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This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. BASIC REQUIREMENTS. a. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. b. Education and/or Experience. (1) The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below: (a) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. or (b) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that ACOTE would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. or (c) Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy. (2) Individuals must be a graduate of a degree program in occupational therapy approved by the ACOTE or predecessor organizations. This is inclusive of an internship (supervised fieldwork experience required by the educational institution). ACOTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. 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. c. Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license referred to in this appendix. d. Certification. Candidates must possess a current National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification as an OT. e. State Licensure. Candidates must possess a full, current, and 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. f. Loss of Credential. An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain the required state or territorial licensure and the NBCOT certification, both current and in good standing, must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. g. Exceptions for the Graduate Occupational Therapist. (1) OT graduates from an approved occupational therapy program who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements, but who do not possess NBCOT certification and/or state licensure, may be appointed, pending certification and/or licensure, as a graduate OT on a full-time temporary appointment not-to-exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2). (2) Graduate OTs may only be appointed at the GS-9 grade level and may not be promoted/converted to the GS-11 level until licensure and/or certification is obtained. For grades levels at or above the developmental GS-11 grade level, the OT must be certified and licensed. (3) A graduate OT may provide care only under the direct supervision of a licensed OT who meets all state regulatory requirements. (4) Temporary graduate OT appointments may not be extended beyond two years, or converted to a new temporary appointment. h. Failure to Obtain Licensure/Certification. In all cases, graduate OTs must actively pursue obtaining required credentials (i.e., NBCOT certification and/or state licensure) from the date of their appointment. The human resource office will notify the uncertified/unlicensed OT in writing of the requirement to obtain certification/licensure, the date by which the certification/license must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming certified/licensed by the deadline date. The written notice must be provided prior to the entrance on duty date. Failure to obtain required credentials by the prescribed date will result in termination of employment. i. English Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed. GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. a. Occupational Therapist, GS-9 (1) Education, Experience, or Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. b. Occupational Therapist, GS-11 (1) Education, Experience, or Licensure. (a) Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level and 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. (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and 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 and coordinate intervention plans, including goals and 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 and modify treatment plans and reevaluating as indicated. (e) Ability to communicate and or collaborate with patients, family members, caregivers, interdisciplinary professionals and/or other individuals verbally and in writing. (f) Knowledge of health and safety regulations to minimize risk in the provision of patient care and the environment of care. (g) Knowledge of applicable regulations governing documentation, reimbursement and workload entry in accordance with established professional practice. c. Occupational Therapist, GS-12 (1) Education, Experience, and Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled. (2) Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of occupational therapy principles and techniques consistent with current clinical standards based on OT theory and evidence based practice. Knowledge is inclusive of physical, occupational, cognitive, and psychosocial functional deficits. (b) Ability to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with all internal and external stakeholders. (c) Ability to use critical analysis, clinical reasoning, and creativity to independently solve complex problems related to adapting and modifying assessments, treatment plans, activities and procedures to meet the needs of patients. (d) Skill in procuring, fabricating, adjusting, adapting, and modifying orthoses, splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment). (e) Ability to conduct OT related in-service and clinical training. (3) Assignment. OTs at this level practice independently and are responsible for comprehensive assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools. OTs select and provide direct occupational therapy interventions and procedures with varying degrees of complexity to enhance safety, wellness, and performance in ADL, instrumental IADL, education, work, play, leisure, and social participation. OTs demonstrate a full professional understanding of the theories of treatment in occupational therapy and their proper application through the use of activity analysis, behavioral intervention, frame of references, and therapeutic procedures. They are assigned to all program areas within VHA and provide professional, independent occupational therapy services. OTs at this level may be given assignments in any area where advanced specialized knowledge is not required on a recurring basis due to the patient population served and complexity of the facility and/or treatment area. ["Position #1: The VA Boston Healthcare System is seeking a full-time Occupational Therapist for the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service. This is a permanent position. Candidates must hold a current registration with NBCOT and a current license by the state of Massachusetts. This position will be mainly be stationed out of the West Roxbury campus but could be utilized at all of our VA Boston Campuses (West Roxbury, Plymouth, Lowell, Jamaica Plain or Brockton). This position reports directly to the Occupational Therapy Supervisor. The Occupational Therapist will be independent with managing an assigned caseload in our inpatient acute care setting, outpatient clinic environment, or our Community Living Center with our sub-acute rehabilitation and long-term care population. The duties include but are not limited to: perform independent patient evaluations using appropriate standardized tests; independently develop, implement, and modify occupational therapy treatment programs; recognize contraindications and appropriateness of treatment prescribed by referring provider; provide timely and accurately written documentation of patient status, progress with therapy, therapy plan, and patient response to treatment in accordance with policy; interact professionally and courteously with all VA staff, patients, and patients' families/caregivers, and managing caseload at a productive standard. Position #2: The VA Boston Healthcare System is seeking a full-time Occupational Therapist for the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service. Candidates must hold a current registration with NBCOT and a current state license. The plan is for this position to be housed out of the West Roxbury campus but will be required to cover the Jamaica Plain outpatient hand clinic. The primary responsibility will be to manage the outpatient occupational therapy clinic at the West Roxbury campus. The incumbent will also be responsible for assisting with the inpatient acute care setting as needed. This position reports directly to the Occupational Therapy Supervisor and PMR Service Line Manager. The Occupational Therapist selected will be independent with managing an assigned caseload in our outpatient clinic environment or inpatient acute care setting. Specific knowledge and experience in upper quadrant conditions as well as splinting is required. The duties include but are not limited to: perform independent patient evaluations using appropriate standardized tests; independently develop, implement, and modify occupational therapy treatment programs; recognize contraindications and appropriateness of treatment prescribed by referring provider; provide timely and accurate written documentation of patient status, progress with therapy, therapy plan, and patient response to treatment in accordance with policy; interact professionally and courteously with all VA staff, patients, and patients' families/caregivers, and managing caseload at a productive standard. Preferred Experience (position #1): This position includes independently and solely managing acute level patients. Recent experience is required in treating adult/older adult patients in acute care, not limited to ICU, orthopedics, acute rehab and acute spinal cord injury. This position will be required to be versatile between various campuses and clinics. Preferred Experience (position #2) Individual must have at least one year of specific experience in the outpatient clinical setting. It is also preferred the individual has at least one year of specific experience working with in acute care environment. Work Schedule (position # 1): 40 hours/week, Sunday-Thursday/ 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., weekend and holiday rotations Work Schedule (position # 2): 40 hours/week, tour of duty varies based on need of service; generally, Monday-Friday with weekend and holiday rotations Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 523-F2016 (GS-09), 523-F2017 (GS-11), 523-F04398 (GS-12) Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Karen J. Chapman, Human Resources Assistant (Compensation), VISN 1 Compensation Center of Excellence, Veterans Health Administration - New England Healthcare System, Email: Karen.Chapman@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Travel Required - These positions could be utilized at all our VA Boston Campuses (West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, Brockton and Plymouth Community Based Outpatient Clinic) but this will be done in a scheduled manner."]

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