This is a full-time position at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center in the Diagnostic and Rehabilitation Medicine Service/Kinesiotherapy section. Kinesiotherapists independently conduct assessments and develop treatment plans to the complexity of the diagnosis or disability using appropriate functional tests and measurements according to established evidence-based professional practices.

Duties

Kinesiotherapists are responsible for performing a variety of duties including, but not limited to, the following:

Requirements

Qualifications

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 Language Proficiency: Kinesiotherapist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403 (f). Education: A bachelor's degree or higher from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program, with a concentration/emphasis in kinesiotherapy. OR A bachelor's degree or higher with a concentration/emphasis in kinesiotherapy or exercise science related field and registered as a kinesiotherapist in good standing with the COPSKT. OR A master's degree or higher with a degree in exercise science, kinesiology, human performance or a related field, which has been approved by COPSKT and a certificate verifying completion of a Center of Excellence (COE) Kinesiotherapy clinical training program. The completion of the certificate ensures that COPSKT has approved the degree program as part of the application process for the COE internship. Foreign Graduates. Graduates of a foreign program must meet the requirements in subparagraph 3b if they have a full unrestricted and current registration to practice kinesiotherapy in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States or in the District of Columbia. They must have at a minimum, proof of a degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as verified through an independent credentialing evaluation company). Registration: All applicants must be registered in kinesiotherapy in good standing with the Council of Professional Standards for Kinesiotherapy (COPSKT). Exception: Non-registered applicants at the GS-7 and GS-9 level who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for appointment, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate kinesiotherapist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(a)(1)(B). Pursuant to 38 U.S.C 7405(c)(2)(B), the appointment cannot exceed two years if the non-registered applicant's registration is pending with the COPSKT. Applicants who fail to obtain registration during this temporary fulltime appointment must be terminated. For grade levels at or above the full performance level, the candidate must be registered Failure to Obtain Registration: In all cases kinesiotherapists must actively pursue meeting registration starting from the date of appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor must provide the unregistered kinesiotherapist with a written requirement to obtain registration, the date by which the registration must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming registered by the deadline. Failure to become registered within two years from the date of appointment, will result in removal from the GS-0635, Kinesiotherapist series; and may result in termination of employment. Loss of Credential: Registered kinesiotherapists who fail to continue their registration in good standing, and maintain the required registration, must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. 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: GS-7: Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-9: Experience/Education. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level or education equivalent to two full years of progressively higher level graduate education or a master's degree from a university or college in the field of kinesiotherapy or an exercise science related field. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of policies and procedures of kinesiotherapy. (b) Knowledge of assistive devices to make recommendations, including fit and function of assistive devices with the ability to recognize appropriate prosthetic/orthotic devices for the patient. (c) Knowledge of evaluation and assessment tools in applying therapeutic techniques. (d) Skill in instructing patients and families in a therapeutic exercise program. GS-11: Experience/Education. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a degree in kinesiotherapy or an exercise science related field. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Skill in communicating and coordinating with patients, families, caregivers, and other health care professions to facilitate the multidisciplinary treatment process. (b) Knowledge of evidence-based kinesiotherapy to provide skilled rehabilitation interventions to a wide variety of patients having diverse and multiple disabilities. (c) Ability to conduct independent assessments using highly specialized evaluations and diagnostic tests. (d) Knowledge of learning principles, behavioral intervention, and innovational] techniques [for patient and caregiver education. (e) Ability to adapt assessment tools and treatment to the complexity of the diagnosis or disabilities and demonstrate the clinical reasoning necessary to identify the need for further in-depth specific assessment of function and utilization of non-standard methods and techniques. (f) Ability to use clinical reasoning necessary to identify the need for further in-depth specific assessment and/or continuation of treatment. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G21, Kinesiotherapist Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: The work requires varied periods of walking and sitting. The employee must occasionally lift up to 40 pounds.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center 3701 Loop Road East Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 US
• Name: Danny Jones
• Phone: 303-914-5499 X3711
• Email: [email protected]