Duties
Duties include but are not limited to the following:
Clinical Responsibilities
GS-5 Level
- Obtains and records vital signs including blood pressure, pulse, and glucose levels
- Participates in performance of quality assurance activities such as staff meetings, mandatory educational in-services, quality control reports, systems redesign, and team and morale improvement
GS-6 Level
- Obtains an accurate medical and ophthahnic history
- Measures and records visual acuity
- Administers anesthetic eye drops
- Performing basic tonometry
GS-7 Level
- Triages patient phone calls or requests
- Ensures exam rooms are stocked with adequate supplies
- Instructs patients on administration of eye drops and post-operative instructions
- Accurately measures, compares, and evaluates pupillary responses
- Administers eye drops to dilate pupils
GS-8 Level
- Checks and performs calibration of technical ophthalmology screening instruments
- Obtains patient physical history, to include chief complaint; reason for visit; pertinent signs and symptoms; current medication allergies; past ocular and general medical history both ocular and general; family history both ocular and general; social history; and review of medications and allergies, including current ocular prescription and non prescription medications
- Accurately tests visual acuity at distance and near, with and without correction or with and without a pinhole
- Measures eyeglass prescription using manual or automated lensometer, recording sphere, cylinder, axis, and prism in both plus and minus cylinder
- Performs pachymetry to determine corneal thickness and manual keratometry or automated topography to determine corneal curvature
- Performs intra-ocular lens calculations using an IOL Master or equivalent device
- Performs automated visual field testing using various perimetry machines
- Performs external photographs and fundus photography
- Performs optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the anterior segment, retina and optic nerve
- Assists in the education and training of medical students, residents and fellows in those facilities with medical school affiliations
- Ensures proper cleaning and disinfection; calibration, maintenance, backup, annual inventory and ordering of instruments, supplies and equipment; obtains quotes as needed; and rep01ts needed repairs to biomedical engineering
Customer Service
- Meets the needs of customers while supporting the Medical Center, Service and national VA priorities. Consistently communicates and treats customers (patients, visitors, volunteers, and all Medical Center staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures: Handles conflict and veteran complaints constructively and appropriately. Collaborates with other health care staff in a manner that enhances coordination of comprehensive patient care.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm or 8:00am - 4:30pm
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:000000/Health Technician (Ophthalmology)
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
- All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
- Subject to background/security investigation.
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
- Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
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: Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
- Experience and Education
(1) Experience. One year of experience in a health care field, such as but not limited to nursing, medical assistant, or health technician.
OR
(2) Education. Two years above high school with a minimum of six semester hours directly related to a health care field or associate's degree in a health care related degree.
(TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)
OR
(3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Examples are listed below:
(a) Six months of experience in the health care field;
and one year above high school;
(High School Diploma or Transcript Required)
or
(b) Six months of experience in the health care field
and successful completion of a course for health care technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or ophthalmology technicians given by the U.S. Armed Forces;
(Copy of Course Completion Required)
or
(c) Six months of experience in the health care field and completion of an independent study course in Ophthalmic Medical Assisting.
(Copy of Completion of Independent study Course Required)
- Certification. All applicants must be certified as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) with the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO). The COA certification is JCAHPO's entry-level certification examination for a Health Technician (Ophthalmology).
Exception. Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements may be appointed as a graduate Health Technician (Ophthalmology) under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of certification for a period not to exceed two years for a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) that provides care under the supervision of an Ophthalmologist. The exception only applies below the full performance level (GS 05, 06, 07). For grade levels at or above the full performance level (GS 08 and above) the candidate must be certified. Failure to obtain COA certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment and may result in termination of employment.
Failure to Obtain Certification. In all cases, the Health Technician (Ophthalmology) must actively pursue meeting certification requirements starting from the date of appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the uncertified Health Technician (Ophthalmology)with the written requirement to obtain certification, the date by which the certification must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline. Failure to become certified within two years from date of appointment will result in removal from the Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-0640 series and may result in termination of employment. 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 as mentioned above, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
GS 05 (Entry Level)
(a)
Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.
(b)
Assignment. Employees at this grade level serve in a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) entry level position and are trainee in nature. The entry level performs limited routine assignments under daily direct supervision. Deviations from unanticipated problems and unfamiliar situations are referred to the supervisor for a decision or help. Obtains and records vital signs including blood pressure, pulse, and glucose levels. Participates in performance of quality assurance activities such as staff meetings, mandatory educational in-services, quality control reports, systems redesign, and team and morale improvement.
GS-06 (Developmental Leve 1)
(a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level.
(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
1. Knowledge of general outpatient clinical policies and procedures in a healthcare environment.
2. Ability to obtain, document and record demographic and medical information from patients in order to develop an accurate medical record
3. Ability to use basic ophthalmic equipment and
4. Knowledge of basic disinfection of non-critical reusable medical equipment.
GS-07 (Developmental Level 2)
(a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-06 grade level.
(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
1. Knowledge of anatomy and function of the eye and basic ocular pharmacology
2. Knowledge of outpatient eye care policies and procedures in a health care environment
3. Ability to use basic ophthalmic diagnostic equipment to perform preliminary ocular testing
4. Ability to perform minor extraocular surgical assisting; and
5. Ability to provide eye care patient education.
GS-08 (Full Performance Level)
(a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level.
(b) Must be certified as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) with the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO).
(COPY OF CERTIFICATION REQUIRED)
(c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
1. Ability to perform advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation
2. Ability to perform calculations for selection of intraocular lens
3. Knowledge of clinic based ophthalmic surgical assisting
4. Knowledge of eye anatomy and physiology
5. Knowledge of medication effects and proper instillation in the eye
6. Knowledge of optics; and
7. Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipment
Preferred Experience:
COA Certified preferred mot required.
1-2 years of experience in Optometry or Ophthalmology
Direct patient care experience
Knowledge Ophthalmology terminology and testing equipment such VF and OCT
Medical terminology and CPR certified
References: VA HANDBOOK REFERENCE: PART II APPENDIX G52 EFFECTIVE DATE: February 7, 2018.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS 05 to GS 08.
Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds, Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds, Reaching above shoulder, Use of fingers, Both hands required, Walking 4 hours, Standing 4 hours, Kneeling 0.5 hour, Repeated bending 1 hour, Both legs required, Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, both eyes required, Depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors Hearing (aid permitted), outside and inside, working closely with others.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
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.
NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
Additional information
Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.