To qualify for this position, applicants must meet Time-in-Grade, Specialized Experience and/or Education requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 06/23/2026. ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. Candidates may be advanced without time restriction to positions up to GS-5 if the position to be filled is no more than two grades above the lowest grade the employee held within the preceding 52 weeks under his or her latest non-temporary competitive appointment. GS-5: You must have held a GS-3 or higher. GS-6: You must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. GS-7: You must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Individual Occupational Requirement: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below. This experience must have involved the observation of and assistance in the application of techniques relating to behavior, capacities, traits, interests, and activities of either humans or, under laboratory conditions, animals. Experience may have been gained in connection with a program of research or direct services in psychology that gave a practical understanding of some of the principles, methods, and techniques of psychology needed to assist professional psychologists. Minimum Qualifications GS-5: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-4 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Assisting with the responsibility for a specific group of residents during the work shift. Assisting with directing and supporting patients in the implementation of treatment goals and providing input for treatment and discharge plans. Assists with facilitating daily individual and group sessions to achieve the patient goals of highest level of function and rehabilitation. Helping to monitor patient progress through all phases of the rehabilitation programs with individual contact. Assisting with the evaluation and assessment of patients who may be at risk to hurt themselves or others and notifies other staff and providers as needed. Note: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month & year starting and year ending dates AND hours worked per week. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a four (4) year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of subjects such as psychology, statistics, or other directly related subjects. Note: Transcripts required. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience. Note: Transcripts required. Minimum Qualifications GS-6: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Assisting with directing and supporting patients in the implementation of treatment goals and providing input for treatment and discharge plans. Assists with facilitating daily individual and group sessions to achieve the patient goals of highest level of function and rehabilitation. Helping to monitor patient progress through all phases of the rehabilitation programs with individual contact. Assisting with the evaluation and assessment of patients who may be at risk to hurt themselves or others and notifies other staff and providers as needed. Note: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month & year starting and year ending dates AND hours worked per week. Education: There is no education substitutes for the GS-6 level. Minimum Qualifications GS-7: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Independently directing and supporting patients in the implementation of treatment goals and providing input for treatment and discharge plans. Independently facilitates daily individual and group sessions to achieve the patient goals of highest level of function and rehabilitation. Independently monitors patient progress through all phases of the rehabilitation programs with individual contact. Independently evaluates and assesses patients who may be at risk to hurt themselves or others and notifies other staff and providers as needed. Note: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month & year starting and year ending dates AND hours worked per week. Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed one full year of graduate education in a field such as psychology, statistics, or other directly related subjects. Note: Transcripts required. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.