Recreion Therapist
Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administrion
VA North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS)
Summary
The Recreion Therapist is aligned under Recreion Therapy Service, whose purpose is to provide care and rehabilition to those Veterans with a variety of disabilities, including, but not limited to: ampution, paralysis, neurological disorders, orthopedic conditions, behavioral health, psychiric diagnoses, dementia, spinal cord injury, traumic brain injuries, respirory disorders, chronic cardiovascular diseases, blind rehabilition, and Veterans with multiple diagnoses.
Summary
The Recreion Therapist is aligned under Recreion Therapy Service, whose purpose is to provide care and rehabilition to those Veterans with a variety of disabilities, including, but not limited to: ampution, paralysis, neurological disorders, orthopedic conditions, behavioral health, psychiric diagnoses, dementia, spinal cord injury, traumic brain injuries, respirory disorders, chronic cardiovascular diseases, blind rehabilition, and Veterans with multiple diagnoses.
Overview
Help
Accepting applicions
Open & closing des
08/11/2025 to 08/19/2025
This job will close when we have received 50 applicions which may be sooner than the closing de. Learn more
Salary
$54,313 to - $104,491 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 11
Locion
1 vacancy in the following locion:
Dallas, TX
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocion expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
11
Job family (Series)
0638 Recreion/Creive Arts Therapist
Supervisory stus
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determinion process
Credentialing
Suitability/Fitness
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit stus
No
Announcement number
CAZM-12780027-25-KR
Control number
843072400
This job is open to
Help
The public
U.S. Citizens, Nionals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Federal employees - Competitive service
Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.
Federal employees - Excepted service
Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluion criteria.
Internal to an agency
Current federal employees of the hiring agency th posted the job announcement.
Clarificion from the agency
This announcement is open to current, permanent employees of the Department of Veteran Affairs, current permanent Federal employees, the Public AND past, current and upcoming participants of the VA Health Professions Training (HPT) Gradues and public.
Videos
Duties
Help
This is a direct pient care position in which the incumbent is responsible for performing the work of a recreion therapist in the medical center. The work encompasses a variety of different duties and responsibilities:
The Recreion Therapist independently interprets provider referrals and reviews consults, administers and interprets recreion therapy assessments and utilizes clinical competencies to develop unconventional assessment and interview approaches to effectively elicit informion.
They conduct, analyze, interpret, and report assessment da based upon functional domains (cognitive, sensory, social, affective, physical, and leisure) and have the ability to adapt assessment tools and trement interventions to address the complexity of the diagnosis or disability.
Conduct pient evaluions.
The recreion therapist recommends adaption, modificion, and/or assistive technology to meet the assessed needs and preferences in recreion therapy.
Document pient's behavioral observions, progress, functioning, and intervention outcomes.
Develop and provide collaborive services with other team members.
Promotes effective communicion with all pients, caregivers, trement team members, Medical Center staff and community partners.
Determines effectiveness of protocols, modalities and programs for targeted groups through quantitive analysis and identifies potential risks and need for adaptive interventions with cases to facilite improved bio-psychosocial well-being.
Participes in staff oriention, successfully completes Medical Center assigned mandory trainings, and in-service activities.
Incumbent will transport pients on community reintegrion outings.
Work Schedule : Monday-Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm; Nights, weekends, holidays.
Telework : Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Stement # : 000000
Relocion/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Stion (PCS): Not Authorized
Requirements
Help
Conditions of employment
You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
Selective Service Registrion is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
You may be required to serve a trial period.
Subject to background/security investigion.
Selected applicants required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identificion required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or ste-issued dentificion cards th are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identificion for employment.
Participion in the seasonal influenza vaccinion program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
Qualificions
Applicants pending the completion of educional or certificion/licensure requirements may be referred and tentively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
Basic Requirements :
United Stes Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English, as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
Educion:
A bachelor's degree or higher, from an accredited college or university, with a major in therapeutic recreion or recreion/leisure, with an option and/or emphasis in therapeutic recreion. The degree must be approved by the Nional Council for Therapeutic Recreion Certificion (NCTRC); OR A bachelor's degree or higher in any field from an accredited college or university and must be a certified therapeutic recreion specialist (CTRS). The degree must be approved by the NCTRC. If hired under this educion, the certificion cannot be waived.
Required Certificion- Recreion Therapist. Applicants must be certified in recreion therapy as a CTRS by the NCTRC. If hired under paragraph 3b(1)(b), certificion cannot be waived.
Exception. Non-registered and/or non-certified applicants, who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for registrion and/or certificion, may be given a temporary appointment as a gradue recreion or creive arts therapist, under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)(B), for a period not to exceed two years. Applicants who fail to obtain registrion and/or certificion during this temporary full-time appointment may be termined. The exception only applies to positions the GS-7 and GS-9 level. For grade levels or above the full performance level, the candide must be registered and/or certified.
Failure to Obtain Registrion/Certificion. In all cases, recreion and creive arts therapists must actively pursue meeting registrion and/or certificion requirements, starting from the de of appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the unregistered and/or uncertified recreion or creive arts therapist with the written requirement to obtain registrion/certificion, the de by which the registrion and/or certificion must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming registered and/or certified by the deadline. Failure to become registered and/or certified within two years from the de of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0638 recreion and creive arts therapist occupion, and may result in terminion of employment.
Loss of Credential. A recreion or creive arts therapist who fails to maintain the required registrion and/or certificion must be removed from the occupion, which may also result in terminion of employment.
May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfhering Provision as described in the VA Qualificion Standard for this occupion (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupion and meet the criteria).
Grade Determinions : In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candides:
Recreion Therapist, GS-7
Experience/Educion. None beyond the basic requirements.
Recreion Therapist, GS-9
Experience/Educion. At least one year of creditable experience the next lower grade level, or a master's degree in recreion therapy may be substituted for the required one year of professional recreion therapist experience.
In addition to the experience above, the candide must demonstre all of the following KSAs:
Knowledge of assessment tools and trement for the diagnosis or disability of the pient.
Knowledge to interpret and apply all health and safety regulions, to minimize and mitige risks in the provisions of pient care, and environmental maintenance.
Ability to effectively communice and educe pients, families, caregivers, and other health care professionals to facilite the trement process.
Knowledge to apply evidence-based and best practice therapeutic techniques and interventions.
Recreion Therapist, GS-11
Experience. At least one year of creditable experience the next lower grade level.
In addition to the experience above, the candide must demonstre all of the following KSAs:
Ability to adapt assessment tools and trement interventions to address the complexity of the diagnosis or disabilities and demonstre the clinical reasoning necessary to identify the need for further in-depth specific assessment of function and utilizion of unconventional methods and techniques.
Knowledge to independently interpret provider referrals and consults; and apply all health and safety regulions to minimize and mitige risks in the provision of pient care and the environment of care.
Skill in effectively communicing and educing, in a clear and concise manner, with pients, families, caregivers, and other health care professionals to facilite the interdisciplinary trement process.
Skill in independently utilizing approprie screening and evaluion techniques required to appropriely provide direct pient care in areas such as, but not limited to recommendions for recreion therapy assistive devices, including fit and function. Skill in independently applying evidence-based and best practice therapeutic techniques and interventions.
Knowledge of the principles and techniques in recreion therapy assessment and the trement of recreion, leisure, and biopsychosocial functional deficits.
Preferred Experience:
CTRS.
New Grad, One or more years of experience.
SCI experience preferred.
Experience in community inclusion services.
Behavioral health experience.
Adaptive recreion/sports experience preferred. Will transport pients.
Reference: For more informion on this qualificion standard, please .
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-11.
Physical Requirements: In some assignments the work involves regular and recurring physical exertion such as prolonged walking or standing, bending, moderely heavy lifting or moving of equipment, positioning severely disabled pients and assisting pients in ambulion. The work requires specific, common physical characteristics and abilities, such as above average agility and dexterity to perform intrice therapy procedures. The therapist must be able to push wheelchair pients on level and inclined ground. The therapist must be physically able to drive the stion vehicles and pass the Occupional Health Clinic Motor Vehicle Operor Evaluion.
Educion
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your applicion if you are basing all or part of your qualificions on educion.
Note: Only educion or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your educion here: . If you are using foreign educion to meet qualificion requirements, you must send a Certifice of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for th educion. For further informion, : .
NOTE: A bachelor's degree or highermust be approved by the Nional Council for Therapeutic Recreion Certificion (NCTRC). Verificion of accredition may be made obtained from .
NOTE : If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this informion in your applicion.
Additional informion
Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacion) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave a re (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 re which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment de and is not guaranteed.
During the applicion 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 applicion for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further considerion 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 stus.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-reled 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 alterne 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 tentive job offer. For more informion about the Act and the complaint process, Human Resources and Administrion/Operions, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) The Fair Chance Act .
Expand Hide additional informion
Candides should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passione about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United Stes Constitution.
Benefits
Help
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 th are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn 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 informion on the specific benefits offered.
How you evalued
You evalued for this job based on how well you meet the qualificions above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your applicion, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documention verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect considerion for employment.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through Nional Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizions (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 th transles 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 informion provided by a candide (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candide'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 th have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members : Please the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegrion support for military service members.
Benefits
Help
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 th are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn 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 informion on the specific benefits offered.
Required documents
Required Documents
Help
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Applicion Package which includes:
Resume
The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualificions for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your applicion, such as a copy of your transcript (if using educion to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
Cover Letter
DD-214/ Stement of Service
Disability Letter (VA)
License
Other (1)
PCS Orders
Performance Appraisal
Professional Certificion
Resume
Separion Notice (RIF)
SF-15
SF-50/ Notificion of Personnel Action
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 des 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 documention reled to your active duty service which reflects the des of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and des of impending separion. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Applicion for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as sted on the form. Documention is required to award preference. For more informion on Veterans' Preference, please Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference .
Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
If you are relying on your educion to meet qualificion requirements:
Educion must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion in order for it to be credited towards qualificions. Therefore, provide only the tendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion .
Failure to provide all of the required informion as sted in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible ring or may affect the overall ring.
How to Apply
Help
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documention specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete applicion package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 08/19/2025 to receive considerion. To preview the questionnaire click .
To begin, click Apply Online to cree a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupional questionnaire.
Click Submit My Answers to submit your applicion package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and approprie documention is submitted prior to the closing de.
Agency contact informion
VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
...
Address
Dallas VA Medical Center
4500 South Lancaster Road
Dallas, TX 75216
US
Next steps
Once your online applicion is submitted you will receive a confirmion notificion by email. After we receive applicion packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applicions to ensure qualificion and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certifice(s) is issued and applicants notified of their stus by email. Referred applicants notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notificion once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the stus of your applicion any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applicions. Informion regarding your applicion stus can be found in the USAJobs Help Center .
NOTE: Participion in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement th all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccinion or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccinion has been granted. HCP in violion of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locions or who come into contact with VA pients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locions include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associed clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrive, remote and onsite, paid and without compension, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with pients outside VA medical facilities.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Criminal history inquiries
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
Financial suitability
New employee probionary period
Privacy Act
Reasonable accommodion policy
Selective Service
Signure and false stements
Social security number request
Required Documents
Help
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Applicion Package which includes:
Resume
The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualificions for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your applicion, such as a copy of your transcript (if using educion to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
Cover Letter
DD-214/ Stement of Service
Disability Letter (VA)
License
Other (1)
PCS Orders
Performance Appraisal
Professional Certificion
Resume
Separion Notice (RIF)
SF-15
SF-50/ Notificion of Personnel Action
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 des 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 documention reled to your active duty service which reflects the des of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and des of impending separion. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Applicion for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as sted on the form. Documention is required to award preference. For more informion on Veterans' Preference, please Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference .
Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
If you are relying on your educion to meet qualificion requirements:
Educion must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion in order for it to be credited towards qualificions. Therefore, provide only the tendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion .
Failure to provide all of the required informion as sted in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible ring or may affect the overall ring.
How to Apply
Help
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documention specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete applicion package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 08/19/2025 to receive considerion. To preview the questionnaire click .
To begin, click Apply Online to cree a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupional questionnaire.
Click Submit My Answers to submit your applicion package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and approprie documention is submitted prior to the closing de.
Expand Hide how to apply
Agency contact informion
VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
...
Address
Dallas VA Medical Center
4500 South Lancaster Road
Dallas, TX 75216
US
Next steps
Once your online applicion is submitted you will receive a confirmion notificion by email. After we receive applicion packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applicions to ensure qualificion and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certifice(s) is issued and applicants notified of their stus by email. Referred applicants notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notificion once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the stus of your applicion any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applicions. Informion regarding your applicion stus can be found in the USAJobs Help Center .
NOTE: Participion in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement th all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccinion or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccinion has been granted. HCP in violion of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locions or who come into contact with VA pients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locions include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associed clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrive, remote and onsite, paid and without compension, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with pients outside VA medical facilities.
Expand Hide next steps
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Criminal history inquiries
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
Financial suitability
New employee probionary period
Privacy Act
Reasonable accommodion policy
Selective Service
Signure and false stements
Social security number request
Overview Help Accepting applicions Open & closing des 08/11/2025 to 08/19/2025 This job will close when we have received 50 applicions which may be...
Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administrion
VA North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS)
Summary
The Recreion Therapist is aligned under Recreion Therapy Service, whose purpose is to provide care and rehabilition to those Veterans with a variety of disabilities, including, but not limited to: ampution, paralysis, neurological disorders, orthopedic conditions, behavioral health, psychiric diagnoses, dementia, spinal cord injury, traumic brain injuries, respirory disorders, chronic cardiovascular diseases, blind rehabilition, and Veterans with multiple diagnoses.
Summary
The Recreion Therapist is aligned under Recreion Therapy Service, whose purpose is to provide care and rehabilition to those Veterans with a variety of disabilities, including, but not limited to: ampution, paralysis, neurological disorders, orthopedic conditions, behavioral health, psychiric diagnoses, dementia, spinal cord injury, traumic brain injuries, respirory disorders, chronic cardiovascular diseases, blind rehabilition, and Veterans with multiple diagnoses.
Overview
Help
Accepting applicions
Open & closing des
08/11/2025 to 08/19/2025
This job will close when we have received 50 applicions which may be sooner than the closing de. Learn more
Salary
$54,313 to - $104,491 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 11
Locion
1 vacancy in the following locion:
Dallas, TX
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocion expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
11
Job family (Series)
0638 Recreion/Creive Arts Therapist
Supervisory stus
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determinion process
Credentialing
Suitability/Fitness
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit stus
No
Announcement number
CAZM-12780027-25-KR
Control number
843072400
This job is open to
Help
The public
U.S. Citizens, Nionals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Federal employees - Competitive service
Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.
Federal employees - Excepted service
Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluion criteria.
Internal to an agency
Current federal employees of the hiring agency th posted the job announcement.
Clarificion from the agency
This announcement is open to current, permanent employees of the Department of Veteran Affairs, current permanent Federal employees, the Public AND past, current and upcoming participants of the VA Health Professions Training (HPT) Gradues and public.
Videos
Duties
Help
This is a direct pient care position in which the incumbent is responsible for performing the work of a recreion therapist in the medical center. The work encompasses a variety of different duties and responsibilities:
The Recreion Therapist independently interprets provider referrals and reviews consults, administers and interprets recreion therapy assessments and utilizes clinical competencies to develop unconventional assessment and interview approaches to effectively elicit informion.
They conduct, analyze, interpret, and report assessment da based upon functional domains (cognitive, sensory, social, affective, physical, and leisure) and have the ability to adapt assessment tools and trement interventions to address the complexity of the diagnosis or disability.
Conduct pient evaluions.
The recreion therapist recommends adaption, modificion, and/or assistive technology to meet the assessed needs and preferences in recreion therapy.
Document pient's behavioral observions, progress, functioning, and intervention outcomes.
Develop and provide collaborive services with other team members.
Promotes effective communicion with all pients, caregivers, trement team members, Medical Center staff and community partners.
Determines effectiveness of protocols, modalities and programs for targeted groups through quantitive analysis and identifies potential risks and need for adaptive interventions with cases to facilite improved bio-psychosocial well-being.
Participes in staff oriention, successfully completes Medical Center assigned mandory trainings, and in-service activities.
Incumbent will transport pients on community reintegrion outings.
Work Schedule : Monday-Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm; Nights, weekends, holidays.
Telework : Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Stement # : 000000
Relocion/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Stion (PCS): Not Authorized
Requirements
Help
Conditions of employment
You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
Selective Service Registrion is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
You may be required to serve a trial period.
Subject to background/security investigion.
Selected applicants required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identificion required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or ste-issued dentificion cards th are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identificion for employment.
Participion in the seasonal influenza vaccinion program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
Qualificions
Applicants pending the completion of educional or certificion/licensure requirements may be referred and tentively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
Basic Requirements :
United Stes Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English, as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
Educion:
A bachelor's degree or higher, from an accredited college or university, with a major in therapeutic recreion or recreion/leisure, with an option and/or emphasis in therapeutic recreion. The degree must be approved by the Nional Council for Therapeutic Recreion Certificion (NCTRC); OR A bachelor's degree or higher in any field from an accredited college or university and must be a certified therapeutic recreion specialist (CTRS). The degree must be approved by the NCTRC. If hired under this educion, the certificion cannot be waived.
Required Certificion- Recreion Therapist. Applicants must be certified in recreion therapy as a CTRS by the NCTRC. If hired under paragraph 3b(1)(b), certificion cannot be waived.
Exception. Non-registered and/or non-certified applicants, who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for registrion and/or certificion, may be given a temporary appointment as a gradue recreion or creive arts therapist, under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)(B), for a period not to exceed two years. Applicants who fail to obtain registrion and/or certificion during this temporary full-time appointment may be termined. The exception only applies to positions the GS-7 and GS-9 level. For grade levels or above the full performance level, the candide must be registered and/or certified.
Failure to Obtain Registrion/Certificion. In all cases, recreion and creive arts therapists must actively pursue meeting registrion and/or certificion requirements, starting from the de of appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the unregistered and/or uncertified recreion or creive arts therapist with the written requirement to obtain registrion/certificion, the de by which the registrion and/or certificion must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming registered and/or certified by the deadline. Failure to become registered and/or certified within two years from the de of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0638 recreion and creive arts therapist occupion, and may result in terminion of employment.
Loss of Credential. A recreion or creive arts therapist who fails to maintain the required registrion and/or certificion must be removed from the occupion, which may also result in terminion of employment.
May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfhering Provision as described in the VA Qualificion Standard for this occupion (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupion and meet the criteria).
Grade Determinions : In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candides:
Recreion Therapist, GS-7
Experience/Educion. None beyond the basic requirements.
Recreion Therapist, GS-9
Experience/Educion. At least one year of creditable experience the next lower grade level, or a master's degree in recreion therapy may be substituted for the required one year of professional recreion therapist experience.
In addition to the experience above, the candide must demonstre all of the following KSAs:
Knowledge of assessment tools and trement for the diagnosis or disability of the pient.
Knowledge to interpret and apply all health and safety regulions, to minimize and mitige risks in the provisions of pient care, and environmental maintenance.
Ability to effectively communice and educe pients, families, caregivers, and other health care professionals to facilite the trement process.
Knowledge to apply evidence-based and best practice therapeutic techniques and interventions.
Recreion Therapist, GS-11
Experience. At least one year of creditable experience the next lower grade level.
In addition to the experience above, the candide must demonstre all of the following KSAs:
Ability to adapt assessment tools and trement interventions to address the complexity of the diagnosis or disabilities and demonstre the clinical reasoning necessary to identify the need for further in-depth specific assessment of function and utilizion of unconventional methods and techniques.
Knowledge to independently interpret provider referrals and consults; and apply all health and safety regulions to minimize and mitige risks in the provision of pient care and the environment of care.
Skill in effectively communicing and educing, in a clear and concise manner, with pients, families, caregivers, and other health care professionals to facilite the interdisciplinary trement process.
Skill in independently utilizing approprie screening and evaluion techniques required to appropriely provide direct pient care in areas such as, but not limited to recommendions for recreion therapy assistive devices, including fit and function. Skill in independently applying evidence-based and best practice therapeutic techniques and interventions.
Knowledge of the principles and techniques in recreion therapy assessment and the trement of recreion, leisure, and biopsychosocial functional deficits.
Preferred Experience:
CTRS.
New Grad, One or more years of experience.
SCI experience preferred.
Experience in community inclusion services.
Behavioral health experience.
Adaptive recreion/sports experience preferred. Will transport pients.
Reference: For more informion on this qualificion standard, please .
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-11.
Physical Requirements: In some assignments the work involves regular and recurring physical exertion such as prolonged walking or standing, bending, moderely heavy lifting or moving of equipment, positioning severely disabled pients and assisting pients in ambulion. The work requires specific, common physical characteristics and abilities, such as above average agility and dexterity to perform intrice therapy procedures. The therapist must be able to push wheelchair pients on level and inclined ground. The therapist must be physically able to drive the stion vehicles and pass the Occupional Health Clinic Motor Vehicle Operor Evaluion.
Educion
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your applicion if you are basing all or part of your qualificions on educion.
Note: Only educion or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your educion here: . If you are using foreign educion to meet qualificion requirements, you must send a Certifice of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for th educion. For further informion, : .
NOTE: A bachelor's degree or highermust be approved by the Nional Council for Therapeutic Recreion Certificion (NCTRC). Verificion of accredition may be made obtained from .
NOTE : If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this informion in your applicion.
Additional informion
Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacion) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave a re (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 re which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment de and is not guaranteed.
During the applicion 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 applicion for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further considerion 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 stus.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-reled 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 alterne 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 tentive job offer. For more informion about the Act and the complaint process, Human Resources and Administrion/Operions, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) The Fair Chance Act .
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Candides should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passione about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United Stes Constitution.
Benefits
Help
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 th are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn 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 informion on the specific benefits offered.
How you evalued
You evalued for this job based on how well you meet the qualificions above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your applicion, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documention verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect considerion for employment.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through Nional Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizions (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 th transles 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 informion provided by a candide (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candide'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 th have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members : Please the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegrion support for military service members.
Benefits
Help
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 th are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn 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 informion on the specific benefits offered.
Required documents
Required Documents
Help
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Applicion Package which includes:
Resume
The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualificions for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your applicion, such as a copy of your transcript (if using educion to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
Cover Letter
DD-214/ Stement of Service
Disability Letter (VA)
License
Other (1)
PCS Orders
Performance Appraisal
Professional Certificion
Resume
Separion Notice (RIF)
SF-15
SF-50/ Notificion of Personnel Action
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 des 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 documention reled to your active duty service which reflects the des of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and des of impending separion. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Applicion for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as sted on the form. Documention is required to award preference. For more informion on Veterans' Preference, please Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference .
Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
If you are relying on your educion to meet qualificion requirements:
Educion must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion in order for it to be credited towards qualificions. Therefore, provide only the tendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion .
Failure to provide all of the required informion as sted in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible ring or may affect the overall ring.
How to Apply
Help
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documention specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete applicion package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 08/19/2025 to receive considerion. To preview the questionnaire click .
To begin, click Apply Online to cree a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupional questionnaire.
Click Submit My Answers to submit your applicion package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and approprie documention is submitted prior to the closing de.
Agency contact informion
VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
...
Address
Dallas VA Medical Center
4500 South Lancaster Road
Dallas, TX 75216
US
Next steps
Once your online applicion is submitted you will receive a confirmion notificion by email. After we receive applicion packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applicions to ensure qualificion and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certifice(s) is issued and applicants notified of their stus by email. Referred applicants notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notificion once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the stus of your applicion any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applicions. Informion regarding your applicion stus can be found in the USAJobs Help Center .
NOTE: Participion in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement th all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccinion or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccinion has been granted. HCP in violion of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locions or who come into contact with VA pients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locions include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associed clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrive, remote and onsite, paid and without compension, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with pients outside VA medical facilities.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Criminal history inquiries
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
Financial suitability
New employee probionary period
Privacy Act
Reasonable accommodion policy
Selective Service
Signure and false stements
Social security number request
Required Documents
Help
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Applicion Package which includes:
Resume
The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualificions for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your applicion, such as a copy of your transcript (if using educion to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
Cover Letter
DD-214/ Stement of Service
Disability Letter (VA)
License
Other (1)
PCS Orders
Performance Appraisal
Professional Certificion
Resume
Separion Notice (RIF)
SF-15
SF-50/ Notificion of Personnel Action
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 des 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 documention reled to your active duty service which reflects the des of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and des of impending separion. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Applicion for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as sted on the form. Documention is required to award preference. For more informion on Veterans' Preference, please Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference .
Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
If you are relying on your educion to meet qualificion requirements:
Educion must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion in order for it to be credited towards qualificions. Therefore, provide only the tendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion .
Failure to provide all of the required informion as sted in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible ring or may affect the overall ring.
How to Apply
Help
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documention specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete applicion package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 08/19/2025 to receive considerion. To preview the questionnaire click .
To begin, click Apply Online to cree a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupional questionnaire.
Click Submit My Answers to submit your applicion package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and approprie documention is submitted prior to the closing de.
Expand Hide how to apply
Agency contact informion
VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
...
Address
Dallas VA Medical Center
4500 South Lancaster Road
Dallas, TX 75216
US
Next steps
Once your online applicion is submitted you will receive a confirmion notificion by email. After we receive applicion packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applicions to ensure qualificion and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certifice(s) is issued and applicants notified of their stus by email. Referred applicants notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notificion once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the stus of your applicion any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applicions. Informion regarding your applicion stus can be found in the USAJobs Help Center .
NOTE: Participion in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement th all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccinion or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccinion has been granted. HCP in violion of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locions or who come into contact with VA pients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locions include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associed clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrive, remote and onsite, paid and without compension, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with pients outside VA medical facilities.
Expand Hide next steps
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Criminal history inquiries
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
Financial suitability
New employee probionary period
Privacy Act
Reasonable accommodion policy
Selective Service
Signure and false stements
Social security number request
Overview Help Accepting applicions Open & closing des 08/11/2025 to 08/19/2025 This job will close when we have received 50 applicions which may be...
Job ID: 489253333
Originally Posted on: 8/13/2025
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