Summary

This Physical Therapist (Neurologic Clinical Specialist) position is located within the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service at the VA Providence Healthcare System located in Providence, Rhode Island. This position does have expected travel requirements to the New Bedford, MA clinic. It is permanent and full-time at 40 hours per week.

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Duties

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VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY

The primary function of this position is to provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment of all patients but particularly those with complex neurological conditions. The incumbent demonstrates independence with ability to make autonomous clinical decisions in a Direct Access environment, including the ability to independently evaluate and treat patients who seek physical therapy services. Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Administers PT programs to adult and geriatric patients in all units of the medical center and in numerous outpatient settings;
• Serves as a resource to staff, including physicians, nurses, therapists, students and residents for any need related to neurologic PT;
• Remains current on latest advances for evaluation and treatment for patients with complex neurological conditions;
• Coordinates, plans and organizes the day to day operations and activities for the PT Neurologic program to allow for optimal patient care;
• Directs the clinic scheduling activity with the medical support assistant staff when needed;
• Acts as a liaison between staff therapists and supervisor for areas related to neurologic specialty care;
• Provides in-service and clinical training in neurologic PT and serves as a core member and mentor for the PT Neurological Residency Program;
• Performs the full range of functions for adult and geriatric patients which include assessment, intervention, training and patient and/or caregiver education;
• Develops rehabilitation objectives for individual patients, solving complex problems related to their PT needs;
• Creates and implements treatment plans to restore and enhance their performance and potential for independent living and maximize functional gains; and
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm.

Compressed/Flexible: Not available.

Telework: Not authorized.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 650-F08563

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

Notifications:

• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.
• This position is not a Bargaining Unit position.
• This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay.
• The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's.
• Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.

Requirements

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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.
• 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 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 during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

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.
• License: Individuals must 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.
• Education and Experience: Physical Therapists must meet one of the education/experience requirements below:
  
  • Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist; OR
  • Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist; OR
  • 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.

GS- 13 Grade Requirements:

• 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:
  
  • Evidence of a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the specialty area (Neurologic). This time must be between the past two and five years; OR
  • Board Certification in the specialty area (Neurologic) recognized by the ABPTS; OR
  • Completion of a fellowship program; OR
  • An additional advanced degree in a related field.
• KSAs: In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  
  • Advanced knowledge and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in a specialized treatment area of physical therapy.
  • 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.
  • Ability to teach and mentor medical center staff in a specialized content area of physical therapy.
  • Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team in a specialized content area of physical therapy.
  • Advanced knowledge and expert skill to perform and interpret specialized procedures and tests in evaluating the treatment outcomes in the assigned specialty content area.

Preferred Experience:

• 2 or more years of direct and continual clinical experience in the specialty area of neurologic rehabilitation
• Current Neurologic Clinical Specialist (NCS) credential through the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS)

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019

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/.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.