PHYSICAL THERAPIST

Duties
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• The OST PT will observe airmen working in the operational environment to understand the mission, observe for
  occupational musculoskeletal stressors, and build rapport with unit members
• Utilizes a wide range of concepts, principles, and methodologies of the therapeutic field to provide examination,
  evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, intervention, and outcome assessment for Department of Defense (DoD) beneficiaries
• Provides guidance, training, and preceptorship to physical therapy students, physical therapist assistants, physical
  medicine technicians, as well as Primary Care Managers, specialty providers, flight medicine, and other medical
  staff.
• Ensures proper and timely documentation of patient care IAW DoD and professional standards.
• Provides current/relevant briefings and/or hands-on lab sessions at the unit and work-center level

Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov
• If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a OCONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/
• This position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
• Disclosure of Political Appointments
• Employees and family members requiring medical/dental care in the overseas location are responsible for obtaining/paying for care. Access for these members to military medical/dental treatment facilities is on space-available/reimbursable basis only.
• Depending on the type of position (competitive/excepted) you are selected for, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period.
• Upon completion of your probationary/trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
• At a minimum, qualification requirements stipulated by the Office of Personnel Management for the 0633 occupational series must be met
• This position has been designated by the Air Force as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Drug Demand Reduction Program
• Employee must pass initial and periodic short notice drug testing. Illegal drug use by employees in sensitive positions presents a clear threat to the mission of the Air Force, national security, and public safety.
• Must possess and maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Five years of recent full-time equivalent clinical experience as a physical therapist relevant to practice setting and allowing privileging for independent practice is desired.
• Specialty certifications such as Athletic Trainer, Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Orthopedic Clinical Specialist or Sports Clinical Specialist are desired
• Employee must meet the annual Continuing Medical Education (CME) requirements for Biomedical Sciences Corps clinician and for state licensure IAW AF guidance
• Employee must be able to receive/maintain regular privileges/medical staff appointment as a physical therapist by the facility credentials office, to include participation in ongoing peer review IAW AF guidance
• Employee may be required to work and/or be on-call after normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Employee may be required to carry and respond to a pager during work hours and when performing on-call duty
• A pre-employment physical is required for this position.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Professional and Scientific Positions and Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) for the GS-0633 Series.

BASIC REQUIREMENT OR INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT:

Education:
A graduate or higher level degree that included:

• A physical therapy curriculum approved by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs(external link) (CAAHEP) or a professional accrediting organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education(external link) at the time the degree was obtained; and
• Completion of the clinical requirements prescribed by the school. NOTE: You must submit a copy of transcripts.

Licensure
For all grade levels and positions, applicants must possess a current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a Physical Therapist from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States; and must have passed the National Physical Therapy Examination administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy(external link) (FSBPT). NOTE: You must submit a copy of your license.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-11, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes professional knowledge of, and skill in applying, a wide range of concepts, principles, and methodologies of the therapeutic field sufficient to perform advanced techniques to identify existing or potential problems resulting from trauma, disease or other causes; and deviate from existing treatment methods, procedures, or techniques to resolve difficult or complex problems; Knowledge of physical therapy practices sufficient to plan and carry out the full range of specialized and complex treatments for patients who are acutely ill or have a combination of severe physical disabilities with secondary complications; Knowledge of military medical readiness standards, such as fitness for duty testing, deployment requirements, and special duty programs sufficient to participate in physical medicine and human performance/rehabilitation programs; Knowledge of the full range of organic and functional physical disorders, their causes, and complications, to determine complex risk factors and behaviors contributing to the overall impairment and functional limitation.

FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-11 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

1. Professional knowledge of an extensive range of concepts, principles, and methodologies of the Physical Therapy field
to perform advanced techniques to examine, diagnose, and treat neuromuscular and musculoskeletal disease/pathology,
impairment, and functional limitations
2. Knowledge of the etiology, pathoanatomy, pathophysiology, pathomechanics, and manifestations of the full range of
organic and functional physical disorders, their causes, and complicating factors contributing to the overall impairment and
functional limitation.
3. Knowledge of health delivery and support services in order to work as an integral member of patient care teams; work
effectively with other health professionals, paraprofessionals, and support staff; consult with other specialists to effectively
deliver patient services.
4. Knowledge of contemporary rehabilitation theories, neurological and orthopedic evaluations, spinal and extremity manipulation/mobilization to apply evidence-based reasoning to develop a comprehensive therapeutic treatment program. Ability to guide, train, and mentor enlisted physical medicine technicians, resident/intern physicians, clinical nurses, and/or other health professionals.
5. Ability to communicate clearly, both written and oral, with staff, patients, and the multi-disciplinary healthcare team. Ability to deliver/present educational briefings to work-centers regarding mitigation techniques/injury prevention, ergonomics, and fitness programs.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcriptswith the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

Additional information

Important Overseas Information: Applicants interested in applying for overseas locations please click here to review important information regarding the exceptional family member program.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click here . To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated well qualified or above for this position. You must submit a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location.

Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information.

120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur.

Priority Placement Program (PPP) Applicant Eligible: PPP Applicants, if determined well qualified and selected, will be placed at the at the full performance level. You must include the applicable completed copy of the PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility as a PPP Applicant. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD3145-1 through DD3145-4, select the appropriate checklist for your claimed preference). To determine the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist required to substantiate the eligibilities you are claiming, refer to the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide located in the Required Documents section of this vacancy announcement.

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.

Incentives: Recruitment and/or retention incentives may or may not be used.

Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here .

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here .