- 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's 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 interest. In 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.
*** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT & will remain open until September 30, 2026 or until the position is filled. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be August 6, 2026. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled. ***
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred & 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 & written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
Education and/or Experience.
Individuals must be a graduate of a degree program in occupational therapy approved by the ACOTE or predecessor organizations. ACOTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education & the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below:
- (a) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy &two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist.
or
- (b) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy & two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field.
or
- (c) Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy.
or
- Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements if they have a current, full, active & unrestricted license to practice occupational therapy.
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.
- 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.
Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard (12/13/2019) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education & licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of this occupation. Employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, must meet one of the provisions listed in the qualification standard.
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.
- (a) Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level & directly related to the position being filled;
or
- (b) Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related field;
or
- (c) Doctorate in occupational therapy.
Assignments for the GS-9 grade level include by are not limited to serving as OT practitioners in a career development position progressively expanding their ability to provide assessment & treatment interventions for a wide range of human function systems. The entry level therapist has a basic foundation of OT & generally practices independently.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
- (a) Knowledge of occupational therapy practice.
- (b) Ability to administer/interpret evaluation findings to develop & coordinate intervention plans, including goals & methods of treatment.
- (c) Ability to implement intervention plans directly or in collaboration with others.
- (d) Skill in monitoring an individual's response to interventions & modify treatment plans & reevaluating as indicated.
- (e) Ability to communicate &or collaborate with patients, family members, caregivers, interdisciplinary professionals &/or other individuals verbally & in writing.
- (f) Knowledge of health & safety regulations to minimize risk in the provision of patient care & the environment of care.
- (g) Knowledge of applicable regulations governing documentation, reimbursement & workload entry in accordance with established professional practice.
Occupational Therapist, GS-12
Education & Experience. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at the GS-11 grade level & directly related to the position being filled.
Assignments at the GS-11 level include but are not limited to OTs practicing independently & are responsible for the assessment of functional & occupational roles using standardized tools. OTs select & provide direct occupational therapy interventions & procedures with routine complexity to enhance safety, wellness, performance in activities of daily living (ADL); & instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), education, work, play, leisure, & social participation. OTs demonstrate an understanding of the theories of treatment in occupational therapy & their proper application through the use of activity analysis, behavioral intervention, frame of references, & therapeutic procedures.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
- (a) Knowledge of occupational therapy principles & techniques consistent with current clinical standards based on OT theory & evidence based practice. Knowledge is inclusive of physical, occupational, cognitive, & psychosocial functional deficits.
- (b) Ability to collaborate & communicate orally & in writing with all internal &external stakeholders.
- (c) Ability to use critical analysis, clinical reasoning, & creativity to independently solve complex problems related to adapting &modifying assessments, treatment plans, activities & procedures to meet the needs of patients.
- (d) Skill in procuring, fabricating, adjusting, adapting, & modifying orthoses, splints, & adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment).
- (e) Ability to conduct OT related in-service & clinical training.
Preferred Experience:
- Providing rehabilitation services in home or community-based settings, particularly with older adults or those managing chronic health conditions.
- Experience working as part of an interdisciplinary healthcare team, collaborating with providers such as nurses, social workers, & physicians.
- Experience with the VA system or caring for veterans.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
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-9 to
GS-12.
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.
Physical Requirements: This position provides services to patients and their families. Incumbents must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others. Normal work of the position requires visual acuity (with the ability to read typewritten characters without strain, corrective lenses permitted), keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position may require reaching above shoulder-level height and requires potentially moderate levels of lifting and carrying (15 - 44 pounds). This position
requires long periods of sitting, standing, and walking. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.
Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.
The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
- Cover Letter
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DD-214/ Statement of Service
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Disability Letter (VA)
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License
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Other (1)
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Professional Certification
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Resume
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SF-15
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SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
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Transcript
Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
