Physical Therapist

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Tyler (TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA North Texas Health Care System, is seeking a Physical Therapist in Tyler, Texas. This open continuous announcement will refer candidates as vacancies become available.

Basic requirements include U.S. citizenship, appropriate PT degree, and a current, unrestricted PT license. Pre-placement examinations are required; a state driver’s license is necessary for government vehicle operation.

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship as required.
• Education and experience: at least one of the following: BPT + 5 years progressively independent experience, or MPT + 2 years, or Doctorate in Physical Therapy.
• Licensure: full, current, unrestricted PT license in US or DC; temporary PT option under supervision may apply.
• Physical requirements with pre-placement examinations.
• Driver's license required for government vehicle operations.
• English language proficiency for direct patient care.

Responsibilities

• Provide Physical Therapy services in the VA North Texas Health Care System, Tyler, TX.
• Evaluate and treat patients with musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, and cardiopulmonary conditions.
• May supervise Physical Therapy Assistants and students; ensure clinical guidelines are followed.

Skills

Clinical decision making

Autonomy in care

Examinations and evaluations

Clinical oversight of PTAs

Education

Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy

Master's degree in Physical Therapy

Doctorate in Physical Therapy

Job description

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until 08/23/2027. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 09/24/2026, with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month. The Organizational Location of the Position is: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service , VA North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS), Tyler, Texas.

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. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
2. 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
3. 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.
4. Physical Requirements. Pre-placement and periodic physical examinations are required for PTs 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.
5. Drivers License: A current, state issued driver's license is required for this position. Note: We cannot accept photographs, therefor; do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you will be required to provide a copy of your current, valid state issued driver's license. A pre-placement examination will be required to be able to determine if the incumbent is able to safely operate a Government Vehicle.
6. 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.

Grandfathering Provision

Only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria.

• 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 the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
  • Employees grandfathered into the GS-0633 occupational series as PTs may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation.
  • PTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of this qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of this standard.
  • PTs initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration, meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard and must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
  • If PTs who are grandfathered under this provision leave the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

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. 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.
4. 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. 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.

Preferred Experience

• Two or more years of experience in rehabilitation in outpatient clinic setting.
• Experience performing evaluations for acute and/or chronic injuries to include systems review and impairments of musculoskeletal, neurological, orthopedic, cardio-pulmonary, pain management, integumentary etc.

Reference

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 11 to 12.

Physical Requirements

Physical Requirements: A pre-placement examination is required to be able to determine if the incumbent is able to safely operate a Government Vehicle.

• Up to 4-6 hours of the following: walking, standing, repeated bending
• Up to 1-2 hours of the following: straight pulling, puling hand over hand, pushing, crawling, climbing and kneeling.
• Required lifting light (under 15 pounds) to moderate (up to 44 pounds) and carrying light (under 15 pounds) to moderate (up to 44 pounds).
• Required functional hearing with/without hearing aids, Near vision correctable at 13-16\" to Jaeger 1 to 4, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, both eyes required, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors.
• Reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands and legs required. Sitting is required for meetings, administrative work and occasionally driving motor vehicle most of the day (ability to drive is required).
• The position demands significant physical stress and strain such as transferring patients, crouching/crawling on mats, and occasionally defending self against combative patients assigned to the incumbent.
• Work may require good physical health, normal use of arms and legs and good visual and auditory acuity, to evaluate and treat patients, and to use computer, keyboard, monitor, phone, etc. Work is performed in the clinics, wards, exercise areas, office, conference rooms, and occasionally in the home. May be exposed to infectious diseases, medical/psychiatric emergencies.