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: Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
English Language Proficiency. Individuals appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA must be proficient in written and spoken English.
Education and/or Experience-Transcripts Supplied. The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below:
- Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. -OR-
- Master's Degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. -OR-
- Doctorate degree in physical therapy.
PLEASE NOTE: Individuals must be a graduate of a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited college or university.
Foreign Graduates - Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet the requirements if they have a current, full, active, and unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.
Licensure-Documentation Supplied. Candidates must possess a full, current, and unrestricted state license to practice physical therapy in a state, territory or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e. Puerto Rico), or in the District of Columbia.
GRADE REQUIREMENTS - In addition to the Basic Requirements provided in the
Physical Therapist Qualification Standard - February 7, 2018 (formerly VA Handbook 5005/99 Part II Appendix G12), the following are the grade requirements.
Grade Determinations for Physical Therapist (Supervisory) - GS-13:
- GS-13 Experience, Education, AND Licensure: In addition to the Basic Requirements, a Physical Therapist at the GS-13 level (above the full performance level) MUST be licensed AND possess at least one (1) year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level.
- Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience, education, and licensure above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs:
- Knowledge of contemporary physical therapy across multiple areas of practice, and the demonstrated ability to apply this knowledge to provide clinical guidance to Staff PTs within the department.
- Knowledge of human resources administration, including such functions as the ability to interview and select qualified applicants, monitor and evaluate performance, and maintain effective labor management relations within scope of responsibility.
- Ability to effectively supervise, direct, and manage a diverse physical therapy staff.
- Skill in forging positive interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution.
- Ability to analyze clinically appropriate data effectively to optimize quality, performance, and productivity within the section.
- Ability to set priorities, delegate tasks, and solve problems in order to meet multiple.
- Ability to manage advocacy roles and planning activities within the VA and the greater rehabilitation community.
- Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Supervisory PTs are responsible for the supervision, administrative management, and direction of the physical therapy program in a rehabilitation service or equivalent service-level department which consists of three or more PTs or other multi-discipline staff. The incumbent provides supervision of key clinical and training programs, including the overall technical oversight of the staff that He/she administratively supervise. Supervisors are responsible for the development and implementation of policies and procedures to address focused clinical needs and the overall services delivered and provided within the section. He/she demonstrates autonomy in performing supervisory responsibilities that include, but are not limited to, assigning work to employees, monitoring workload and clinical volume, reviewing work of employees to assure accuracy and validity of submissions, assuring adequate clinical staffing, imposing disciplinary measures, and monitoring clinical privileges. He/she is required to provide overall clinical supervision that assures the proper coordination and delivery of care within the section and the facility.
References: Physical Therapist Qualification Standard - February 7, 2018 (formerly VA Handbook 5005/99 Part II Appendix G12).
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.
Preferred Experience: Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) is preferred.
Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 pounds or over); light carrying (under 15 pounds); straight pushing (.5 hours); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (.5 hours); standing (.5 hours); crawling (.5 hours); kneeling (.5 hours); repeated bending (1 hour); climbing, legs only (.5 hours); climbing, use of legs and arms; operation of crane, truck, tractor or motor vehicle; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; specific visual requirement (corrective lenses okay); both eyes required; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid may be permitted); mental and emotional stability.