Physical Therapy Assistant

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Panama City Beach (FL); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) is assigned to the Physical Therapy Department within Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service at the Veterans Affairs Gulf Coast Health Care System in Biloxi, MS. The role serves outpatients in walk-in and scheduled clinics.

Basic requirements include an active PTA license, an accredited PTA program completion, NPTE eligibility, and English proficiency per VA standards.

Qualifications

• Associate degree from an accredited PTA program or foreign equivalent meeting NPTE requirements.
• Active PTA license in US or U.S. territory; exceptions allow provisional licensure.
• English proficiency as required by VA standards.

Responsibilities

• Independently implement treatment plans using PTA skills.
• Provide varied PT interventions per care plan (exercises, gait, balance, etc.).
• Monitor patient progress with data collection and assessment techniques.
• Instruct patients on home exercise programs and ensure compliance.

Skills

Clinical decision making

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Patient education

Outpatient care

Education

Associate degree PTA

NPTE for PTAs

Job description

The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) is assigned to the Physical Therapy Department within Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) at the Veterans Affairs Gulf Coast Health Care System in Biloxi, MS, which is a Complexity Level 1c high complexity facility. This position serves the outpatients in the walk-in and scheduled clinics.

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. 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;
  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.
  OR
  Graduate of military physical therapy assistant programs that meet the educational requirement and have successfully passed the NPTE for PTAs.
• 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.
  (1) Exceptions for Non-Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant.
  (a) Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements, but who do not possess state licensure, may be appointed, pending licensure, as a graduate PTA on a full-time temporary appointment under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7401(a)(1)(B) and not to exceed two years in accordance with the timeframe in 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). (b) Non-licensed individuals shall only provide care under the direct supervision of a licensed PTA or PT who meets all state regulatory requirements. (c) Non-licensed individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until licensure is obtained. (d) Temporary appointments of non-licensed PTAs may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment. (e) Failure to Obtain Licensure. In all cases, non-licensed PTAs must actively pursue meeting requirements for licensure starting from the date of their appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the non-licensed PTA with the written requirements for licensure, including the time by which the license must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. Failure to obtain licensure during this time period may result in termination of employment.
  English Language Proficiency. PTA candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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 Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/ registration requirements that apply to this occupation. Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees in an occupation requiring a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher-grade levels. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the 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. Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure/trademark/registration/certification. 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:

Grade Determinations

1. GS-8 PTA: Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
2. In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Ability to independently implement treatment plan using knowledge of techniques related to the patient's disability and needs. 2. Ability to independently provide varied and multifaceted physical therapy interventions based on the established care plan (e.g., therapeutic exercise, balance, body mechanics, flexibility, strength, gait training, neuromotor development, physical agents, functional training, etc.). 3. Knowledge of physical therapy data collection and assessment techniques in order to perform specific interventions and to monitor and capture progress of the patient/client. 4. Ability to instruct patient on varied interventions to provide materials to enhance compliance with home programs. Ability to modify treatment techniques based on the learning needs and perceptions of the patient. 5. Ability to identify critical changes (e.g. vital signs, pain, mobility and alertness) in patient conditions to determine their medical and functional status. 6. Ability to work with PTs and other interdisciplinary healthcare team members to evaluate patient information for planning, modifying and coordinating treatment programs and discharge planning.

Preferred Experience

Have experience with medical rehabilitation; Demonstrate dependability and customer care ethic; Outpatient care experience preferred.

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-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-08.

Physical Requirements

Work includes regular and demanding physical exertion in standing, bending, kneeling, reaching, gripping, and walking in order to position patients and make equipment assessments/modifications. Fine and gross motor skills are essential for adjusting equipment (wheelchairs, adaptive seating systems, etc.), handling tools, and making precise modifications. Moderate to heavy lifting is required to assist patients and operate equipment. Regular and recurring physical exertion is required, including lifting, positioning, and transferring patients, as well as moving and adjusting wheelchairs or other mobility equipment (can range from light to moderately heavy objects, typically up to 45 pounds). Sitting is required in meetings and for conducting administrative work. Above average agility may be desirable in defending oneself (or others) against physical attack/abuse. Work requires physical health, normal use of arms and legs, and good visual and auditory acuity. Incumbent must be licensed to operate a motor vehicle