About the opportunity
The Registered Respiratory Therapist (GS-11) serves in Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Tobacco Cessation at the Veterans Health Administration in Kansas City, Missouri. The therapist provides comprehensive clinical respiratory care in both inpatient and outpatient settings, assessing patients, administering therapeutic treatments, coordinating individualized rehabilitation, managing mechanical ventilation, and offering evidence-based tobacco cessation support to Veterans.
Salary and benefits
- Annual salary between $79,476 and $103,324 (GS-11 grade level).
- Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior qualifying work or military experience.
- Comprehensive federal employment benefit package including health insurance, retirement, and leave programs.
Who can apply?
- United States Citizenship (non-citizens may only be appointed when qualified citizens are unavailable).
- Successful completion of a respiratory care program accredited by CoARC or its successor.
- Full, current, and unrestricted state license as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).
- Valid, current, and unrestricted RRT credential.
- At least one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in therapeutic respiratory care, or coverage under the VA Grandfathering Provision.
- Proficiency in written and spoken English.
- Selective Service registration for males born after December 31, 1959.
Required documents
- Standard Clinical Resume Document (downloaded from the provided VA template and uploaded to the two-page restricted field).
- Full Resume or CV (uploaded into the 'Other' document field).
- Active RRT State License and Professional Certification.
- Official or unofficial academic transcripts (required if using education to qualify; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency).
- DD-214 / Statement of Service (if claiming Veterans' Preference).
- Standard Form 15 (SF-15) and VA/military disability rating letter (if claiming 10-point Veterans' Preference).
- SF-50 / Notification of Personnel Action (for current or former Federal employees).
When to apply
- Application open date: September 1, 2026.
- Application closing date: September 10, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
How to apply
- Log in to or create an account on USAJOBS.
- Download the standard Clinical Resume Document from VA Careers and attach it to the designated restricted upload field.
- Upload your full CV/resume and required supporting documents (transcripts, license, DD-214, etc.) to the 'Other' upload field.
- Complete the online questionnaire and submit your application package by 11:59 PM ET on September 10, 2026.
- Follow the unique link sent after submission to complete the required online USA Hire Competency Based Assessments (set aside up to 3 hours).
Additional information
- Full-time position working Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
- Ad-hoc telework and compressed/flexible work schedules may be available.
- Selected candidate must complete a 1 or 2-year trial period.
- Subject to pre-employment drug screening, background/security investigation, and mandatory annual seasonal influenza vaccination.
- REAL ID compliant identification card or driver's license is required for pre-employment onboarding.
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- You have a valid, current, and unrestricted state license as a Registered Respiratory Therapist alongside the required RRT credential and CoARC-accredited program completion.
- You possess at least one year of creditable therapeutic respiratory care experience at the GS-09 level or qualify under the VA Grandfathering Provision.
- You are interested in specializing in both pulmonary rehabilitation and evidence-based tobacco cessation services for patients in inpatient and outpatient settings.
- You want a full-time federal healthcare role based on-site in Kansas City, Missouri, with a scheduled Monday through Friday daytime routine.
What should you think carefully about?
- You must be comfortable completing a mandatory one- or two-year trial period upon selection.
- You need to successfully pass pre-employment drug screening, a background security investigation, and fulfill mandatory annual seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
- If relocation to the Kansas City area is necessary for you, verify that the $79,476 to $103,324 salary range aligns with your financial requirements.
- You must be prepared to complete the unique online USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, which can take up to three hours.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This role offers a stable federal career trajectory within the Veterans Health Administration, making it a strong fit if your professional goals include building specialized clinical expertise in pulmonary care and tobacco cessation. It suits practitioners seeking structured weekday hours, comprehensive federal benefits, and potential leave accrual credit based on prior qualifying work or military service.
Our take
Registered Respiratory Therapists with the required GS-09 equivalent experience and valid credentials who want a structured federal clinical environment in Kansas City should seriously consider applying. Candidates unwilling to undergo drug screening, background checks, or a trial period may find it less suitable.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
Official-source verifiedSource: USAJOBS
