
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT (ORTHOPEDIC)
- Evaluating and treating patients in the outpatient orthopedic clinic.
- Assisting orthopedic surgeons in the operating room.
- Rounding and management of inpatient orthopedic cases.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
- 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 probationary 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.
- Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
Qualifications
Physician Assistant Basic Requirements
- Master's degree in any discipline or a bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a Physician Assistant ~AND~
- Successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) (or are you in the process to taking the exam) ~AND~
- Currently hold, or will hold, a full and unrestricted license to practice in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia.
- Three years of experience evaluating a wide range of orthopedic pre-op and post-op conditions in the outpatient clinic setting.
- Three years of experience assisting in an orthopedic or three years of experience rounding and managing inpatient orthopedic cases.
- Three years of experience in the following: evaluating and treating patients independently in an orthopedic clinic that addresses a wide range of acute and chronic upper and lower extremity conditions; surgical assisting in a wide ranges of orthopedic cases including shoulder, hand and joint reconstruction, including first-assisting; and rounding and managing patients on an orthopedic floor.
- Experience and competence with injections and aspirations of most common joints, bursae and tendon sheaths; casting/splinting; and evaluation of orthopedic consultation requests and patient triage.
(1) Physician Assistant-I (PA-I):
(a) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. This is the entry level for PAs.
(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. The following list of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) present the minimum skill set expected of an Entry Level PA. This practice may include, but is not limited to:
- i. Ability to utilize the principles of PA practice in the care of assigned patients to provide appropriate care.
- ii. Ability to perform patient history and physical.
- iii. Ability to formulate a plan and provide treatment to the patient.
- iv. Ability to provide patient care that is abreast of changing concepts and advancements in the profession.
- i. Two years of successful practice as a PA.
- ii. Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Office of Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by VA, ARC-PA, U.S. Armed Forces, or another accrediting agency.
- iii. A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
- i. Skills to analyze and solve complex medical problems.
- ii. Ability to function autonomously and make independent medical decisions.
- iii. Skill to incorporate training and experience into the successful practice of patient care including telehealth medical care.
- iv. Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment for improvement of services for patient care.
- v. Ability to practice with colleagues and peers collaboratively.
- i. Three years of successful practice as a PA.
- ii. Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Officeof Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by VA, ARC-PA, U.S. Armed Forces, or another accrediting agency and one year of professional practice as a PA.
- iii. A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and one year of professional practice as a PA.
- i. Ability to clinically evaluate facility patient care delivery systems and validate or identify barriers to safe and effective patient care.
- ii. Skill to consistently demonstrate an elevated level of expertise and autonomy in diagnosing and treating seriously ill, multi-symptomatic patients through facility Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE) and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE).
- iii. Ability to present clinical findings and recommendations to appropriate management officials.
- iv. Ability to clinically facilitate the delivery of patient care in collaboration with health professionals, health managers, and other health care personnel.
- v. Ability to implement and initiate clinical changes to established treatment protocols based upon new medical literature research findings to enhance patient delivery care for improved patient outcomes.
- vi. Ability to participate clinically in the development of the PA patient care audit processes involving in-depth review and analysis of medical records.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit .
The full performance level of this vacancy is grade 3. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of grade 1 to grade 3.
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service
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: . 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: .
Additional information
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.
VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.
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 at .
- Benefits
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 that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. .
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 information on the specific benefits offered.
Conditions of Employment
- All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
- 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 probationary 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.
- Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
Qualifications
Physician Assistant Basic Requirements
- Master's degree in any discipline or a bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a Physician Assistant ~AND~
- Successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) (or are you in the process to taking the exam) ~AND~
- Currently hold, or will hold, a full and unrestricted license to practice in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia.
- Three years of experience evaluating a wide range of orthopedic pre-op and post-op conditions in the outpatient clinic setting.
- Three years of experience assisting in an orthopedic or three years of experience rounding and managing inpatient orthopedic cases.
- Three years of experience in the following: evaluating and treating patients independently in an orthopedic clinic that addresses a wide range of acute and chronic upper and lower extremity conditions; surgical assisting in a wide ranges of orthopedic cases including shoulder, hand and joint reconstruction, including first-assisting; and rounding and managing patients on an orthopedic floor.
- Experience and competence with injections and aspirations of most common joints, bursae and tendon sheaths; casting/splinting; and evaluation of orthopedic consultation requests and patient triage.
(1) Physician Assistant-I (PA-I):
(a) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. This is the entry level for PAs.
(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. The following list of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) present the minimum skill set expected of an Entry Level PA. This practice may include, but is not limited to:
- i. Ability to utilize the principles of PA practice in the care of assigned patients to provide appropriate care.
- ii. Ability to perform patient history and physical.
- iii. Ability to formulate a plan and provide treatment to the patient.
- iv. Ability to provide patient care that is abreast of changing concepts and advancements in the profession.
- i. Two years of successful practice as a PA.
- ii. Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Office of Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by VA, ARC-PA, U.S. Armed Forces, or another accrediting agency.
- iii. A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
- i. Skills to analyze and solve complex medical problems.
- ii. Ability to function autonomously and make independent medical decisions.
- iii. Skill to incorporate training and experience into the successful practice of patient care including telehealth medical care.
- iv. Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment for improvement of services for patient care.
- v. Ability to practice with colleagues and peers collaboratively.
- i. Three years of successful practice as a PA.
- ii. Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Officeof Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by VA, ARC-PA, U.S. Armed Forces, or another accrediting agency and one year of professional practice as a PA.
- iii. A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and one year of professional practice as a PA.
- i. Ability to clinically evaluate facility patient care delivery systems and validate or identify barriers to safe and effective patient care.
- ii. Skill to consistently demonstrate an elevated level of expertise and autonomy in diagnosing and treating seriously ill, multi-symptomatic patients through facility Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE) and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE).
- iii. Ability to present clinical findings and recommendations to appropriate management officials.
- iv. Ability to clinically facilitate the delivery of patient care in collaboration with health professionals, health managers, and other health care personnel.
- v. Ability to implement and initiate clinical changes to established treatment protocols based upon new medical literature research findings to enhance patient delivery care for improved patient outcomes.
- vi. Ability to participate clinically in the development of the PA patient care audit processes involving in-depth review and analysis of medical records.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit .
The full performance level of this vacancy is grade 3. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of grade 1 to grade 3.
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service
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: . 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: .
Additional information
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.
VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.
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 at .