Physical Therapist

Veterans Health Administration; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Arizona VA Health Care System is seeking a licensed Physical Therapist to join the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service. The incumbent may be assigned to multiple treatment areas, including acute inpatient, outpatient, Community Living Center (CLC), or Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).

Applicants may be referred while requirements are pending, but licensure and credentialing must be completed prior to hire.

Qualifications

• Must be a graduate of a CAPTE-accredited college or university.
• Foreign graduates must have a full, unrestricted license to practice in the U.S.
• Licensure verification and, if applicable, state-specific requirements must be met.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy

Master's degree in Physical Therapy

Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT)

Job description

This position is established within the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System on the main campus in Tucson, Arizona or one of the five Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC). The incumbent may be assigned and rotated to the following treatment areas: acute inpatient, outpatient, and the Community Living Center (CLC) or assigned to a CBOC.

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:

1. (1) Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
2. (2) Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
3. (3) Doctorate degree in physical therapy. NOTE: Prior to 1995 the terminal degree for PT's was either a bachelors or master's degree. In 1995 CAPTE accredited all baccalaureate, master's, and Doctor of Physical Therapy terminal degree programs. Effective 2002, CAPTE changed its scope of accrediting activities of PT education programs to include only those programs that culminate in post-baccalaureate degrees(eliminating the baccalaureate degree). Effective 2015, professional physical therapy education programs have only offered the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree to all new students. 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. Verification of accredited programs may be obtained from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) at www.apta.org.
4. (4) Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet the requirements in subparagraph 3b if they have a full unrestricted and current license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. The Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) is a non- 4 profit organization created to assist the United States (U.S.) Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly INS) and U.S. state licensing authorities by evaluating the credentials of Foreign Educated Physical Therapists (FEPTs) who wish to immigrate and work in the U.S. Although the licensing of physical therapists in the U.S. is a right and responsibility of each jurisdiction, foreign educated individuals must undergo an educational credentials assessment for substantial equivalency to the first professional degree in the US. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) is committed to protect the public and to provide leadership within the field and practice of physical therapy. FSBPT's Foreign Educated Standards Committee has developed standards that represent "best practices" in evaluation services. The Credentials Evaluation Standards were developed with input from the physical therapy credentialing agencies that are licensed to use FSBPT's Coursework Tool.

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 under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 (a)(1)(D) for a period not-to-exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such PT provide care only under the supervision of a PT who is licensed. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment.

Loss of Credential. A PT who fails to maintain the required license must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation, if qualified, and if a placement opportunity exists. 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). Grandfathering Provision. All licensed PTs employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure that are part of t