kandidatu USA

Occupational Therapist

Veterans Health Administration · Department of Veterans Affairs

This job in plain English

This is a permanent occupational therapist job at the VA Western New York Healthcare System in Buffalo, NY, within the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service. The therapist provides independent therapy across the medical center's patient care areas, and the work schedule is intermittent. There is 1 vacancy, and the announcement may also be used to fill additional vacancies.

1 vacancy

Can you apply?

Yes, if you are a U.S. citizen: this job is open to everyone.

  • Open to everyoneAny U.S. citizen or national can apply. Some jobs also accept non-citizens; the announcement says so.

The announcement says the job is open to the public and to U.S. citizens, nationals, or people who owe allegiance to the U.S. The conditions of employment also say you must be a U.S. citizen to apply, and non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.

What you would do

  • Evaluate patients' physical and psychosocial functioning using standardized and non-standardized tools.
  • Plan and change individual and group treatment with measurable goals.
  • Recommend, obtain, and modify adaptive equipment to support independent living.
  • Fabricate and modify orthoses and slings as recommended.
  • Supervise affiliating occupational therapy students during their fieldwork.

Do you qualify for GS-9 to GS-12?

With experience: Experience needed depends on the grade. For the GS-9 level, you need a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy plus 2 years of work as an occupational therapist. For GS-11, you need 1 year of experience at the GS-9 level that is directly related to this job, and for GS-12 you need 1 year at the GS-11 level; outpatient occupational therapy experience is preferred.

With education: You need a degree from an occupational therapy program approved by ACOTE (the accrediting body for these programs). You may qualify with a bachelor's in occupational therapy plus 2 years of experience, a bachelor's in occupational therapy plus 2 full years of graduate education in a related field, or a master's or higher in occupational therapy. For GS-11, three years of progressively higher graduate education in occupational therapy or a directly related field, or a doctorate in occupational therapy, also qualifies. Foreign graduates qualify with a current, full, active, and unrestricted license, and foreign education needs a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.

Licenses and certifications you need:

  • Current NBCOT certification as an occupational therapist
  • Full, current, and unrestricted state license to practice occupational therapy

How to apply well

What to send:

  • Long-form resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Cover letter (may be required)
  • Transcript if you use education to qualify
  • Professional certification or license copies
  • DD-214 if you claim veterans' preference
  • SF-15 if you claim 10-point veterans' preference, with required proof
  • Disability letter (Schedule A or VA) if it applies to you
  • SF-50 if you are a current or former federal employee

How you will be rated: You will be rated on how well you meet the qualifications, based on your online questionnaire, resume, and supporting documents. Your experience will be verified, and pre-employment reference checks may be made. Errors or missing information can lower your rating or make you ineligible.

Tips for this job:

  • Attach a long-form resume or CV; the 2-page resume limit does not apply to this job.
  • Describe each job with clear, specific dates and duties, because the agency will not assume anything about your experience.
  • Submit the complete package by 11:59 PM ET on 11/05/2026, including the questionnaire and all required documents.

Good to know before you apply

Schedule: Intermittent work schedule. Compressed or flexible schedules are not authorized.

Incentives and relocation: Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized.

Conditions of employment:

  • U.S. citizenship required to apply
  • Selective Service registration for males born after 12/31/1959
  • Proficient in written and spoken English
  • Subject to background and security investigation
  • Must pass pre-employment physical examination
  • Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program
  • Complete online onboarding with acceptable identification, including a REAL ID compliant card
  • 1 or 2-year trial period
  • Applicants pending licensure or certification may be referred but cannot be hired until requirements are met

We wrote this summary automatically from the official announcement. The announcement on USAJOBS is the only one that counts: read it before you apply.

Job details

Salary
$64,543 – $121,680 per year
Pay scale and grade
GS-9 to GS-12 · General Schedule
Location
Buffalo, New York
Appointment
Permanent
Work schedule
Intermittent
Service
Excepted
Openings
1
Security clearance
Other
Travel
Not required
Drug test
Not required
Supervisory
No
Occupation
Occupational Therapist (0631)
Announcement
CBTE-13105981-27-DM

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