Occupational Therapist

Veterans Health Administration • Amarillo, TX

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Occupational Therapist (OT) provides assessment and treatment to prevent, remediate, and rehabilitate acute and chronic physical, occupational, and psychosocial dysfunction. The OT reviews and interprets requests for therapy, examines patient records and medical histories, and organizes relevant information to guide care. The position uses advanced occupational therapy methods to assess and treat occupational, cognitive, and psychological functional deficits in patients with complex medical conditions across general medical, surgical, orthopedic, neurological, and psychiatric settings.

The OT independently develops and implements treatment plans, adapts assessments and interventions to patient needs, educates patients, caregivers, and staff, and supports safe positioning, seating, and wheeled mobility. The role includes motivating veterans and their families to participate in treatment and follow-up activities, helping them access VA and community resources for community transitions, and supervising a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant. The full performance level is GS-12; the vacancy may be filled at GS-9 through GS-12.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, either 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. or 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual or remote. The vacancy remains open until filled, with the first application cutoff on October 30, 2026. Applications expire after 90 days unless updated through USAJobs.

Applicants must meet the occupational therapy education, certification, and licensure requirements, subject to the stated exception for graduate OTs appointed temporarily while completing certification or licensure. Candidates must be U.S. citizens, proficient in written and spoken English, and meet the applicable grade-level requirements. Selected applicants must complete onboarding and serve a one- or two-year trial period.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an occupational therapy degree program approved by ACOTE or its predecessor organizations, including required supervised fieldwork.
• Meet one of the basic education and experience pathways: a qualifying bachelor's degree in occupational therapy plus two years of OT experience; a qualifying bachelor's degree in occupational therapy plus two full years of graduate education in a related field; or a master's degree or higher in occupational therapy.
• Current NBCOT certification as an occupational therapist, except where the stated graduate OT temporary appointment provision applies.
• A full, current, and unrestricted state license to practice occupational therapy in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, except where the stated graduate OT temporary appointment provision applies.
• For GS-11, one year of experience equivalent to GS-9 and directly related to the position, three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a related field, or a doctorate in occupational therapy; candidates must also demonstrate the listed GS-11 knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• For GS-12, one year of experience equivalent to GS-11 and directly related to the position, plus the listed GS-12 knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Ability to assess and coordinate intervention plans, implement interventions, monitor responses and modify treatment, and communicate or collaborate with patients, families, caregivers, and professionals, as applicable to the grade-level criteria.
• Knowledge of occupational therapy practice, clinical standards, health and safety regulations, and applicable documentation, reimbursement, and workload-entry regulations, as applicable to the grade-level criteria.
• For GS-12, skill in procuring, fabricating, adjusting, adapting, and modifying orthoses, splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living, and ability to conduct OT-related in-service and clinical training.
• Registration with the Selective Service is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Subject to a background/security investigation and completion of the online onboarding process.
• Must provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements; as of May 7, 2025, non-REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses or state identification cards cannot be used as acceptable identification.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Must complete all application requirements listed in the Required Documents section.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period; continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
• A transcript must be submitted when education is used to meet qualification requirements. Foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript.

Nice To Haves

• Previous or current experience assessing and treating patients in an outpatient setting.
• Ability to assess and treat patients with chronic pain using a biopsychosocial approach.
• Familiarity with occupational therapy assessment and follow-up using virtual care options, including telephone or video platforms.
• Previous or current experience assessing and treating patients in a long-term care or skilled nursing facility.
• Previous or current experience working with patients in a home setting or completing home safety assessments.
• Previous or current experience assessing and treating patients in an acute care setting, including postoperative orthopedic patients.
• Basic experience and knowledge with fitting and training on seating systems, including manual and power options.

Responsibilities

• Receive and interpret requests or instructions for occupational therapy procedures.
• Carry out or oversee the work of lower-graded assistants or technicians as needed.
• Review and examine patient data, including medical history, and organize pertinent information for occupational therapy care.
• Assess and treat occupational, cognitive, and psychological functional deficits using advanced occupational therapy techniques.
• Adapt and modify assessment tools and treatments for patients with complex diagnoses or disabilities.
• Use clinical reasoning to identify when more in-depth assessment or non-standard assessment methods and techniques are needed.
• Complete assessments and implement treatment plans, including caregiver and staff education on positioning, proper seating, and safe use of wheeled mobility devices.
• Independently solve complex clinical problems.
• Motivate veterans and family members to participate in treatment plans and comply with indicated regimens and post-discharge activities.
• Discuss treatment goals with patients and families.
• Help patients and significant others use VA and community resources to support transition back into the community, including the Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service Home Improvement and Structural Alterations Grant.
• Supervise the Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant to support initiation and compliance with established treatment plans and goals.
• Support the health care system's occupational safety, health, and fire safety program by applying approved regulations, practices, and work methods.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level