Occupational Therapist Job in Richmond, VA

Vacancy No. CBTA-12776144-25-RNL Department Veterans Health Administration
Salary $63,836.00 to $120,350.00 Grade 9 to 12
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 8/1/2025 Close Date 9/1/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Richmond, VA


Summary

The position is located in the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service at the Richmond VA Medical Center campus. The Occupational Therapist practices independently and is responsible for comprehensive assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools.

Duties

Major Duties:

Clinical:

(1) Treats patients presenting complex problems using knowledge of occupational therapy principles and techniques consistent with current clinical standards based on OT theory and evidenced based practice. Knowledge is inclusive of physical, occupational, cognitive, and psychosocial functional deficits.
(2) Consults with physicians and makes recommendations for plan of treatment.
(3) Evaluates referred patients to determine current level of functioning (e.g. range of motion, pain, strength, movement mechanics, posture, coordination, perception, coordination, self-care, homemaking, work performance, orthotic needs) using standardized or specialized tests, interviews, observations, medical record review, and consultation with other professional staff. Provides information to physicians for use in differential diagnosis.
(4) Develops rehabilitation objectives, in collaboration with the patient, in the form of a treatment intervention plan that includes short and long term goals. Interventions to attain goals include but are not limited to: therapeutic exercise, muscle re-education, perceptual motor integration, fabrication and applications of orthotics and devices for daily living, instruction in compensatory techniques, and provision of patient/family education.
(5) Must use critical analysis, clinical reasoning, and creativity to independently solve complex problems related to adapting and modifying assessments, treatment plans, activities and procedures to meet the needs of the veteran.
(6) Re-evaluates the patient's status on a regular basis and adjusts the treatment plan appropriately.
(7) Documents in the medical record: results of the initial evaluation: the treatment plan and goals; progress reports that include the treatment provided, changes in the patient's functional status, and changes made to the treatment plan: a discharge summary that includes goal achievement, recommendations for home program, and patient/family education.
(8) Attends interdisciplinary team meetings; participates with physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and other disciplines in developing the patient care plan: advises the interdisciplinary team of treatment outcomes, current status of the patient, and progress toward goals.
(9) When indicated, evaluates the patient's living environment through home visits or consultation with patient, family, significant others or home health professionals to assist in solving problems associated with community re­entry.
(10) Procures, fabricates, adjusts, adapts, and modifies orthoses, splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment).
(11) Applies all health and safety regulations to minimize and mitigate risks in the provision of patient care and environmental maintenance.
(12) Privileged to do consultation and procedural oversight via TeleHealth

Education

(1) Provides orientation/training of medical staff to the occupational therapy program.
(2) Assists in the orientation and training of new staff occupational therapists.
(3) Assists in the training of occupational therapy students, providing feedback about students' progress and performance.
(4) Keeps current of principles and techniques in the occupational therapy assessment and treatment of occupational, cognitive, and psychological functional deficits through professional literature, in-service programs, and continuing education.
(5) Provides in-service and patient education programs as indicated.

Administrative

(1) Participates in developing guidelines/protocols in treatment of various diagnoses and in developing new patient care programs and evaluation of existing programs.
(2) Maintains patient records and other data required by the section, service and medical center.
(3) Submits requests for expendable supplies, additional equipment, educational material, and maintenance needs to the section supervisor.
(4) May be requested to serve on a service level committee or to represent PM&R Service on a medical center committee.


Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00AM- 4:30 PM
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Position Title/Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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.
  • 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.
  • Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.

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 [and/or Experience
  • (a) 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
  • (b) 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
  • (c) Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy.(2) 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.
  • Foreign Graduates. Graduates] of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements of subparagraph 3b (2) if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license referred to in subparagraph 3e of this appendix.
  • 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.
  • Loss of Credential. An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain [the required state or territorial licensure and the NBCOT certification, both current and in good standing,] must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment.
  • Exceptions for the Graduate Occupational Therapist.
    • (1) OT graduates from an approved occupational therapy program [who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements,] but who do not possess NBCOT certification and/or [ ]state [licensure], may be [appointed, pending certification and/or licensure,] as a graduate OT [on a full-time temporary appointment] not-to-exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2).
    • (2) Graduate OTs may only be appointed at the GS-9 grade level and may not be promoted/converted to the GS-11 level until licensure and/or certification is obtained. For grades levels at or above the developmental GS-11 grade level, the OT must be certified and licensed.
    • (3) A graduate OT may provide care only under the direct supervision of a licensed] OT who meets all state regulatory requirements.
    • (4) Temporary graduate OT appointments may not be extended beyond two years, or converted to a new temporary appointment.
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:

GS-09 Education, Experience:
(a) 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
(b) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field;
OR
(c) Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy.

GS-11 Education, Experience:
(a) Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level and directly related to the position being filled;
OR
(b) Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related field; OR(c) Doctorate in occupational therapy.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of occupational therapy practice.
(b) Ability to administer/interpret evaluation findings to develop and coordinate intervention plans, including goals and methods of treatment.
(c) Ability to implement intervention plans directly or in collaboration with others.
(d) Skill in monitoring an individual's response to interventions and modify treatment plans and reevaluating as indicated.
(e) Ability to communicate and or collaborate with patients, family members, caregivers, interdisciplinary professionals and/or other individuals verbally and in writing.
(f) Knowledge of health and safety regulations to minimize risk in the provision of patient care and the environment of care.
(g) Knowledge of applicable regulations governing documentation, reimbursement and workload entry in accordance with established professional practice.

GS-12 Education, Experience: Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled.

Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the [experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of occupational therapy principles and techniques consistent with current clinical standards based on OT theory and evidence based practice. Knowledge is inclusive of physical, occupational, cognitive, and psychosocial functional deficits.
(b) Ability to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with all internal and external stakeholders.
(c) Ability to use critical analysis, clinical reasoning, and creativity to independently solve complex problems related to adapting and modifying assessments, treatment plans, activities and procedures to meet the needs of patients.
(d) Skill in procuring, fabricating, adjusting, adapting, and modifying orthoses, splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment.
(e) Ability to conduct OT related in-service and clinical training.

References: VA Handbook 5005-Part II, Appendix G70.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12 . The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-12.

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: 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or 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.

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 to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

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.

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:

  • Resume
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action


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
  • State Licensure
  • NBCOT Certification
  • Misc.
  • PCS Orders
  • Performance Appraisal
  • Professional Certification
  • Resume
  • Separation Notice (RIF)
  • SF-15
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
  • Transcript


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 09/01/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12776144.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.

Agency contact information

Ryan Leash
Address
Central Virginia VA Health Care System
1201 Broad Rock Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23249
US

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: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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