Recreation Therapist (Aquatic Therapy)

Recreion Therapist (Aquic Therapy) Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administrion VA Boston Healthcare System Summary The Recreion Therapist for the VA Boston Health Care System is aligned under Voluntary Services the Brockton, MA campus with occasional travel to the West Roxbury, MA campus. This is a direct pient care position in which the incumbent is responsible for performing the work of a recreion therapist, performing aquic therapy activities, which encompasses a variety of different duties and responsibilities. Learn more about this agency Summary The Recreion Therapist for the VA Boston Health Care System is aligned under Voluntary Services the Brockton, MA campus with occasional travel to the West Roxbury, MA campus. This is a direct pient care position in which the incumbent is responsible for performing the work of a recreion therapist, performing aquic therapy activities, which encompasses a variety of different duties and responsibilities. Learn more about this agency Overview Help Accepting applicions Open & closing des 03/27/2026 to 04/10/2026 Salary $57,150

• $109,959 per year Pay scale & grade GS 7
• 11 Locion 1 vacancy in the following locion: Brockton, MA Remote job No Telework eligible No Travel Required Occasional travel
• You may be expected to travel for this position.

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 Financial disclosure No Bargaining unit stus No Announcement number

CBTD-12913402-26-MN

Control number 862786500 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 Current permanent employees of the Veterans Health Administrion including permanent Veterans Canteen Service employees, current permanent full-time Hybrid Title 38 and permanent full-time Title 38 employees.

NOTE:

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more informion, refer to Required Documents below. Videos Duties Help The full performance level of this vacancy is GS11. The actual grade which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS7 to GS11. Duties may include but are not limited to: Must tain lifeguard certificion, lifeguard training certificion and aquic therapy certificion within 6 months of hire. Conduct, analyze, interpret, and report 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 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 Provide direct pient care to pients in an aquic environment

Work Schedule :

Full-Time (Monday

• Friday:

  8a.m
• 430p.

m.)

Telework :

Not Available Virtual:

This is not a virtual position. Functional Stement # : F06044, F0645, and F0646

AT Relocion/Recruitment Incentives :

Not Authorized Permanent Change of Stion (PCS):

Not Authorized Financial Disclosure:

Not Required Promotion Potential:

The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulory, qualificion, and performance requirements are met. Selection lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

NOTIFICATIONS

This position is in the excepted service. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay. The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA Boston campuses and CBOC's. Incomplete applicions will not be considered 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. 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). 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). Complete all applicion requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evalue your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizional goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment termined unless you receive certificion, in writing, th your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualificions Preferred Experience:

Must have recreion therapy experience, aquic therapy specific experience preferred. Will need to be lifeguard certified or willing to tain certificion within 6 months of hire.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

Citizenship:

Citizen of the United Stes (U.S.). (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candides in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a))

Educion:

The following educion requirements apply to the recreion therapist: (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.

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.

GRADE REQUIREMENTS

Creditable Experience:

(1)

Knowledge of Current Professional Recreion Therapy or Creive Arts Therapy Practices:

To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities (also referred to as "clinical competencies") associed with current professional recreion or creive arts therapy practices. Evidence of such experience includes prive practice, U.S. military services, local/ste/federal government organizions, for profit/non-profit organizions, healthcare, or educional facilities. (2)

Quality of Experience:

Qualifying experience must be a level comparable to the next lower grade level. Experience sisfying this requirement must be active professional practice, which may be paid or non-paid employment as a recreion or creive arts therapist.

Grade Determinions:

In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candides: 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.

References:

VA Handbook 5005/111, Part II, Appendix G60,

Recreion and Creive Arts Therapist Qualificion Standards Physical Requirements:

Duties are physical in nure, requiring swimming, standing, walking, bending, stooping, lifting light to medium weight objects, and push wheelchairs. Requires the ability to carry light to medium weight items such as papers, books, or other supplies, as well as heavier items such as durable medical equipment. The incumbent needs to be able to handle the therapy & recreion equipment for pient care activities and uses the computer and other standard office equipment to complete administrive tasks.

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: http://ope.ed.gov/accredition/ . 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, : https://sites.ed.gov/internional/recognition-of-foreign-qualificions/ . Additional informion Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacion)

Leave:

Federal Employees earn annual leave a re (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the re which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment de and is not guaranteed. 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.

Area of Considerion :

Eligible applicions reviewed and referred in the following order: 1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility. 2. All other VA employees.

Note :

Veterans' Preference is not applicable to VA employees or employees of other Federal agencies.

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. 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 Transcript Special Note for

Applicions:

To complete your applicion, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field. Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limition into the 'Other' document upload field. 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 CTRS by the NCTRC Performance Appraisal Resume SF-50/ Notificion of Personnel Action Transcript 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 04/10/2026 to receive considerion. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12913402 . 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 Milan Neville Phone 774-465-0878 Milan.

Neville@va.gov Address VA Boston Healthcare System 940 Belmont Street Brockton, MA 02301 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 Transcript Special Note for

Applicions:

To complete your applicion, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field. Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limition into the 'Other' document upload field. 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 CTRS by the NCTRC Performance Appraisal Resume SF-50/ Notificion of Personnel Action Transcript 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 04/10/2026 to receive considerion. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12913402 . 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 Milan Neville Phone 774-465-0878 Milan.

Neville@va.gov Address VA Boston Healthcare System 940 Belmont Street Brockton, MA 02301 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 03/27/2026 to 04/10/2026 Salary $57,150

• $109,959 per year Pay scale & grade GS 7
• 11 Locion 1 vacancy in the following locion: Brockton, MA Remote job No Telework eligible No Travel Required Occasional travel
• You may be expected to travel for this position.

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 Financial disclosure Bargaining unit stus Announcement number

CBTD-12913402-26-MN

Control number 862786500