Clarification from the agency

The area of consideration is limited to current permanent Alaska VA HCS and associated clinic employees.

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Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Exercises the highest degree of independence and professional judgment in planning and carrying out treatment programs to meet complex treatment objectives for the patient population. Procedures involved require the application of advanced knowledge and skills related to the orthopedic clinical specialty of physical therapy, as well as general physical therapy.
• Demonstrates a full professional and current understanding of the theories of physical therapy treatment and their proper application.
• Demonstrates expert skills to perform and interpret specialized evaluative procedures/ interventions and tests in evaluating the treatment outcomes in physical therapy.
• Consults are scheduled considering priority and frequency of care, and coordination of schedules with other members of the treatment team. Flexibility of schedule must be maintained to allow for unscheduled patients and for mentoring and consultation.
• Completes evaluation and treatment in a timely fashion; chart review will allow the incumbent an opportunity to assess appropriateness of the referral and possible contraindications for treatment.
• Evaluation includes a medical history, review of results, and interpretation of the appropriate tests and measurements performed. Tests are frequently complex and may need to be adapted because of multiple comorbidities, physical and emotional disabilities, or present conditions.
• Assesses patient's learning needs, and plans and implements appropriate patient education programs, involving the patient, family, and significant others in the instructional process.
• Assesses for and requests prosthetic/orthotic equipment, including neural prostheses, as needed and is able to make modifications as necessary.
• Must coordinate and employ multiple treatment approaches simultaneously to accomplish complex treatment objectives.
• The employment of unusual and innovative treatment techniques is often necessary to obtain the best outcome. Established treatment procedures are not always applicable and, at times, must be substantially adapted and applied with critical concern for patients who are acutely or chronically ill, or who have a combination of mental or physical disabilities with secondary complications
• Treatment plans may require frequent modification in response to subtle but significant changes in the condition of the patient and to meet short- and long-term goals
• Recognizes even subtle responses or adverse reactions to treatment, initiates effective action immediately, and advises other healthcare team members as indicated.
• Involves the patient, family, significant others, and pertinent healthcare staff in the treatment process by ongoing communication through demonstration, instruction, team conferences, and chart documentation as appropriate to each patient's treatment goals.
• Makes referrals to other medical specialties/services as needs are identified during ongoing assessments.
• Participates in team, clinical, department, and program meetings.

Work Schedule: 8AM - 4:30PM, Monday -Friday
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 50430-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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.
• 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.
• 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: 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.

• 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.

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- 13 Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist)

Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level and one of the following:

1. Evidence of a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the specialty area (Orthopedics). This time must be between the past two and five years; OR
2. Board Certification in the specialty area (Orthopedics) recognized by the ABPTS; OR
3. Completion of a fellowship program; OR
4. An additional advanced degree in a related field. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Advanced knowledge and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in a specialized treatment area of physical therapy (Orthopedics).
2. Ability to serve as a consultant and subject matter expert for health care providers regarding the delivery of care within a specialized content area of physical therapy (Orthopedics).
3. Ability to teach and mentor medical center staff in a specialized content area of physical therapy (Orthopedics).
4. Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team in a specialized content area of physical therapy (Orthopedics).
5. Advanced knowledge and expert skill to perform and interpret specialized procedures and tests in evaluating the treatment outcomes in the assigned specialty content area (Orthopedics).

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-13.

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 lbs.), light carrying (under 15 lbs.), use of fingers, both hands, walking, standing, and hearing (aid may be permitted). Environmental factors include working closely with others, and working alone.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.