Summary This position is in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service of VA Northern California Health Care System - Stockton, CA. The Health Technician (Massage Therapy) performs manual assessment and manipulation of the superficial soft tissues of skin, muscle, tendon, ligament, fascia, and the structures that lie within the superficial tissues. The work requires the application of knowledge of therapeutic massage concepts, principles, and practices. Responsibilities Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major Duties include but are not limited to the following: Assess the physical and mental status of patients (including history and physical assessment), interpret the appropriate information to identify each patient's population-specific needs, identify indications/contraindications for massage, and develop the plan of care. Use various communication techniques to encourage and educate individuals and groups to enhance massage therapy outcomes. Develop and maintain strong interpersonal relationships. Advise staff and students in massage therapy practices. Perform massage therapy services with complexity higher than the developmental level. Perform duties with limited supervision and seeks assistance from the supervisor in urgent or emergent circumstances. Evaluate patient responses to treatment and documents responses to treatment, by maintaining accurate records in an electronic environment. Coordinate follow up massage therapy as necessary. Serve as consultants to the health care team in the evaluation and treatment of the patient. Provide massage techniques including draping, using the appropriate tools, supplies, and equipment based on the needs of the patient. Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathology, therapeutic effects, and evidence-based practice of massage therapy Work with an interdisciplinary team in a health care setting. Knowledge of all patient safety procedures, rules, and regulations as they pertain to a clinical environment. Effectively communicate verbally/non-verbally and in writing (through a variety of modalities). Work Schedule: Full-Time; Monday to Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a trial period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be 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 state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Qualifications Basic Requirements: 1. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 2. English Language Proficiency: Individuals appointed under the authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in Veterans Health Administration (VHA), must be proficient in written and spoken English. 3. Education: Candidates must complete a minimum 500-hour massage therapy education program. Foreign Graduates: Graduates of foreign massage therapy programs that require a minimum 500-hour education program are considered to meet the basic education requirements if they have a full unrestricted and current license, registration, or certification to practice as a massage therapist in a state, territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia, or by maintaining a board certification from the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB). 4. Licensure, Registration, or Certification: Candidates must be currently licensed, registered, or certified to practice as a massage therapist in a state, territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Acceptable credentials must have required successful completion of a minimum 500-hour massage therapy education program and pass the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination, National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork Examination, or equivalent state-issued examination. OR Candidates must possess and maintain a board certification from the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB). NOTE: As of the date of this standard, several states do not offer a credential in massage therapy. Additionally, some states offer a credential that does not meet the 500-hour education program and/or state-issued examination requirements described above in subparagraph 3.c.(1). Candidates may satisfy the basic requirement of licensure/certification/registration by possessing and maintaining a board certification from the NCBTMB. Grandfathering Provision: May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Health Technicians (Massage Therapy) employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements of this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Employees grandfathered into the GS-0640 occupational series as a Health Technician (Massage Therapy) may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation. Health Technicians (Massage Therapy) who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of this qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of this standard. Health Technicians (Massage Therapy) initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure, certification, registration, and meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. If Health Technicians (Massage Therapy), who are grandfathered under this provision, leave the GS-0640 series, they lose their grandfathered protected status. These employees must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the Health Technician (Massage Therapy) occupation in this series. Grade Determinations: Health Technician (Massage Therapy), GS-7 - Full Performance Level Education, Experience, and Licensure: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS6 grade level performing massage therapy and demonstrate all the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities below. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Ability to assess the physical and mental status of patients (including history and physical assessment), interpret the appropriate information to identify each patient's population-specific needs, identify indications/contraindications for massage, develop the plan of care, and monitor their response to treatment; Ability to use various communication techniques to encourage and educate individuals and groups to enhance massage therapy outcomes; Skill in developing and maintaining strong interpersonal relationships; and Ability to advise staff and students in massage therapy practices. Preferred Experience: Experience to qualify at the GS-7 level is preferred. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. FORMER VA HANDBOOK REFERENCE: PART II APPENDIX G56, EFFECTIVE DATE: March 12, 2019. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: Sitting, standing, lifting to 40 pounds. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (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 rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application 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 application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration 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 status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related 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 alternate 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 tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
