Physical Therapist
What you'd do
Join the IHS as a Physical Therapist and make a lasting impact! You'll provide compassionate, culturally grounded care to American Indian and Alaska Natives, addressing social and emotional needs that affect health. Work with a dedicated team to strengthen wellness, resilience, and community well-being. Enjoy competitive benefits, professional growth, and a mission-driven career that truly matters. A REAL ID will be required beginning May 7, 2025, in accordance with 6 C.F.R. 37.5 (2021).
Major duties
Manage and direct the Physical Therapy department including strategic planning, policy formulation, budget management. Promote training needs of all direct care staff to ensure staff development and competency. Provide quality physical therapy evaluation and treatment to impatient and outpatients of all ages with a wide variety of diagnostic conditions requiring rehabilitative services. Provide expert professional consultation to department personnel, medical staff within the assigned Service Unit. Plan and carry out a full range of physical therapy treatments. Requirements: (Continued) This is a competitive vacancy announcement advertised under Delegated Examining Authority. Selections made under this vacancy announcement will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would therefore be given new appointments to the civil service; however, benefits, time served, and all other Federal entitlements would remain the same. This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes. The selected individual is required to obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including any licensure requirements. If privileges are not obtained or maintained during employment, the employee will be subject to adverse actions, up to and including removal from Federal service. Additional Information: (Continued) 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. IHS may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their directly related previous non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying. 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; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. BASIC REQUIREMENT(S): Education A graduate or higher level degree that included: A physical therapy curriculum approved by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or a professional accrediting organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained; and Completion of the clinical requirements prescribed by the school. 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 (FSBPT). Note: Employees currently assigned to positions in this occupational series as of September 2017 will be considered to have met the basic requirements for the position occupied. In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: GS-11: Education: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR Experience: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level. If qualifying based on experience, your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Determining objectives to be employed in the development of a physical therapy treatment plan. Developing the comprehensive physical therapy treatment plan which helps the patient and/or family meet his/her own therapy goals for improved functional mobility at work and/or leisure. Providing the full range of physical therapy techniques in order to optimize positive rehabilitation. OR Combination of Education and Experience: Combination of education and experience that when combined fully meet the minimum qualifications for this position. The total percentage equals at least 100 percent to qualify for this GS-11 grade level. GS-12: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Providing a full-range of physical therapy direct patient care for all ages. Implementing and controlling administrative and clinical functions of the Physical Therapy Department. Providing mentorship to program staff to ensure program compliance. You must meet all qualification requirements by the respective cut-off day of rating to be eligible for consideration.
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
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