Occupational Therapist (PMRS)

• Reviews incoming referrals for appropriateness and independently evaluates patients problems to determine their occupational therapy needs through the use of standard tests and measurements adapting and modifying treatment plans to meet the needs of patients.
• Demonstrates a full professional understanding of the theories of treatment in occupational therapy and their proper application.
• Provides accurate written and/or verbal documentation of patient status and progress treatment program plans and patient response to treatment.
• Schedules patient visits throughout the day allowing for adequate individual treatment time as well as necessary time for conferences and any administrative tasks.
• Consults with patients and their families through patient family education training advising them in the nature of their medical condition and by providing home programs.
• Supports and is involved in teamwork and/or team building both within the OTs service and other services.
• Represents Occupational Therapy/PM&RS at interdisciplinary team meetings and provides in-service training to hospital staff as needed.
• Maintains and carries out all hospital and service policies and philosophies.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Bay Pines: Tuesday-Saturday 8:00am-4:30pm; Cape Coral: Monday - Friday 0800-4:30pm
Telework: Ad-hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 21910F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized for highly qualified candidates.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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 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.

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.
• English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Education and/or Experience:
  • The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below:
    • Bachelors degree in occupational therapy and two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1 2005 decision that the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. or
    • Bachelors degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1 2005 decision that ACOTE would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. or
    • Masters Degree or higher in occupational therapy. (2)
  • Individuals must be a graduate of a degree program in occupational therapy approved by the ACOTE or predecessor organizations. This is inclusive of an internship (supervised fieldwork experience required by the educational institution). ACOTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Degree programs may be verified by contacting the American Occupational Therapy Association website or at their office address: American Occupational Therapy Association P.O. Box 31220 Bethesda MD 20824-122
  • Foreign Graduates: Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements of subparagraph 3b(2) if they have a current full active and unrestricted license referred to in subparagraph 3e of this appendix.
• Certification: Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT.
• State Licensure: Candidates must possess a full current and unrestricted state license to practice occupational therapy in a state territory or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e. Puerto Rico) or in the District of Columbia.
• Exceptions for the Graduate Occupational Therapist:
  • OT graduates from an approved occupational therapy program who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements but who do not possess NBCOT certification and/or state licensure may be appointed pending certification and/or licensure as a graduate OT on a full-time temporary appointment not-to exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2).
  • Graduate OTs may only be appointed at the GS-9 grade level and may not be promoted/converted to the GS-11 level until licensure and/or certification is obtained. For grades levels at or above the developmental GS-11 grade level the OT must be certified and licensed.
  • A graduate OT may provide care only under the direct supervision of a licensed OT who meets all state regulatory requirements.
  • Temporary graduate OT appointments may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment.

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).

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

• Occupational Therapist GS-9:
  • Education Experience or Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements.

• Occupational Therapist GS-11:
  • Education Experience or Licensure:
    • Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level and directly related to the position being filled; or
    • Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related field; or
    • Doctorate in occupational therapy.
  • Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience or education requirements above for the GS-11 level for this position candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
    • Knowledge of occupational therapy practice.
    • Ability to administer/interpret evaluation findings to develop and coordinate intervention plans including goals and methods of treatment.
    • Ability to implement intervention plans directly or in collaboration with others.
    • Skill in monitoring an individuals response to interventions and modify treatment plans and reevaluating as indicated.
    • Ability to communicate and or collaborate with patients family members caregivers interdisciplinary professionals and/or other individuals verbally and in writing.
    • Knowledge of health and safety regulations to minimize risk in the provision of patient care and the environment of care.
    • Knowledge of applicable regulations governing documentation reimbursement and workload entry in accordance with established professional practice.

• Occupational Therapist GS-12:
  • Education Experience and Licensure: Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled.
  • Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
    • Knowledge of occupational therapy principles and techniques consistent with current clinical standards based on OT theory and evidence based practice. Knowledge is inclusive of physical occupational cognitive and psychosocial functional deficits.
    • Ability to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with all internal and external stakeholders.
    • Ability to use critical analysis clinical reasoning and creativity to independently solve complex problems related to adapting and modifying assessments treatment plans activities and procedures to meet the needs of patients.
    • Skill in procuring fabricating adjusting adapting and modifying orthoses splints and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment).
    • Ability to conduct OT related in-service and clinical training.

Preferred Experience:

• Bay Pines - Experience with Lymphedema Inpatient acute care Inpatient rehabilitation Wheelchair evaluations (custom and power) Upper extremity orthopedics. Cape Coral - Experience with Wheelchair evaluations (custom and power) Lymphedema Upper extremity orthopedics.
• 2 years of experience working with adult population.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-12.

Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work require light lifting (under 15 pounds) light carrying (under 15 pounds) the use of fingers reaching above shoulder both hands required walking (3 hrs.) prolong standing (6-8 hrs.) crawling (.25 hrs.) kneeling (.50 hrs.) repeated bending (2 hrs.) ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously.