Physical Therapy Assistant

Description:

The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) at the Battle Creek VA Medical Center, primary duty station at the Wyoming VA Clinic, may also work in outpatient, inpatient acute, or the Community Living Center (CLC) for short-term rehabilitation or long-term care.

Requirements:

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.
• Education. Individuals must meet at least one of the requirements below:
  • 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;
    • 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.
    • OR
  • Graduate of military physical therapy assistant programs that meet the educational requirement and have successfully passed the NPTE for PTAs.]
• Licensure. 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.

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 :
Physical Therapy Assistant, GS-9

(1) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate one of the following:
(a) 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; or 7
(b) Advanced Practice Proficiency (APP) in the specialty area recognized by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA); or
(c) An additional academic degree related to the health care mission.

(2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) Ability to mentor other staff in advanced clinical guidelines and best practices.
(b) Ability to serve as a subject matter expert (SME) for healthcare providers in specialty practice areas regarding physical therapy care. (c) Ability to present] advanced knowledge in the therapeutic interventions and clinical practice guidelines with the healthcare team.
(d) Ability to interpret and apply clinical practice guidelines.

(3) Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. PTAs at this level apply advanced practice skills to treat complex patients. PTAs possess an advanced level of clinical competence and serve as a SME in specialty practice areas. They serve as a subject matter expert in a rehabilitation program such as, but not limited to, geriatrics, amputee, brain injury, cardiac rehabilitation, orthopedics, neurological, safe patient handing, or any other functional debilitative conditions. They possess advanced practice skills and experience with a wide range of patient complexity. They apply advanced methodologies to a vast array of functional impairments and patients. They independently recommend and apply evidence-based treatment approaches within the plan of care

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

Physical Requirements: Pre-placement and periodic physical examinations are required for hybrid occupations to ensure workers are placed in positions where they can perform the essential functions of their job considering their physical, mental and emotional capacities, Battle Creek VAMC FS# 93702-A without endangering their health or the health of their co-workers. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Heavy lifting (45 pounds and over); heavy carrying (45 pounds and over); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (6 hours); standing (6 hours); kneeling (5 hours); repeating bending (5 hours); climbing, use of legs and arms; both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; good visual requirement; hearing (aid permitted); mental & emotional stability required