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
• Credential
• Candidates must be board certified in pedorthics by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics (ABC)
• or Credentialed in pedorthics by the Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC)
• or Exception for Non-Credentialed Health Aid (Pedorthist)
• Non-credentialed individuals who have successfully completed a Board for Certification in Pedorthics (BCP), Commission on Accreditation of Pedorthic Education (CAPE), National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE), Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or American Board for Certification of Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics (ABC) approved pedorthic certificate program (see Pedorthist Programs) and otherwise meet ABC's eligibility requirements for certification (see Pedorthist Candidate Guide) may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate Health Aid (Pedorthist) under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)(B)
• Non-credentialed individuals shall only provide care under the clinical oversight of a credentialed pedorthist, orthotist, or orthotist/prosthetist at or above the full performance level
• Non-credentialed individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained
• Temporary appointments of non-credentialed Health Aid (Pedorthist) may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment
• 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 Aid (Pedorthist), GS-03
• Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements Health Technician (Pedorthist), GS-04
• Experience
• Six months of experience demonstrating knowledge, skills and abilities associated with pedorthic practice equivalent to the GS-03 which includes: taking measurements, patient communication and fabrication and fitting of simple devices, and using common office software to perform basic computing tasks such as communication via email and manipulation of documents
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of patient related psychology, for example age-related competency, patient, and caregiver stressors
• Knowledge of foundational sciences related to development of pedorthic treatment, for example anatomy, biomechanics, and pathology
• Knowledge of materials science commonly used in fabrication, for example adhesives, plastics, composites, metals, and leather
• Knowledge of regulations and procedures to ensure patient privacy
• Ability to assign Healthcare Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) coding to pedorthic devices
• Health Technician (Pedorthist), GS-05
• Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-04 which includes: attending clinic to observe and articulate understanding of terms and diagnoses encountered
• observing and assisting in the evaluation of the prescription, the assessment of the patient, preparation, and modification of casts for simple device types, repairs, and fabrication of simple devices in accordance with the input of the supervising clinician
• assisting the credentialed pedorthist, orthotist, or CPO with providing instructions to patients and caregivers on the function, care, use, maintenance, and skin condition concerns related to the pedorthic device
• assisting with the formulation and implementation of a follow up treatment plan
• documenting workload, procedure coding, progress notes, and encounter completion into the electronic medical record
• ensuring patient privacy
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Skill in conducting patient assessments
• Skill in developing simple pedorthic devices (includes assessment, measurement, selection, and fitting)
• Ability to consult with providers and allied health colleagues regarding treatment
• Ability to assess device to ensure structural soundness and compliance with prescription and fit
• Health Technician (Pedorthist), GS-06
• Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-05 which includes: consulting for guidance not covered by instructions
• consulting with the physician, therapist, and/or senior pedorthist/orthotist/prosthetist staff members to obtain and understand the prescription
• conducting patient assessments, taking scans, and measurements for simple devices, preparing and modifying casts for simple devices
• providing patient services with simple devices, patient/caregiver education, and assistance with complex device types
• assisting with assessment of devices for structural soundness, compliance with the prescription, fit and patient comfort
• developing a follow up treatment plan for typical conditions
• observing the casting and provision of advanced device types Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Skill in developing a follow up treatment plan for complex pedorthic device types
• Ability to process paperwork for pedorthic devices being produced and fitted by vendor
• Ability to place administrative orders with procurement staff for treatment modalities
• Ability to assess device types for structural soundness and meeting the specifications of the prescription
• Ability to process consults/orders
• Health Technician (Pedorthist), GS-07
• (Recruitment/Relocation Incentive Authorized) Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-06, which includes: a broad working knowledge of simple and complex device types
• independently taking scans and measurements
• preparing and modifying casts and repairs and fabricating complex devices in accordance with the input of the individual providing clinical oversight
• providing complex devices and delivering patient/caregiver education
• assessing simple and complex devices for quality including structural soundness, compliance with the prescription, fit, and patient comfort
• assisting with advanced device types to include quality assurance assessment
• assisting with development of a follow up treatment plan for atypical conditions
• assisting with administrative activities including, but not limited to, assigning Healthcare Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) coding of pedorthic devices to facilitate procurement, preparing documentation for Veterans being sent to vendors, participating in interdisciplinary teams, processing consults and generating administrative orders for procurement of pedorthic devices
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Skill in designing advanced pedorthic devices
• Skill in assessing device types for structural soundness and meeting the specifications of the prescription
• Skill in written communication
• Skill in oral communication
• Skill in fabrication of all pedorthic device types
• Skill in designing innovative pedorthic devices to include new and emerging technology
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.