Description:
This position is located within the Raymond G Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Surgical Care. The Health Technician (Optometry) supports Eye clinic providers in the provision of diagnosis, treatment, prevention, follow-up care & patient counseling.Requirements:
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.Basic Requirements :
- United States Citizenship. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
- Experience and Education.
- Experience. One year of experience as a health technician or assistant in the health care field demonstrating the applicant's ability to perform the work or by demonstrating a basic understanding of work in the health care field; OR
- Education. Successful completion of two academic years above high school with a minimum of 12 semester hours related to health technician/assistant or health technician (optometry)/assistant or associate degree, or completion of an independent study course in an optometry related technician or assistant field; OR
- Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Examples are listed below:
- (a) Six months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge of optometry assistant theory and practices and general understanding of the health technician/assistant duties and one year above high school with a minimum of six semester hours of health technician/assistant or health technician (optometry)/assistant related courses.
- (b) Successful completion of a course for health care technicians or assistants, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or hospital training in a program given by the U.S. Armed Forces, the U.S. Maritime Service, or the U.S. Public Health Service, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis.
- English Language Proficiency. Health Technician (Optometry) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).
GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
Health Technician (Optometry), GS-08
- Experience . One year of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled.
- Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Ability to provide patient education and training to manage complex eye and vision conditions.
- Knowledge of advanced triage of patients depending upon level of urgency or optometry needs.
- Knowledge of complex, non-standard treatment and/or complex examinations and techniques.
- Knowledge of ocular pharmacology and systemic medications with ocular side effects
Preferred Experience: 2 years of optometry/optician experience
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ .
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08.
Physical Requirements: The work generally requires nominal walking or standing for short periods of time or carrying of light loads of papers, books, reports, computers, monitors, and may require some physical ability and physical stress.