Occupational Therapist

GS-12 (Full Performance Level):

• Responsible for the assessment of referred Veterans that require rehabilitation services.
• Provides direct patient care to assess medical condition functional capabilities limitations restrictions and potential for rehabilitation.
• Conducts comprehensive patient examinations.
• Identifies rehabilitation problems and establishes treatment goals.
• Performs and interprets specialized evaluative procedures and tests.
• Establishes a care plan and administers a treatment program with specific goals determined according to the Veterans capacity and tolerance.
• Sets realistic and achievable goals for Veterans.
• Develops and implements comprehensive treatments including IADLs pain management joint protection kinesiotaping manual therapy neuromuscular facilitation modalities strength/endurance training energy conservation attention and cognition and patient/family education.
• Has knowledge experience and skill in the prescription fitting and training in the use of adaptive equipment including orthotics splints assistive technology wheelchair mobility ADL devices modalities and devices for the outpatient population.
• Documents and records the Veterans condition.
• Educates Veterans and families in daily functional activities exercises and use of adaptive equipment.
• Understands and adheres to NAVAHCS policies and procedures.
• Assists with triage of patient referrals/consults/self-referrals and follows scheduling and Community Care guidelines.
• Displays flexibility of schedule to accommodate unexpected customer needs.
• Assists with coverage to other PM&R clinics as needed.
• Demonstrates the ability to identify and resolve interpersonal or professional conflicts.
• Participates in Process Improvement activities related to FWOPC PM&R and NAVAHCS.

GS-11 (Developmental Level):OTs at this grade level practice independently and are responsible for the assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized tools. The OT modifies standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools. OTs select and provide direct occupational therapy interventions and procedures with routine complexity to enhance safety wellness performance in activities of daily living (ADL); and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) education work play leisure and social participation. Occupational therapists require guidance with higher complexity conditions. OTs demonstrate an understanding of the theories of treatment in occupational therapy and their proper application through the use of activity analysis behavioral intervention frame of references and therapeutic procedures. They are assigned to all program areas within VHA and provide professional independent occupational therapy -9 (Developmental Level):Individuals assigned at the GS-9 grade level serve as OT practitioners in a career development position progressively expanding their ability to provide assessment and treatment interventions for a wide range of human function systems. The entry level therapist has a basic foundation of OT and generally practices independently. OTs at this level typically have guidance from more experienced therapists. OTs that are not licensed must practice under the supervision of a licensed OT.

Work Schedule: Full Time Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
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.
• 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.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 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;
  • Bachelors degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field;
  • Masters Degree or higher in occupational therapy.
• 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.

NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1 2005 decision that the Accreditation Council forOccupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy.

Note: 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 20824-1220.

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:

Grade GS-9: None beyond the basic requirements.

Grade GS-11:

• Experience/Education.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Grade GS-12:

• Experience. 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.
  • 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.

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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.