Recreation Therapist

Serves as Recreation Therapist Program Coordinator for the VA San Diego SCI/D Service, providing advanced rehabilitation care to inpatient and outpatient Veterans and Active Duty members with spinal cord injuries and multiple complex conditions. Oversees recreation therapy services, conducts assessments, develops treatment approaches, coordinates interdisciplinary care, manages workflows, mentors staff, supports outreach efforts, and serves as a regional clinical resource across the VA.

Resume Requirement : Your resume must be detailed include the following information: Job title, description of duties, beginning and ending date (month/year) of employment; and average hours worked per week.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements :

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education. Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: possessing a degree in an approved degree program by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC):
  • A bachelor's degree or higher, from an accredited college or university, with a major in therapeutic recreation or recreation/leisure, with an option and/or emphasis in therapeutic recreation; The degree must be approved by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC)
  • OR,
  • A bachelor's degree or higher in any field from an accredited college or university, and must be a certified therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS). The degree must be approved by the NCTRC. If hired under this education, the certification cannot be waived.
• Certification.
  • Applicants must be certified in Recreation Therapy as a CTRS by the NCTRC.
  • OR
  • Exception. Non-registered and/or non-certified applicants, who otherwise meet the 5 eligibility requirements for registration and/or certification, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate recreation or creative 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 registration and/or certification during this temporary full-time appointment may be terminated. The exception only applies to positions at the GS-7 and GS-9 level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level, the candidate must be registered and/or certified.
• English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)

Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a recreation or creative arts therapist, on the effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held, including positive education, and registration and/or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.

Preferred Experience:
Experience working with people with SCI/D or severe disability

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit .

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: . If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: .