Occupational Therapist

Overview

Summary

This position is located in the Mental Health Care Line at Michael

E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston - Texas. The Occupational Therapist is responsible for and is accountable for the safety and effectiveness of the Occupational Therapy service delivery process for his/her patients. It is the responsibility of this Occupational Therapist to seek the appropriate quality and frequency of supervision and/or assistance to ensure safe and effective occupational therapy service delivery.

This position is located in the Mental Health Care Line at Michael

E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston - Texas. The Occupational Therapist is responsible for and is accountable for the safety and effectiveness of the Occupational Therapy service delivery process for his/her patients. It is the responsibility of this Occupational Therapist to seek the appropriate quality and frequency of supervision and/or assistance to ensure safe and effective occupational therapy service delivery.

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
• Education and/or Experience
• (1) The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below: (a) 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 (b) 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 (c) Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy
• (2) Individuals must be a graduate of a degree program in occupational therapy approved by the ACOTE or predecessor organizations
• This is inclusive of an internship (supervised fieldwork experience required by the educational institution)
• ACOTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
• Degree programs may be verified by contacting the American Occupational Therapy Association website or at their office address:
  American Occupational Therapy Association - P.O Box 31220 - Bethesda - MD
• Foreign Graduates
• Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education
• For further information - visit: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./
• Certification
• Candidates must possess current National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification as an Occupational Therapist
• 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
• Exceptions for the Graduate Occupational Therapist
• (1) OT graduates from an approved occupational therapy program who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements - but who do not possess NBCOT certification and/or state licensure - may be appointed - pending certification and/or licensure - as a graduate OT on a full-time temporary appointment not-to-exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)
• (2) Graduate OTs may only be appointed at the GS-09 grade level and may not be promoted/converted to the GS-11 level until licensure and/or certification is obtained
• For grades levels at or above the developmental GS-11 grade level - the OT must be certified and licensed
• (3) A graduate OT may provide care only under the direct supervision of a licensed OT who meets all state regulatory requirements
• (4) Temporary graduate OT appointments may not be extended beyond two years…