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 and/or Experience: The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below:
- Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two years of experience as an occupational therapist; NOTE: baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA 01/01/2005 decision that the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. or
- Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two full years of graduate education in a related field; NOTE: baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA 01/01/2005 decision that ACOTE would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. or
- Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy.
- 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 U.S. Department of Education & Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Degree programs may be verified by contacting American Occupational Therapy Association website or at their office address: American Occupational Therapy Association, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda MD 20824-1220.
- Foreign Graduates: Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements of subparagraph 3b(2) if they have a current, full, active & 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 & 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 &/or state licensure, may be appointed, pending certification &/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 & may not be promoted/converted to the GS-11 level until licensure &/or certification is obtained. For grades levels at or above the developmental GS-11 grade level, the OT must be certified & 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.
- Failure to Obtain Licensure/Certification: In all cases, graduate OTs must actively pursue obtaining required credentials (i.e., NBCOT certification &/or state licensure) from the date of their appointment. The human resource office will notify the uncertified/unlicensed OT in writing of the requirement to obtain certification/licensure, the date by which the certification/license must be acquired & consequences for not becoming certified/licensed by the deadline date. The written notice must be provided prior to the entrance on duty date. Failure to obtain required credentials by the prescribed date will result in termination of employment.
- English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken & written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
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: There are no requirements beyond the basic requirements.
Occupational Therapist GS-11: 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: In addition, you must be able to demonstrate Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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 individual's 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: 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: Two years of geriatric experience preferred; 2 years home Health experience preferred.
References: VA Handbook 5005/127 PART II APPENDIX G14
The 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-09 to GS-12.
Physical Requirements: position consists of sedentary and active tasks. Sedentary tasks include but are not limited to, sitting at a desk, utilizing computer and completing phone calls, and charting. Active tasks include but are not limited to; walking, standing, bending, steps, squatting, reaching above and below your head and carrying of light items such as books, papers,
and adaptive equipment.
