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This position is eligible for the 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. 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. Learn more 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 experience: The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below: Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. Doctorate degree in physical therapy. NOTE: Individuals must be a graduate of a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited college or university. The CAPTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to accredit entry-level physical therapy programs. Licensure: Individuals hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Non-licensed PTs, who otherwise meet the basic requirements in this standard, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate PT at the GS-11 grade level. 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. Grade Determinations: GS-11 Physical Therapist (Entry) Education, Experience, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. GS-12 Physical Therapist (Full Performance Level) Education, Experience and Licensure: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level, hold a valid unrestricted state license, AND demonstrate all the KSAs below: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 1. Ability to make autonomous clinical decisions in a Direct Access environment. This includes ability to independently evaluate and treat patients who seek physical therapy services. 2. Skill in performing examinations and evaluations of individuals who have or may develop impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions related to conditions of the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and/or integumentary systems while considering the effects attributable to unique psychosocial and environmental factors. 3. Ability to interpret findings from examination and evaluation, select appropriate test and measures, and integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations. 4. Ability to establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate rehabilitation intervention, including referral to another provider for further consultation as clinically indicated. 5. Ability to determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals, optimize outcomes and maximize functional independence. 6. Ability to independently provide clinical oversight of Physical Therapy Assistants as well as students on clinical affiliations who are in Doctoral PT Programs or PTA Programs. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/99, PART II, APPENDIX G12 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-11 to GS-12. 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. ["VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY The primary function of the Physical Therapist is to provide direct patient care. The Physical Therapist will autonomously develop and implement a Physical Therapy treatment program utilizing judgement to modify the treatment due to changing medical conditions or because of a variety of severe physical and mental disabilities. Duties include, but are not limited to: Works effectively with treatment team members, patients, patients' family/significant others, and other health care providers in coordinating the patient's total care. Effectively communicates in the clinical medical record and other written and/or oral sources to promote positive communication, collaboration and teamwork. Uses standard and non-standard methods and techniques for evaluating and interpreting a wide variety of patient physical and psychosocial functional levels and for providing progressive treatment. Applies timely research findings ethically and appropriately to evaluation and intervention processes and discusses applicable research findings with the PTA's and related physical therapy personnel to assure high quality of care to patients with single and multiple diagnoses. Reads and interprets the medical record to identify necessary elements and determine appropriateness of physical therapy assessment and treatment of patients. Practices physical therapy autonomously and refers clients to appropriate resources when the needs of the client can best be served by the expertise of other professionals or services. Educates current and potential referral sources about the scope of physical therapy services and the process of initiating physical therapy services. Elects screening methods appropriate to the client's performance context and communicates screening results and recommendations to the appropriate person, group or organization. Evaluates performance areas, performance components and performance context to establish a baseline level of functioning. Selects assessments to evaluate the client's level of function and follows defined protocols when standardized assessments are utilized. Develops and implements individualized physical therapy treatment programs for patients when clients may have a functional limitation or disability or may be at risk for a disabling condition. Documents evaluation results, treatment plans, patient response to treatment and education given in accordance with the rehabilitation work unit and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organization (JCAHO) requirements, as well as the APTA guidelines. Analyzes, interprets and summarizes assessment data to determine the client's functional status and develop an appropriate intervention plan. Independently utilizes different and unrelated methods to evaluate and interpret specific physical and psychosocial problems of clients and carries out the appropriate therapy necessary to teach new or compensating skills to restore patient performance. Develops and documents an intervention plan that is based on the results of the physical therapy evaluation and the desires and expectations of the client and appropriate others about the outcome of service. Ensures the intervention plan is documented within time frames, formats and standards established by practice settings. Implements the intervention plan through the use of specified purposeful activities or therapeutic methods that are meaningful to the client and are effective methods for enhancing physical performance. Informs clients and appropriate others regarding the relative benefits and risks of the intervention. Maintains or seeks current information on resources relevant to the client's needs. Re-evaluates during the intervention process and documents progress in the client's goals, performance and needs. Modifies intervention to reflect changes in client status, desires, and response to intervention. Maintains clinical cleanliness and equipment functioning, enforcing safety procedures. Attends Physical Therapy meetings, patient/family meetings, committee meetings and interdisciplinary meetings. Systematically assesses the efficiency and effectiveness of Physical Therapy services and designs and implements processes to support quality service delivery. Complies with medical record management policy and procedures, including documentation monitoring mechanism, qualitative and quantitative record reviews and problem identification and resolution. Work Schedule: Full-time; Monday - Friday, 0730-1600\nTelework: If approved, will be on an ad-hoc basis\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized\nEDRP Authorized: Contact simon.jamieson@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]