SUMMARY

The Physical Therapist serves patients in any Out-Patient Clinic, Acute Care unit, Geriatric clinics or CLC as patient care requirements dictate at the Northport Health Care System. This position will have a primary assignment to support the Out-patient Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Program. They provide clinical services to address a vast array of problems, & embrace evidenced based practice standards in diagnosis, examination, management, intervention, treatment & outcome measurement.

QUALIFICATIONS

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:

• Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education: Transcripts (official or unofficial) must be included with all application packets.
• Individuals must have successfully completed a bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. OR;
• A master’s degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. OR;
• A doctorate degree in physical therapy.
• Note: A degree program in physical therapy is required to be from an approved college or university approved by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
• License: All applicants must be licensed to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.
• (1) Exception based on Grandfathering Provision: All licensed Physical Therapists 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:
• (a) Employees grandfathered into the GS-0633 occupational series as Physical Therapists may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation.
• (b) Physical Therapists 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.
• (c) Physical Therapists 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.
• (d) If Physical Therapists 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.
• (2) Loss of Certification. A Physical Therapist 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.

Grade Determination: Physical Therapist, GS-0633-12

• Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Physical Therapy field. Qualifying GS-11 grade level experience includes, but is not limited to: providing assessment and treatment intervention, planning and modifying treatment based on a patient’s response to intervention and/or change in medical condition, general assignments in any physical therapy program area where advanced specialized knowledge is not required, serving as the sole Physical Therapist such as in an outpatient clinic, providing oversight and delegating patient care responsibilities to a Physical Therapist Assistant, and/or delegating non-patient care duties to non-licensed staff AND;
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
• (a) 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.
• (b) 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.
• (c) 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.
• (d) 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.
• (e) 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.
• (f) Ability to independently provide clinical oversight of Physical Therapy Assistants as 7 well as students on clinical affiliations who are in Doctoral PT Programs or PTA Programs

Preferred Experience: APTA (American Physical Therapy Association) Board Certified Orthopaedics Specialist 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-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12.
Physical Requirements: Work requires typical physical requirements of working within a Hospital Facility, Out-Patient Clinic, office, gymnasium or pool in the performance of job responsibilities. Physical exertion such as long periods of standing, or recurring and considerable crouching, bending, standing, stooping, stretching, or walking. Employees frequently carry light items such as books, office supplies, instruments, rehabilitation supplies and other similar materials. Work also includes frequent lifting of moderately heavy items weighing less than 23 kilograms (i.e., under 50 pounds) such as record boxes, equipment needed to perform your job, or assisting in patient and self-care transfer activities.

EDUCATION

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

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.

IF YOU ARE RELYING ON YOUR EDUCATION TO MEET QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

DUTIES

About the position: The Physical Therapist (PT) serves those patients in any Out-Patient Clinic, Acute Care unit, Geriatric clinics or CLC as patient care requirements dictate at the Northport Health Care System. This position will have a primary assignment to support the Out-patient Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R)Program. Physical Therapists provide clinical services to address a vast array of problems that impact the health and function of a wide range of diverse patients. As independent practitioners, licensed physical therapists embrace evidenced based practice standards in diagnosis, examination, management, intervention, treatment and outcome measurement. Licensed physical therapists collaborate across the continuum of care. They ensure that services are coordinated, including ordering studies of value and being consumer-centered by referring, co-managing, engaging consultants, and independently supervising care. Duties include but are not limited to:

• The Physical Therapist is responsible for maintaining communication with the referring providers as well as any team members contributing to the care of their patients.
• The Physical Therapist makes autonomous clinical decisions in a Direct Access environment. This includes ability to independently evaluate and treat patients who seek physical therapy services.
• The Physical Therapist is expected to provide appropriate communication with the veteran and family members as appropriate, communicating with referring providers when needed as well as making appropriate referrals to other providers as situations dictate.
• The Physical Therapist will be expected to carry out assignments in an acceptable standard of productivity within national guidelines with the exception of home care assignments, where usual standards of productivity are not applicable due to road travel time requirements.
• The Physical Therapist interprets findings from examination, diagnostic studies/medical tests and, during evaluation, select appropriate clinical tests and measures, and then integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations.
• The Physical Therapist will establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate intervention to treat and/or refer to another provider for further consultation when needed.
• The Physical Therapist will possess 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.
• The Physical Therapist will 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.
• The Physical Therapist will 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.
• The Physical Therapist will 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.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 - 4:00PM
Telework: Not available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 21Z33-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50’s (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Physical Therapy Licensure
• PCS Orders
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcrip

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/10/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12774713.

• To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
• Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package