Recreion Therapist
Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administrion
Cheyenne VA Medical Center
Summary
The Recreional Therapist is loced in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilition Service department the Loveland VA clinic. The duties are carried out in all clinical and pient care areas involved with the service, including the Residential Rehabilition Trement Program, and the Community Living Center. Activities may occur in the local community as well for outpient programming. This position will primarily serve Veterans in the outpient setting in the Northern Colorado market
Summary
The Recreional Therapist is loced in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilition Service department the Loveland VA clinic. The duties are carried out in all clinical and pient care areas involved with the service, including the Residential Rehabilition Trement Program, and the Community Living Center. Activities may occur in the local community as well for outpient programming. This position will primarily serve Veterans in the outpient setting in the Northern Colorado market
Overview
Help
Accepting applicions
Open & closing des
07/23/2025 to 08/04/2025
Salary
$55,705 to - $107,167 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 11
Locion
1 vacancy in the following locion:
Loveland, CO
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
YesSituional (Ad Hoc)
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional travel to local community locions.
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
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determinion process
Credentialing
Suitability/Fitness
Announcement number
CBSU-12770305-25-EH
Control number
841474900
This job is open to
Help
Internal to an agency
Current federal employees of the hiring agency th posted the job announcement.
Clarificion from the agency
Open to current, permanent VA Employees. First Considerion given to current Cheyenne VA Medical Center employees.
Videos
Duties
Help
Uses a wide range of knowledge of, and skill in applying, a wide range of theories, principles, and methodologies in the practice of recreional therapy to a wide range of populions.
Demonstres knowledge of contemporary recreional therapy practice and ability to perform associed functions. Demonstres working knowledge of and adherence to accepted techniques and procedures for recreional therapy as recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Conducts, analyzes, interprets, and reports assessment da based upon functional domains (cognitive, sensory, social, affective, physical, and leisure). Incorporing the four-step process of: assessment, planning, implemention, and evaluion of services delivered, the therapist constructs approprie and evidence-based recreion therapy interventions for treing pients with complex medical or mental health issues such as Polytrauma (TBI); Post-Traumic Stress Disorder (PTSD); Substance Use Disorder/Addictions; Serious Mental Illness; and Hospice/Palliive Care.
Performs evaluions varying complexity levels, incorporing applicable standardized assessments and interpreting results to guide plan of care.
Develops comprehensive, individualized plans of care for pients with a wide range of physical and psychosocial needs.
Evalues pient needs for additional, alternive, or terminion of services and monitor effectiveness of intervention plans and makes modificions, as needed. This may include utilizion of adaptive and durable medical equipment, with pient and caregiver educion as indiced
Assists in the training and supervision of students, trainees, externs, and fellows, providing feedback on progress toward established educional goals.
Attends and completes mandory training required by the facility and meets annual educional requirements.
Demonstres working knowledge of current theory and best practices through continuing educion programs, journals, textbooks, and other literure, and in-service programs.
Provides educional in-services to other services/individuals/groups as requested, or as indiced to assure proper follow through of the pient's plan of care.
Serves as a mentor to new recreion therapy staff.
Serves as content expert in providing complex and specialized recreional therapy services and equipment. Provides consultion to other health care professionals. Participes on interdisciplinary teams as indiced, contributing to care plan regularly, ensuring individual pient needs are met. Uses practical demonstrion in addition to verbal or written instruction to facilite progress toward pient goals. Incorpores various models of trement (cree/promote, establish/restore, modify/compense, prevention) as indiced to facilite highest level of function for pients with temporary and/or permanent disabilities.
Modifies trement goals as needed, and consistently discusses procedures and goals with the referring provider to achieve a high degree of effectiveness. Provides pient and/or caregiver educion as indiced for carryover of skills in the home environment.
Work Schedule : Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm
Telework : Situional (Ad Hoc)
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Stement # : 442-55423-0, 442-55424-0, 442-55425-0
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.
Must pass pre-employment physical examinion.
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.
English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English, as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
Educion . The following educion requirements apply to the recreion therapist, creive arts therapist (art), creive arts therapist (dance/movement), creive arts therapist (drama), and creive arts therapist (music):
(a) 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,
(b) 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.
Certificion . Applicants must be certified in recreion therapy as a CTRS by the NCTRC. If hired under paragraph 4b(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
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).
Grandfhering Provision . All persons employed in VHA as a recreion or creive arts therapist, on the effective de of this qualificion standard, are considered to have met all qualificion requirements for the title, series, and grade held, including positive educion, and registrion and/or certificion th are part of the basic requirements of the occupion. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualificions applicable to the position the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply:
(1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to, and including, the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupion, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level, or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
(2) Employees who were appointed on a temporary basis, prior to the effective de of the qualificion standard, may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
(3) Employees initially grandfhered into this occupion, who subsequently obtain additional educion and/or licensure/registrion/certificion, th meet all the basic requirements of this qualificion standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupion.
(4) Recreion and creive arts therapists who are converted to title 38 hybrid stus under this provision and subsequently leave the occupion lose protected stus and must meet the full VA qualificion standard requirements, in effect the time of reentry, as a recreion or creive arts therapist
Grade Determinions :
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.
Demonstred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candide must demonstre all of the following KSAs:
i. Knowledge of assessment tools and trement for the diagnosis or disability of the pient.
ii. Knowledge to interpret and apply all health and safety regulions, to minimize and mitige risks in the provisions of pient care, and environmental maintenance.
iii. Ability to effectively communice and educe pients, families, caregivers, and other health care professionals to facilite the trement process.
iv. 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.
Demonstred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candide must demonstre all of the following KSAs:
i. 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.
ii. 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.
iii. 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.
iv. 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.
v. Skill in independently applying evidence-based and best practice therapeutic techniques and interventions.
vi. Knowledge of the principles and techniques in recreion therapy assessment and the trement of recreion, leisure, and biopsychosocial functional deficits.
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: The Recreion Therapist position requires standing, walking, bending, light to modere lifting and positioning pients. The incumbent may need to assist in the maneuvering of pients in wheelchairs and transferring of pients to/from a chair/bed/floor. This position requires lifting/carrying 15-35 lbs (1 hour per day) sitting (2 hours per day); standing (1 hour per day); walking (2 hours per day); bending/stooping (1/2 hour per day); simple grasping (4 hours per day); and fine manipulion including keyboarding (1 hour per day). A fair amount of walking is also required to interact with pients and other services throughout the hospital. Applicants must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others.
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, : .
Additional informion
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.
Area of Considerion - Eligible applicions reviewed and referred in the following order:
1. Current Facility employees
2. All other VA employees
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
SF-50/ Notificion of Personnel Action
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
License
Professional Certificion
Resume
Separion Notice (RIF)
SF-15
SF-50/ Notificion of Personnel Action
Transcript
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 08/04/2025 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 19 HR Contact Center
Phone
...
...
Address
Cheyenne VA Health Care System
2360 East Pershing Boulevard
Cheyenne, WY 82001
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
SF-50/ Notificion of Personnel Action
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
License
Professional Certificion
Resume
Separion Notice (RIF)
SF-15
SF-50/ Notificion of Personnel Action
Transcript
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 08/04/2025 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 19 HR Contact Center
Phone
...
...
Address
Cheyenne VA Health Care System
2360 East Pershing Boulevard
Cheyenne, WY 82001
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 07/23/2025 to 08/04/2025 Salary $55,705 to - $107,167 per year Pay scale & grade GS 7 - 11 Locion 1 vacancy in the following locion: Loveland, CO 1 vacancy Remote job No Telework eligible YesSituional (Ad Hoc) Travel Required Occasional travel - Occasional travel to local community locions. Relocion expenses reimbursed No Appointment type Permanent Work schedule Full-time Service Excepted Promotion potential 11 Job family (Series) Supervisory stus No Security clearance Drug test No Position sensitivity and risk Trust determinion process Announcement number CBSU-12770305-25-EH Control number 841474900
Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administrion
Cheyenne VA Medical Center
Summary
The Recreional Therapist is loced in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilition Service department the Loveland VA clinic. The duties are carried out in all clinical and pient care areas involved with the service, including the Residential Rehabilition Trement Program, and the Community Living Center. Activities may occur in the local community as well for outpient programming. This position will primarily serve Veterans in the outpient setting in the Northern Colorado market
Summary
The Recreional Therapist is loced in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilition Service department the Loveland VA clinic. The duties are carried out in all clinical and pient care areas involved with the service, including the Residential Rehabilition Trement Program, and the Community Living Center. Activities may occur in the local community as well for outpient programming. This position will primarily serve Veterans in the outpient setting in the Northern Colorado market
Overview
Help
Accepting applicions
Open & closing des
07/23/2025 to 08/04/2025
Salary
$55,705 to - $107,167 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 11
Locion
1 vacancy in the following locion:
Loveland, CO
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
YesSituional (Ad Hoc)
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional travel to local community locions.
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
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determinion process
Credentialing
Suitability/Fitness
Announcement number
CBSU-12770305-25-EH
Control number
841474900
This job is open to
Help
Internal to an agency
Current federal employees of the hiring agency th posted the job announcement.
Clarificion from the agency
Open to current, permanent VA Employees. First Considerion given to current Cheyenne VA Medical Center employees.
Videos
Duties
Help
Uses a wide range of knowledge of, and skill in applying, a wide range of theories, principles, and methodologies in the practice of recreional therapy to a wide range of populions.
Demonstres knowledge of contemporary recreional therapy practice and ability to perform associed functions. Demonstres working knowledge of and adherence to accepted techniques and procedures for recreional therapy as recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Conducts, analyzes, interprets, and reports assessment da based upon functional domains (cognitive, sensory, social, affective, physical, and leisure). Incorporing the four-step process of: assessment, planning, implemention, and evaluion of services delivered, the therapist constructs approprie and evidence-based recreion therapy interventions for treing pients with complex medical or mental health issues such as Polytrauma (TBI); Post-Traumic Stress Disorder (PTSD); Substance Use Disorder/Addictions; Serious Mental Illness; and Hospice/Palliive Care.
Performs evaluions varying complexity levels, incorporing applicable standardized assessments and interpreting results to guide plan of care.
Develops comprehensive, individualized plans of care for pients with a wide range of physical and psychosocial needs.
Evalues pient needs for additional, alternive, or terminion of services and monitor effectiveness of intervention plans and makes modificions, as needed. This may include utilizion of adaptive and durable medical equipment, with pient and caregiver educion as indiced
Assists in the training and supervision of students, trainees, externs, and fellows, providing feedback on progress toward established educional goals.
Attends and completes mandory training required by the facility and meets annual educional requirements.
Demonstres working knowledge of current theory and best practices through continuing educion programs, journals, textbooks, and other literure, and in-service programs.
Provides educional in-services to other services/individuals/groups as requested, or as indiced to assure proper follow through of the pient's plan of care.
Serves as a mentor to new recreion therapy staff.
Serves as content expert in providing complex and specialized recreional therapy services and equipment. Provides consultion to other health care professionals. Participes on interdisciplinary teams as indiced, contributing to care plan regularly, ensuring individual pient needs are met. Uses practical demonstrion in addition to verbal or written instruction to facilite progress toward pient goals. Incorpores various models of trement (cree/promote, establish/restore, modify/compense, prevention) as indiced to facilite highest level of function for pients with temporary and/or permanent disabilities.
Modifies trement goals as needed, and consistently discusses procedures and goals with the referring provider to achieve a high degree of effectiveness. Provides pient and/or caregiver educion as indiced for carryover of skills in the home environment.
Work Schedule : Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm
Telework : Situional (Ad Hoc)
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Stement # : 442-55423-0, 442-55424-0, 442-55425-0
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.
Must pass pre-employment physical examinion.
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.
English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English, as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
Educion . The following educion requirements apply to the recreion therapist, creive arts therapist (art), creive arts therapist (dance/movement), creive arts therapist (drama), and creive arts therapist (music):
(a) 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,
(b) 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.
Certificion . Applicants must be certified in recreion therapy as a CTRS by the NCTRC. If hired under paragraph 4b(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
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).
Grandfhering Provision . All persons employed in VHA as a recreion or creive arts therapist, on the effective de of this qualificion standard, are considered to have met all qualificion requirements for the title, series, and grade held, including positive educion, and registrion and/or certificion th are part of the basic requirements of the occupion. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualificions applicable to the position the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply:
(1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to, and including, the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupion, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level, or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
(2) Employees who were appointed on a temporary basis, prior to the effective de of the qualificion standard, may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
(3) Employees initially grandfhered into this occupion, who subsequently obtain additional educion and/or licensure/registrion/certificion, th meet all the basic requirements of this qualificion standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupion.
(4) Recreion and creive arts therapists who are converted to title 38 hybrid stus under this provision and subsequently leave the occupion lose protected stus and must meet the full VA qualificion standard requirements, in effect the time of reentry, as a recreion or creive arts therapist
Grade Determinions :
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.
Demonstred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candide must demonstre all of the following KSAs:
i. Knowledge of assessment tools and trement for the diagnosis or disability of the pient.
ii. Knowledge to interpret and apply all health and safety regulions, to minimize and mitige risks in the provisions of pient care, and environmental maintenance.
iii. Ability to effectively communice and educe pients, families, caregivers, and other health care professionals to facilite the trement process.
iv. 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.
Demonstred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candide must demonstre all of the following KSAs:
i. 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.
ii. 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.
iii. 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.
iv. 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.
v. Skill in independently applying evidence-based and best practice therapeutic techniques and interventions.
vi. Knowledge of the principles and techniques in recreion therapy assessment and the trement of recreion, leisure, and biopsychosocial functional deficits.
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: The Recreion Therapist position requires standing, walking, bending, light to modere lifting and positioning pients. The incumbent may need to assist in the maneuvering of pients in wheelchairs and transferring of pients to/from a chair/bed/floor. This position requires lifting/carrying 15-35 lbs (1 hour per day) sitting (2 hours per day); standing (1 hour per day); walking (2 hours per day); bending/stooping (1/2 hour per day); simple grasping (4 hours per day); and fine manipulion including keyboarding (1 hour per day). A fair amount of walking is also required to interact with pients and other services throughout the hospital. Applicants must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others.
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, : .
Additional informion
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.
Area of Considerion - Eligible applicions reviewed and referred in the following order:
1. Current Facility employees
2. All other VA employees
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
SF-50/ Notificion of Personnel Action
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
License
Professional Certificion
Resume
Separion Notice (RIF)
SF-15
SF-50/ Notificion of Personnel Action
Transcript
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 08/04/2025 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 19 HR Contact Center
Phone
...
...
Address
Cheyenne VA Health Care System
2360 East Pershing Boulevard
Cheyenne, WY 82001
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
SF-50/ Notificion of Personnel Action
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
License
Professional Certificion
Resume
Separion Notice (RIF)
SF-15
SF-50/ Notificion of Personnel Action
Transcript
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 08/04/2025 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 19 HR Contact Center
Phone
...
...
Address
Cheyenne VA Health Care System
2360 East Pershing Boulevard
Cheyenne, WY 82001
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 07/23/2025 to 08/04/2025 Salary $55,705 to - $107,167 per year Pay scale & grade GS 7 - 11 Locion 1 vacancy in the following locion: Loveland, CO 1 vacancy Remote job No Telework eligible YesSituional (Ad Hoc) Travel Required Occasional travel - Occasional travel to local community locions. Relocion expenses reimbursed No Appointment type Permanent Work schedule Full-time Service Excepted Promotion potential 11 Job family (Series) Supervisory stus No Security clearance Drug test No Position sensitivity and risk Trust determinion process Announcement number CBSU-12770305-25-EH Control number 841474900
Job ID: 486983951
Originally Posted on: 7/26/2025
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