Physician Assistant

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

BASIC REQUIREMENT(S):
OPM Link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0600/physician-assistant-series-0603/

BASIC REQUIREMENT(S):
All applicants must meet the following basic requirements for all grade levels:

• Graduation from a physician assistant educational program, accredited by the Accreditation Review Committee on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) or its predecessors, at a college, university, or educational institution that is accredited by an accrediting body or organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.
• Successful completion of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) examination; must maintain status as a certified physician assistant, including completion of all requirements for Continuing Medical Education (CME) and re-certification.

Licensure: For all grade levels and positions, applicants must possess a current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a Physician Assistant from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.

Basic Requirements for the GS-11 (or equivalent) Grade Level: In addition to the requirements for the GS-9 (or equivalent) level, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

• Completion of Doctorate of Physician Assistant Studies, Doctorate of Science Physician Assistant (DScPA) or equivalent; or
• Completion of a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in a related health field and completion of an accredited physician assistant educational program. Examples of related doctoral degree programs include, but are not limited to, public health; allied health field; public health education; or other related health science programs; or
• A minimum of one full year of work experience as a certified physician assistant equivalent to the GS-9 grade level and completion of an accredited physician assistant educational program as described above.
• Examples of specialized experience for GS-11 grade level: Assess patient health by interview patients, perform physical examination, obtain, update and study medical histories; determine abnormal conditions by administer or ordering diagnostic tests, i.e., x-rays, electrocardiograms and laboratory tests; interpret test results; document patient care services by charting in patient and department record; perform therapeutic procedures by administering injections and immunizations; suture, manage wounds and infections; provide continuity of care by developing and implementing patient management plans; prescribe medications.

Basic Requirements for the GS-12 (or equivalent) and above Grade Level:

• A minimum of one full year of work experience as a certified physician assistant equivalent to the next lower grade level and completion of an accredited physician assistant educational program is required.
• Examples of specialized experience for GS-12 grade level: insert breathing tubes, surgical drainage, start central IV lines and treat major emergencies; instruct and counsel patients about prescribed therapeutic regimens, normal growth and development, family planning, emotional problems of daily living, and health maintenance, provide health wellness advice to patients, program participants or caregivers, arrange hospital admissions and discharges at the direction of supervising physician.

In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks:

GS-9: 1 full year of work experience as a certified physician assistant equivalent to the GS-07 grade level and graduated from an accredited physician assistant educational program as described in the Basic Requirement. The experience is related to the work of the position as described in the vacancy announcement.

GS-11: 1 full year of work experience as a certified physician assistant equivalent to the GS-09 grade level and completion of an accredited physician assistant educational program as described in the Basic Requirement. The experience is related to the work of the position as described in the vacancy announcement.

GS-12: one full year of work experience as a certified physician assistant equivalent to the GS-11 grade level and completion of an accredited physician assistant educational program is required. The experience is related to the work of the position as described in the vacancy announcement.


Time In Grade
Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP).

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.