health trainees, and other personnel assigned to occupational therapy for training.
Arranges and serves as an instructor for staff in-service training programs.
Serves on curriculum committees of colleges and universities and has substantial input into the course content for occupational therapy students.
1. Seeks and maintains communication and positive community relations with the Academic Coordinators of Clinical Education (and the faculty, students, and NMVAHCS clinical alumni) of schools who have established Clinical Education contracts with NMVAHCS. Reaches out and solicits participation from interested schools not yet on contract and facilitates the process. Incumbent is responsible for maintaining these relationships and ensuring all contracts are active.
2. Initiates and maintains positive communication with each student, assistant trainees and associated health trainees referred to our clinics prior to, during, and after their clinical education experience.
3. Develops a NMVAHCS clinical alumni connection and maintains contact in order to preserve positive community relations, staff recruitment, research, and other opportunities as they present.
4. Assigns students/ assistant trainees/ associated health trainees to clinic(s) and places them under the supervision of a Clinical Instructor attempting to best match the clinician's and student's teaching/learning style, forte, clinical preferences, etc.
5. Serves as an active liaison between the student/ assistant trainees/associated health trainees and the Clinical Instructor for issues that require mediation, schedule adjustments, assistance with arranging learning opportunities outside the clinic (i.e. observation of surgery, etc.), and related needs.
As Clinical Educator:
Plans, arranges, advertises, and coordinates continuing education and vendor demonstration opportunities for our rehab staff, students, and related internal & external customers through inviting guest speakers and/or presenting on own. Topics will reflect staff needs, interests, best practice, clinical development, and will be aligned with organizational strategic plans.
With input from clinical staff and other stakeholders, recommends and makes available multimedia patient education tools (anatomical charts, healthy posters, anatomical models, multimedia, etc.) that would better enable patients to acquire information related to their disease, rehabilitation/recovery, and maintenance of healthy living.
Works with clinical staff to develop patient/family support groups reflecting topics of interest. Surveys rehab staff and internal & external customers to identify educational opportunities. iv. Presents on related topics to professional rehab groups, students, faculty, professional Associations, and staff.
As a Staff Therapist:
Performs functions of a staff therapist at any time, or as directed, when not consumed with tasks & responsibilities as Clinical Educator Coordinator. Routinely plans and provides patient evaluation and treatment which requires application of highly specialized skills and knowledge to accomplish complex objectives.
Has thorough understanding of pathology of physical and psychological disabilities; can interpret a wide variety of functional levels.
Independently develops and implements occupationally therapeutic treatment using judgment to modify treatment based on changing medical conditions or due to complexity of disabilities.
In implementing treatment program, involves patient's social, economic and functional wellbeing.
Works effectively with treatment team and other staff in coordinating patient's total care.
Clinically supervises Occupational Therapy Assistants, aides, and volunteers who are assigned to the section. Revised 05/2025
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 0800-1630
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Requirements
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.
- You may be required to serve a probationary period.
- 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). 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).
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. The authority to set requirements is provided by 38 U.S.C. § 3 7402(b)(14).
- Citizenship. Citizen of the United States.
- Education/Experience. The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below:
- Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy AND two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. OR
- Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy AND two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that ACOTE would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. OR
- Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy.
Individuals must be a graduate of a degree program in occupational therapy approved by the ACOTE or predecessor organizations. This is inclusive of an internship (supervised fieldwork experience required by the educational institution). ACOTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Degree programs may be verified by contacting the American Occupational Therapy Association website or at their office address: American Occupational Therapy Association, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220.
- Certification. Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT.
- State Licensure. Candidates must possess a full, current, and unrestricted state license, to practice occupational therapy in a state, territory or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or in the District of Columbia.
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:
Occupational Therapist (Clinical Specialist), GS-13
- Education, Experience, and Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level and directly related to the position being filled and one of the following:
- A minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the advanced practice area. This time must be within the past five years;
- Certification in an area recognized by the AOTA;
- Completion of a fellowship/residency or advanced degree program in the advanced practice area; or,
- An additional advanced degree in a related field.
- Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
- Knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy across multiple areas of practice.
- Ability to provide clinical guidance in the advanced practice area to other OT practitioners.
- Knowledge of advanced specialized evaluation, interventions and services to independently develop treatment strategies for area of specialization.
- Skill in developing protocols and procedures for intervention programs based on current occupational therapy theory, recent research, and practice.
- Ability to provide consultation to other health care practitioners and outside groups about occupational therapy scope of practice for area of specialization.
- Ability to implement, revise/update evidence based occupational therapy services and programming in area of specialization.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit
https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Education, Experience, and Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level and directly related to the position being filled.
Benefits
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.
Review our benefits
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.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
- License
- Professional Certification
- Resume
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
- Transcript
The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
- Cover Letter
- DD-214/ Statement of Service
- Disability Letter (Schedule A)
- Disability Letter (VA)
- License
- Other (1)
- Performance Appraisal
- Professional Certification
- Resume
- Separation Notice (RIF)
- SF-15
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
- Transcript
Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit
Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.
Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 06/22/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12742561.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.