Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• The basic requirements for employment as a Health Technician (Massage Therapy) are prescribed by Public Law 96-151 and codified in 38 U.S.C. 7402
• To qualify for appointment, all applicants for the position of Health Technician (Massage Therapy) in VHA must meet the following: United States Citizenship: Candidates must be a citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) Education: Candidates must complete a minimum 500-hour massage therapy education program
• 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
• (3) Exception
• Non-certified applicants, who have pending registrations or licensures in a state, or a certification by a national board recognized by the Secretary, and otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure, may be given a temporary appointment as a Graduate Health Technician (Massage Therapy), under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)(B), for a period not to exceed two years
• Failure to obtain licensure/registration/certification during this period may result in termination of employment
• (4) Loss of Credential
• An employee who fails to maintain the required licensure/certification/registration must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment
• (5) 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, as described in subparagraph 3.c., or by maintaining a board certification from the NCBTMB
• Grade Determinations: (3) Health Technician (Massage Therapy) GS-7 - Full Performance Level (a) Education, Experience, and Licensure
• In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level performing massage therapy and demonstrate all the KSAs below: (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities i
• 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
• ii
• Ability to use various communication techniques to encourage and educate individuals and groups to enhance massage therapy outcomes
• iii
• Skill in developing and maintaining strong interpersonal relationships
• and iv
• Ability to advise staff and students in massage therapy practices
• At the full performance level, Health Technicians (Massage Therapy) independently assess the physical and mental status of patients
• The Health Technician (Massage Therapy) takes complete patient history and performs a physical assessment
• The Health Technician (Massage Therapy) interprets relevant clinical information to identify each patient's population specific needs, identify indications/contraindications for massage, and develop the plan of care
• Health Technicians (Massage Therapy), at this level, are responsible to perform massage therapy services with complexity higher than the developmental level
• The Health Technician (Massage Therapy) performs duties with limited supervision and seeks assistance from the supervisor in urgent or emergent circumstances
• The Health Technician (Massage Therapy) evaluates patient responses to treatment and documents responses to treatment, by maintaining accurate records in an electronic environment
• The Health Technician (Massage Therapy) coordinates follow up massage therapy as necessary
• Health Technicians (Massage Therapy), at this level, serve as consultants to the health care team in the evaluation and treatment of the patient
• Under routine academic oversight, the Health Technician (Massage Therapy) assists with clinical supervision of massage therapy students
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• This is the Full performance level of this vacancy
• Physical Requirements: Work, divided between office and clinical settings
• May require prolonged standing, moderate walking, and manual dexterity
• Sitting, standing, lifting up to 40 pounds.