Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist)-Chronic Pain Management

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Greenville, South Carolina

Salary Range: $105383 - $137000 Per Year

Job Summary: This position is falls under the William Jennings Bryan Dorn Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Columbia South Carolina and the duty location is located at the Lance Corporal Dana Cornell Darnell VA Clinic, Greenville SC.

Major Duties:

Incumbent is a licensed physical therapist who is responsible for administering physical therapy programs to adult and geriatric patients referred from all areas of the medical center, but will spend at least 25% of his/her time working in the specialty area of chronic pain management. Duties included but not limited: Clinical Duties (85%): Plans and carries out the full range of treatment where therapeutic objectives are complex and procedures involved require the application of highly specialized skills and knowledge, particularly as related to chronic pain patients. Completes evaluation and treatment in a timely fashion; chart review will allow the incumbent an opportunity to assess appropriateness of the referral and possible contraindications for treatment. Assesses patient's learning needs, and plans and implements appropriate patient education programs, involving the patient, family, and significant others in the instructional process. Utilizes evaluation data to plan and implement comprehensive patient treatment programs utilizing current pain neuroscience, immediately involving patient in the goals setting and treatment processes as feasible. Education (5%): Serve as a Clinical Instructor, to include planning, scheduling, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating the student's clinical affiliation. Reviews the objectives and goals of the student's affiliation and plans learning experiences accordingly. Incumbent evaluates the student's performance and participates in school-medical center conferences regarding students or curriculum and may advise other clinical instructors and their students regarding complex medical problems. Provides in-service and clinical training in the rehabilitation specialty to physical therapists and other healthcare professionals. Administrative Duties (10%): Monitors program operations for quality issues considering access to care, cost effective operations and a safe and healthy environment to promote maximum patient and staff welfare. Maintains records of all services provided using CPT codes/event capture and current methodology to prepare reports as require by the Service. Participates in drills and practices infection control precautions, including those for the CARF accredited Outpatient Interdisciplinary Pain Program, as needed. Keeps current on JCAHO and CARF standards by reviewing annual changes. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 08:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 544-55207F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Qualifications: 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. English Language Proficiency: Individuals appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA must be proficient in written and spoken English. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. Education and experience: The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below (copy of transcripts with confer date required with application package): (1) Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. (2) Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. (3) Doctorate degree in physical therapy. NOTE: Prior to 1995 the terminal degree for PT's was either a bachelors or master's degree. In 1995 CAPTE accredited all baccalaureate, master's, and Doctor of Physical Therapy terminal degree programs. Effective 2002, CAPTE changed its scope of accrediting activities of PT education programs to include only those programs that culminate in post-baccalaureate degrees(eliminating the baccalaureate degree). Effective 2015, professional physical therapy education programs have only offered the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree to all new students. NOTE: Individuals must be a graduate of a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited college or university. The CAPTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to accredit entry-level physical therapy programs. Verification of accredited programs may be obtained from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) at www.apta.org. Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet the requirements in subparagraph 3b if they have a full unrestricted and current license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. The Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) is a non-profit organization created to assist the United States (U.S.) Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly INS) and U.S. state licensing authorities by evaluating the credentials of Foreign Educated Physical Therapists (FEPTs) who wish to immigrate and work in the U.S. Although the licensing of physical therapists in the U.S. is a right and responsibility of each jurisdiction, foreign educated individuals must undergo an educational credentials assessment for substantial equivalency to the first professional degree in the US. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) is committed to protect the public and to provide leadership within the field and practice of physical therapy. FSBPT's Foreign Educated Standards Committee has developed standards that represent "best practices" in evaluation services. The Credentials Evaluation Standards were developed with input from the physical therapy credentialing agencies that are licensed to use FSBPT's Coursework Tool. Licensure: Individuals hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Copy of licensure required with application package. Grade Determinations: GS- 13 Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist) (a) Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level and one of the following: Example of GS-12 experiences: Perform examinations and evaluations of individuals who have or may develop impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions related to conditions of the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and/or integumentary systems while considering the effects attributable to unique personal and environmental factors. Diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate intervention to treat and/or refer to another provider for further consultation when needed. GS-12 grade level and one of the following: 1. Evidence of a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the specialty area. This time must be between the past two and five years; or 2. Board Certification in the specialty area recognized by the ABPTS; or 3. Completion of a fellowship program; or 4. An additional advanced degree in a related field. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of contemporary physical therapy across multiple areas of practice, and the demonstrated ability to apply this knowledge to provide clinical guidance to Staff PTs within the department. Knowledge of human resources administration, including such functions as the ability to interview and select qualified applicants, monitor and evaluate performance, and maintain effective labor management relations within scope of responsibility. Ability to effectively supervise, direct, and manage a physical therapy staff. Skill in forging positive interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution. Ability to analyze clinically appropriate data effectively to optimize quality, performance, and productivity within the section. Ability to set priorities, delegate tasks, and solve problems in order to meet multiple deadlines and identify/address organizational problems. Ability to manage advocacy roles and planning activities within the VA and the greater rehabilitation community. Preferred Experience: Pain Neuroscience Experiences or Pain Education Certification and a history of concentration in treating chronic pain patients. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level for this qualification standard is the GS-12 grade level. The actual grade at which an applicant will be selected for this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Must be able to lift, push, stoop, squat, kneel, crouch, and reach.

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 11/17/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12829580. To begin, click Apply Online to create 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 occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2025-11-17