Physical Therapist

This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for DHA for Certain Personnel of the DoD Workforce to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service.

About the Position: This position serves as a Physical Therapist for the U.S. Army 1st Special Forces Command, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Serves as Physical Therapist and the primary physical rehabilitation program manager for Tactical Human Optimization, Rapid Rehabilitation and Reconditioning. | Provides the full range of professional physical therapy services, to include physician extender work, comprehensive evaluations of patients. | Interviews patients and evaluates their present functional status. | Performs comprehensive neurological and musculoskeletal evaluations of patients via direct access or referred for evaluation by physicians or non-physicians. | Exercises independent professional judgment in planning a treatment program based upon general information in consult and taking into consideration patient’s physical and mental conditions to fully address patient needs.

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Basic Requirement for Physical Therapist:

Degree: A graduate (or higher level) degree that included a physical therapy curriculum approved by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or a professional accrediting organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained, and completion of the clinical requirements prescribed by the school.

Licensure: Applicants must possess a current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a Physical Therapist from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States; and must have passed the National Physical Therapy Examination administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT).

Exemption: You are exempt from the basic requirements above if you are a current federal employee occupying a position in the 0633 occupational series and have been continuously employed in this occupational series since September 27, 2017 or before. Note: You will be required to provide appropriate documentation to the respective Human Resources Office to validate your status.


In addition to meeting the basic requirements above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

Specialized experience: One year of specialized experience which includes providing sports medicine physical therapy treatment; developing treatment plans for patients with various impairments; assessing and/or diagnosing physical therapy patients. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11).

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/

Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation. | Graduate of a Physical Therapy program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, American Physical Therapy Association. Master’s degree required, doctoral degree preferred. | Must possess a valid and current State Physical Therapist license. | Must possess board certification in orthopedic or sports physical therapy, or athletic training certification, or manual therapy or McKenzie certification, or post-professional clinical degree related to orthopedic or sports medicine patient care. | Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid motor vehicle driver’s license. | This position is covered by Health Affairs Policy 97006, 23 Oct 96, which requires the employee to obtain Hepatitis B Immunization unless exempted by a physician. | Employee will be required to wear and use personal protective equipment as required and provided by the employer. | Occasional TDY may be required. | Appointment to this position is subject to a one-year probationary period unless the appointee has previously met the requirements as described in 5 CFR Part 315. | Position is subject to random drug testing. Incumbent must pass a drug test. | This position requires the incumbent be able to obtain and maintain a determination of eligibility for a Secret security clearance or access for the duration of employment. A background investigation and credit check are required.