Occupational Therapist Clinical Specialist (Seating Wheeled Mobility & Assistive Technology)

The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for an Occupational Therapist Clinical Specialist (Seating Wheeled Mobility & Assistive Technology). The Occupational Therapist Clinical Specialist (Seating Wheeled Mobility & Assistive Technology) will function in Spinal Cord Injury Service.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 :

• Citizenship: Candidates must be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
• Education/Experience: The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below:
  • 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
  • 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
  • Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy
• Foreign Graduates. Graduates] of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements of subparagraph [3b(2)] if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license referred to in subparagraph [3e] of this appendix.
• Certification. Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT.
• 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.
• 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 employee

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations : Occupational Therapist (Clinical Specialist), GS-13

• Education, Experience, and Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level and directly related to the position being filled and one of the following:
  • A minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the advanced practice area. This time must be within the past five years;
  • Certification in an area recognized by the AOTA;
  • Completion of a fellowship/residency or advanced degree program in the advanced practice area; or
  • An additional advanced degree in a related field
  • Examples of experience may include but are not limited to:
    • Serving as subject matter experts and as consultants to occupational therapists and other medical center staff in evaluating and treating patients in the areas of occupational therapy that are beyond the general practice of occupational therapy. This individual must demonstrate skills and techniques for a specific patient population that has highly complex occupational and/or psychosocial impairments. Clinical OT specialist may initiate, lead, and support research projects related to clinical needs. This may include grant writing, guiding others in the process, and direct clinical participation in research. Demonstrating a comprehensive knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy across multiple areas of practice to provide clinical guidance in advanced practice areas to other occupational therapy practitioners. Expertise includes advanced, specialized evaluation and interventions to independently develop effective treatment strategies within area of specialization. Skilled in creating protocols and procedures for intervention programs, grounding approach in current occupational therapy theory, recent research, and best practices. Consultation to other healthcare practitioners and external groups regarding the scope of occupational therapy practice in specialty area. Adept at implementing, revising, and updating evidence-based occupational therapy services and programming to ensure optimal outcomes in my area of specialization.
• Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy across multiple areas of practice.
  • Ability to provide clinical guidance in the advanced practice area to other OT practitioners.
  • Knowledge of advanced specialized evaluation, interventions and services to independently develop treatment strategies for area of specialization.
  • Skill in developing protocols and procedures for intervention programs based on current occupational therapy theory, recent research, and practice.
  • Ability to provide consultation to other health care practitioners and outside groups about occupational therapy scope of practice for area of specialization.
  • Ability to implement, revise/update evidence based occupational therapy services and programming in area of specialization

Preferred Experience: minimum of 2 years exp with spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis rehabilitation, complex seating and mobility, advanced assistive technology.

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

This position will be hired at the full performance level.

Physical Requirements: The incumbent of the position will meet and maintain physical (see item 7. Below) and drug test program requirements for the position as required. 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: .