Physical Therapy Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • Montgomery, AL

28d • Onsite

About The Position

The GS-9 Physical Therapy Assistant is assigned to the Physical Therapy Department within Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) at the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System (CAVHCS). This position requires advanced level clinical competence. The incumbent will serve as a subject matter expert (SME) in a CAVHCS rehabilitation program such as, but not limited to, clinical education, geriatrics, orthopedics, cardiac rehabilitation, safe patient handling, or any other functional debilitative conditions. Duties include serving veterans who are inpatients in the acute care hospital, veterans who are scheduled in outpatient clinics (face-to-face and virtual care), and residents of the Community Living Center. The assistant works under the supervision of a Physical Therapist (PT) to provide services that promote the prevention, remediation, and rehabilitation of acute and chronic physical dysfunction. The incumbent participates with the PT in planning and implementing complex treatment programs and applies physical therapy procedures to patients under the general supervision of a PT. They provide therapeutic services including treatment, advisory and consultative functions to Veterans and their families. In addition to basic clinical functions, the incumbent performs higher-level duties within a designated rehabilitation program at least 25% of the time, applies advanced practice skills and specialized experience to treat complex patients, serves on medical center committees to provide departmental representation and SME within the designated program, and attends inter-departmental meetings to develop and maintain best practices. The incumbent will also conduct training as assigned and complete continuing education to support knowledge and skills well beyond entry level.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable forms of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period.
• 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.
• 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 (Transcript Required) 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. (Documentation Required) OR, Graduate of military physical therapy assistant programs that meet the educational requirement and have successfully passed the NPTE for PTAs. (Documentation/Transcripts Required)
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-8).
• A minimum of 2000 hours of clinical practice directly in the specialty area, and completion of 60 contact hours of selected continuing education coursework. This time must be within the past five years (Documentation Required) OR Advanced Practice Proficiency (APP) in the specialty area recognized by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) (Documentation Required) OR An additional academic degree related to the health care mission. (Transcript Required)
• Ability to mentor other staff in advanced clinical guidelines and best practices.
• Ability to serve as a subject matter expert (SME) for healthcare providers in specialty practice areas regarding physical therapy care.
• Ability to present advanced knowledge in the therapeutic interventions and clinical practice guidelines with the healthcare team.
• Ability to interpret and apply clinical practice guidelines.

Nice To Haves

• 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).

Responsibilities

• Serves veterans who are inpatients in the acute care hospital, veterans who are scheduled in outpatient clinics (face-to-face and virtual care), and residents of the Community Living Center.
• Works under the supervision of a Physical Therapist (PT) to provide services that promote the prevention, remediation, and rehabilitation of acute and chronic physical dysfunction.
• Participates with the PT in planning and implementing complex treatment programs and applies physical therapy procedures to patients under the general supervision of a PT.
• Provides therapeutic services including treatment, advisory and consultative functions to Veterans and their families.
• Performs higher-level duties within the designated rehabilitation program (clinical education, geriatrics, orthopedics, cardiac rehabilitation, safe patient handling, or any other functional debilitative conditions) at least 25% of the time.
• Applies advanced practice skills and specialized experience to treat complex patients.
• Serves on select medical center committees, as directed by Supervisor, to provide departmental representation as specialists for movement dysfunction and as SME within the designated program.
• Attends inter-departmental meetings to develop and maintain best practices for the delivery of optimal patient care.
• Conducts training as assigned by the Coordinator for Clinical Education, Supervisory Physical Therapist, or his/her designee.
• Completes continuing education, to support knowledge and skills well beyond entry level and within the designated program.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree