Qualifications

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
• 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)
• Experience and Education
• (1) 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 (2) 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 (3) 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
• Licensure/Certification/Registration
• None
• Foreign Education
• To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs
• 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: Health Technician (Optometry), GS-04 (1) Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Health Technician (Optometry), GS-05 (1) Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA)
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of basic eye anatomy and function
• (b) Ability to obtain, document and record ophthalmic and medical information from patients in order to develop an accurate electronic progress note
• (c) Ability to practice basic hygiene and infection control in a patient care setting
• (d) Ability to follow eye clinic and patient care medical policies and procedures
• (e) Ability to perform minor eyeglasses repairs, such as replacing nose pads and screws
• Health Technician (Optometry), GS-06 (1) Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Ability to provide patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions, to include assisting with patient contact lens insertion, removal and hygiene (cleaning and disinfection) care
• (b) Ability to accurately enter into a phoropter the autorefractometry or habitual refractive prescription (i.e., eyeglasses prescription) or lensometer findings, including sphere, cylinder and axis
• (c) Ability to perform patient spectacle fitting and dispensing, including selection of appropriate frame, ophthalmic lenses, interpupillary measurements (distance and near) and proper segment height determination, as well as the ability to transpose sphere, cylinder and axis
• (d) Ability to provide basic triage of patient telephone calls or optometry requests
• (e) Knowledge of ophthalmic medications and supplies needed in the process of restocking the eye clinic exam rooms
• Health Technician (Optometry), GS-07 (1) 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
• (2) 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: (a) Ability to determine preliminary objective estimate and/or refinement of the optical status of the eye, not to include the patient's final subjective refraction
• (b) Ability to triage and manage eyeglasses issues (e.g., measurement of vertex distance, base curve, prism correction, center thickness, slab off, Fresnel prism, decentration, etc.)
• (c) Ability to perform accurate assessment of accommodation, near point of convergence and ocular alignment (far and near)
• (d) Ability to assist the eye care provider (optometrist or ophthalmologist) with ophthalmic procedures
• (e) Ability to assist with obtaining accurate ocular cultures and smears
• (f) Knowledge and ability to provide advanced patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions
• Preferred Experience: History and/or ability to check vision, check IOP, preliminary refraction, adjust glasses, fit frames, measure for bifocal, pupillary distance
• 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-07
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-04 to GS-07
• Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position
• May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing
• May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment
• Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions
• the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated
• However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.