Physical Therapist

Located in the Physical Therapy Department - VA Augusta Health Care System - this position serves as a Staff Physical Therapist primarily in Acute Care - with assignment to other areas as needed. The incumbent provides advanced - independent evaluation and treatment of acutely ill - medically complex Veterans - applying specialized clinical skills to promote safe mobility and recovery.

Located in the Physical Therapy Department - VA Augusta Health Care System - this position serves as a Staff Physical Therapist primarily in Acute Care - with assignment to other areas as needed. The incumbent provides advanced - independent evaluation and treatment of acutely ill - medically complex Veterans - applying specialized clinical skills to promote safe mobility and recovery.

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.

• United States Citizenship:
  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-0633-11
  
  Experience:
  
  None beyond the Basic Requirements
• Assignments:
  Physical Therapists at the GS-11 grade level perform duties at the entry level
• Assignments at this level include - but are not limited to:
  
  - Performing physical therapy examinations and evaluations under general supervision;
  
  - Developing treatment plans and implementing a variety of therapeutic interventions;
  
  - Modifying treatment plans based on patient response or changes in medical condition;
  
  - Providing general physical therapy services in any program area where advanced specialized knowledge is not…