Physical Therapy Assistant

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Montgomery (AL); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a GS-9 Physical Therapy Assistant for the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System.

The role supports the Physical Therapy Department within PM&RS, providing expert patient care and advancing rehabilitation practices for veterans. Candidates must hold an active PTA license, possess an associate degree from an accredited PTA program, and meet federal qualification standards.

Qualifications

• Associate degree from an accredited PTA program.
• Full, active PTA license in the US.
• NPTE passed for PTAs (if applicable).
• Documentation of grandfathering eligibility may apply.
• Demonstrated KSAs in mentorship, SME work, and guideline interpretation.

Responsibilities

• Serve as SME in rehabilitation program areas (geriatrics, orthopedics, cardiac rehab, safe patient handling).
• Provide services to inpatients, outpatients, and Community Living Center residents under PT supervision.
• Assist in planning and implementing complex treatment programs with PT.
• Deliver therapeutic services and counseling to Veterans and families.
• Engage in higher-level duties at least 25% of the time and support best practices.
• Attend committee meetings and training to develop care standards.
• Complete continuing education to maintain advanced competencies.

Skills

Mentor staff

Subject matter expert

Present advanced knowledge

Interpret clinical guidelines

Advanced clinical competence

Experience in specialty area

Education

Associate degree in PTA program

NPTE for PTAs passed

Graduate of foreign PTA programs meeting requirements

Graduate of military PTA programs meeting requirements

Grandfathering provision (VA employees)

Job description

Summary

The GS-9 Physical Therapy Assistant is assigned to the Physical Therapy Department within Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) at the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System (CAVHCS).

Qualifications

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
• Licensure: Current - full - active and unrestricted license as a PTA in a State - Territory or Commonwealth (i.e Puerto Rico) of the United States - or District of Columbia
• Education: Individuals must meet at least one of the requirements below: Associate degree from an accredited community college - junior college - college or university in a physical therapy assistant education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (Transcript Required) OR - Graduate of foreign physical therapy assistant degree programs that meet the educational requirement and have successfully passed the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) for PTAs
• (Documentation Required) OR - Graduate of military physical therapy assistant programs that meet the educational requirement and have successfully passed the NPTE for PTAs
• (Documentation/Transcripts Required) 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 Physical Therapy Assistant (1) Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate one of the following: A minimum of 2000 hours of clinical practice directly in the specialty area - and completion of 60 contact hours of selected continuing education coursework
• This time must be within the past five years (Documentation Required) OR Advanced Practice Proficiency (APP) in the specialty area recognized by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) (Documentation Required) OR An additional academic degree related to the health care mission
• (Transcript Required) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the basic requirements above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:(a) Ability to mentor other staff in advanced clinical guidelines and best practices.(b) Ability to serve as a subject matter expert (SME) for healthcare providers in specialty practice areas regarding physical therapy care.(c) Ability to present advanced knowledge in the therapeutic interventions and clinical practice guidelines with the healthcare team.(d) Ability to interpret and apply clinical practice guidelines
• 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
• PTAs at this level apply advanced practice skills to treat complex patients
• PTAs possess an advanced level of clinical competence and serve as a SME in specialty practice areas
• They serve as a subject matter expert in a rehabilitation program such as - but not limited to - geriatrics - amputee - brain injury - cardiac rehabilitation - orthopedics - neurological - safe patient handing - or any other functional debilitative conditions
• They possess advanced practice skills and experience with a wide range of patient complexity
• They apply advanced methodologies to a vast array of functional impairments and patients
• They independently recommend and apply evidence-based treatment approaches within the plan of care
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-9 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• This position requires advanced level clinical competence
• The incumbent will serve as a subject matter expert (SME) in a CAVHCS rehabilitation program such as - but not limited to - clinical education - geriatrics - orthopedics - cardiac rehabilitation - safe patient handling - or any other functional debilitative conditions
• Duties included but not limited to: Serves veterans who are inpatients in the acute care hospital - veterans who are scheduled in outpatient clinics (face-to-face and virtual care) - and residents of the Community Living Center
• Works under the supervision of a Physical Therapist(PT) to provide services that promote the prevention - remediation - and rehabilitation of acute and chronic physical dysfunction
• Participates with the PT in planning and implementing complex treatment programs and applies physical therapy procedures to patients under the general supervision of a PT
• Provides therapeutic services including treatment - advisory and consultative functions to Veterans and their families
• In addition to the basic clinical functions - the incumbent:(1) Performs higher-level duties within the designated rehabilitation program (clinical education - geriatrics - orthopedics - cardiac rehabilitation - safe patient handling - or any other functional debilitative conditions) at least 25% of the time.(2) Applies advanced practice skills and specialized experience to treat complex patients
• In addition to the basic administrative functions - the incumbent will:(1) Serve on select medical center committees - as directed by Supervisor - to provide departmental representation as specialists for movement dysfunction and as SME within the designated program.(2) Attend inter-departmental meetings to develop and maintain best practices for the delivery of optimal patient care
• In addition to the basic education functions - the incumbent will:(1) Conduct training as assigned by the Coordinator for Clinical Education - Supervisory Physical Therapist - or his/her designee.(2) Complete continuing education - to support knowledge and skills well beyond entry level and within the designated program
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 08:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 62732F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized