OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST (EARLY INTERVENTION)

Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. 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; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Basic Requirement for Occupational Therapist (Early Intervention): Degree: A graduate (or higher level) degree that included an occupational therapy curriculum approved by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) or a professional accrediting organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained, and completion of the clinical requirements prescribed by the school.

01Certification

Applicants must have passed the national examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Exemption: You are exempt from the basic requirements above if you are a current federal employee occupying a position in the 0631 occupational series and have been continuously employed in this occupational series since September 27, 2017 or before. Note: You will be required to provide appropriate documentation to the respective Human Resources Office to validate your status.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: 1) evaluating occupational therapy services for children of all ages with disabilities; 2) developing Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSP); and 3) collaborating within interdisciplinary teams to coordinate early intervention services.

This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-12). Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.

Coordinates and participates in Child Find and public awareness activities to identify infants, toddlers, and children in the local community who may require early intervention services.,Conducts clinical screenings and evaluations of infant, toddler, and student motor functioning using standardized pediatric assessment instruments and tools.,Conducts family-centered Routines-Based Interviews (RBI) and functional assessments of fine motor, sensory, and self-care skills to determine specialized educational and therapeutic needs.,Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams and parents to formulate, review, and update Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSP) and Individualized Education Programs (IEP).,Provides direct early intervention services and therapeutic support to infants, toddlers, and families in their natural environments, including homes, child care centers, and community settings.,Develops and adapts customized intervention strategies, seating arrangements, and assistive devices to support self-feeding, play, and functional development.,Delivers direct clinical therapy, classroom support, and environmental modifications to school-aged students in accordance with their established IEP guidelines.,Instructs parents, classroom teachers, and other professionals to ensure consistency in skill development while independently maintaining thorough clinical documentation in government automated systems.,Serves as a service coordinator and agency liaison to manage family contacts and ensure effective transitions of children from early intervention services into preschool programs.,Participates in professional development, refines specialized program approaches, and conducts process improvement activities to optimize clinical service delivery.