- Position Title
- Occup Therapy Assistant
- Agency
- Veterans Health Administration
- Announcement Number
- CBSR-12730798-25-KAP Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Wednesday, April 30, 2025 to Friday, May 16, 2025
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1.
Are you currently employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs?
This includes: Career/Career Conditional or Excepted Service (i.e. Canteen, Hybrid, Title 38, etc. and meets interchange agreement requirements). This does not include temporary, term or temporary intermittent.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met (if applicable) and include your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. Competitive or Excepted). Please be aware that award SF-50's do not always include this pertinent information.
This includes: Career/Career Conditional or Excepted Service (i.e. Canteen, Hybrid, Title 38, etc. and meets interchange agreement requirements). This does not include temporary, term or temporary intermittent.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met (if applicable) and include your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. Competitive or Excepted). Please be aware that award SF-50's do not always include this pertinent information.
2.
Are you an employee of the department/service line indicated for this position?
This includes: Career/Career Conditional or Excepted Service (i.e. Canteen, Hybrid, Title 38, etc. and meets interchange agreement requirements). This does not include temporary, term or temporary intermittent.
To verify your eligibility, you may be required submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). Please review the instructions in the announcement. Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met (if applicable) and include your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. Competitive or Excepted). Please be aware that award SF-50's do not always include this pertinent information.
This includes: Career/Career Conditional or Excepted Service (i.e. Canteen, Hybrid, Title 38, etc. and meets interchange agreement requirements). This does not include temporary, term or temporary intermittent.
To verify your eligibility, you may be required submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). Please review the instructions in the announcement. Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met (if applicable) and include your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. Competitive or Excepted). Please be aware that award SF-50's do not always include this pertinent information.
3.
Are you an employee of the facility indicated for this position?
This includes: Career/Career Conditional or Excepted Service (i.e. Canteen, Hybrid, Title 38, etc. and meets interchange agreement requirements). This does not include temporary, term or temporary intermittent.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met (if applicable) and include your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. Competitive or Excepted). Please be aware that award SF-50's do not always include this pertinent information.
This includes: Career/Career Conditional or Excepted Service (i.e. Canteen, Hybrid, Title 38, etc. and meets interchange agreement requirements). This does not include temporary, term or temporary intermittent.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met (if applicable) and include your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. Competitive or Excepted). Please be aware that award SF-50's do not always include this pertinent information.
4.
Are you a current permanent Federal employee from an agency other than Department of Veterans Affairs?
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form.
5.
Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions AND you:
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. You must also submit the disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15.
- have a rating by the Department of Veterans Affairs showing a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more; OR,
- retired from active military service with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more?
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. You must also submit the disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15.
6.
Are you a current Federal employee in the excepted service in an agency covered by an Interchange Agreement with at least one year of service in that position?
For more information, review Interchange Agreements with Other Merit Systems.
-OR-
Are you a current:
• Postal Career Service Employee;
• Postal Rate Commission Employee;
• Government Accountability Office (GAO) Employee; or,
• Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Employee?
For more information, review Miscellaneous Authorities Not Regulated By U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form (SF-50) reflecting your status.
For more information, review Interchange Agreements with Other Merit Systems.
-OR-
Are you a current:
• Postal Career Service Employee;
• Postal Rate Commission Employee;
• Government Accountability Office (GAO) Employee; or,
• Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Employee?
For more information, review Miscellaneous Authorities Not Regulated By U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form (SF-50) reflecting your status.
7.
Do you have prior Career or Career-Conditional Service with the Federal Government? If so, you may be eligible for reinstatement.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your separation Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status. Your separation SF-50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect:
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your separation Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status. Your separation SF-50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect:
- career or career-conditional (Tenure field box 24. is 1 or 2); AND,
- your status in the competitive service (Position Occupied field box 34. is 1).
- highest grade previously held (Grade or Level field box 18.)
Preferences
1.
Which of the following items describes your current or recent (within the last five years) political appointee service?
If you responded yes to any of the items below, you will need to include a SF-50 specifying your prior service.
If you responded yes to any of the items below, you will need to include a SF-50 specifying your prior service.
Your resume must be submitted in English and include the following information for each job listed:
- Job title Duties (be as detailed as possible)
- Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
- Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)
- Series and Grade, if applicable, for all Federal positions you have held
- Please be aware that your answers will be verified against information provided on your resume. Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all of the questions by addressing your work experience in detail.
By submitting your application, you are certifying, to the best of your knowledge and belief, all the information submitted by you with your application for employment is true, complete, and made in good faith, and that you have truthfully and accurately represented your work experience, knowledge, skills, abilities and education (degrees, accomplishments, etc.). The information you provide as part of your application may be investigated. You are also certifying, and acknowledging, that misrepresenting your experience or education, or providing false or fraudulent information in, or with your application, may affect your eligibility for appointment and/or continued employment. False or fraudulent statements may be punishable by fine or imprisonment (18 U.S.C. 1001).
Assessment 1
Basic Requirements for the position of Occupational Therapy Assistant GS-636
To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
1.
Education Requirement - You must meet at least one of the requirements below:
Do you meet the education requirement as described above?
- Associate's or higher degree in occupational therapy from a college or university accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA); OR
- Completion of a military training program in an OTA program accredited by the ACOTE.
Do you meet the education requirement as described above?
2.
Certification - You must have written documentation that they have passed the entry-level certification examination for OTAs administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
Do you meet the certification requirement as described above?
Do you meet the certification requirement as described above?
3.
Licensure - You must possess a current, full, active and unrestricted license as an OTA in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. Puerto Rico) of the United States, or District of Columbia.
Do you meet the licensure requirement as described above?
Do you meet the licensure requirement as described above?
Minimum Requirement for GS-6 Level
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
4.
Experience - You must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
Do you meet the requirements as described above?
- Knowledge of evidence-based occupational therapy practice.
- Knowledge of basic group techniques and interpersonal communication.
- Skill in written communication to document data, progress/change in status, discharge status, and patient or caregiver education.
- Skill in oral communication to document data, progress/change in status, discharge status, and patient or caregiver education.
- Ability to assist in the development of treatment goals/objectives.
- Ability to implement a patient care plan incorporating activity analysis theory.
Do you meet the requirements as described above?
Minimum Requirement for GS-7 Level
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
5.
Experience - You must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
Do you meet the requirements as described above?
- Skill in promoting occupational therapy services effectively, providing training and interventions within the assigned areas.
- Ability to perform in depth chart review to identify treatment goals and implement treatment plans.
- Ability to use problem-solving skills when providing therapeutic interventions for patients.
- Ability to provide multi-step instructions to patients, caregivers and other health care professionals adapting instructions to meet the learning needs of the individual.
Do you meet the requirements as described above?
Minimum Requirement for GS-8 Level
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
6.
Experience - You must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
Do you meet the requirements as described above?
- Ability to implement delegated assessments.
- Ability to provide reports of observations and patient performance.
- Ability to use complex therapeutic techniques and interventions, utilizing problem-solving skills to maximize patient's functional status.
- Ability to modify therapeutic interventions for simple and complex cases with a wide range of diagnoses and disabilities.
- Ability to recommend complex adaptive and assistive devices and durable medical equipment.
- Ability to consult with health care practitioners about the patient's treatment plan and the occupational therapy scope of practice and services.
Do you meet the requirements as described above?
7.
English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).