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 US citizens
- English Language Proficiency Applicants must be proficient in spoken & written English
- Experience and Education
- Experience. One year of experience in a health care field, such as but not limited to nursing, medical assistant, or health technician
- OR
- 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
- 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; 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; or
- c) Six months of experience in the health care field and completion of an independent study course in Ophthalmic Medical Assisting
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. For grade levels at or above the full performance level 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
Loss of Credentials. A Health Technician (Ophthalmology) who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment
Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a Health Technicians-Ophthalmology on effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for title, series & grade held, including certification requirements. For employees who do not meet all basic requirements in this standard, but who met qualifications applicable to position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to & including full performance level, or changed to lower grade within occupation, but may not be promoted beyond full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
2) Health Technicians-Ophthalmology who were appointed on a temporary basis prior to qualification standard effective date may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet basic requirements of standard
3) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education &/or certification that meet all basic requirements of qualification standard must maintain required credentials as employment condition in occupation
4) Health Technicians-Ophthalmology who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave occupation lose protected status & must meet full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at reentry time to occupation
Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpreting foreign educational credentials & such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs
Grade Determinations: Following criteria must be met when determining candidate's grade in addition to basic requirements
GS-5
Experience or Education. None beyond basic requirements
GS-6
Experience. One year experience equivalent to GS-5 grade level
AND
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs) - Candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs in addition to above experience
1) Knowledge of general outpatient clinical policies & procedures in a healthcare environment
2) Ability to obtain, document & record demographic & patient medical information to develop an accurate medical records
3) Ability to use basic ophthalmic equipment &
4) Knowledge of basic disinfection of non-critical reusable medical equipment
GS-7
Experience. One year experience equivalent to GS-6 grade level
AND
Candidates must demonstrate all the following
KSAs in addition to above experience
1) Knowledge of anatomy & eye function & basic ocular pharmacology
2) Knowledge eye care outpatient policies & procedures in health care environments
3) Ability to use basic ophthalmic diagnostic equipment to perform preliminary ocular testing
4) Ability to perform minor extraocular surgical assisting &
5) Ability to provide eye care patient education
GS- 8
Experience. One year experience equivalent to GS-7 grade level
AND
Candidates must demonstrate all the following
KSAs in addition to above experience
1) Ability to perform advanced tonometry & 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 & physiology
5) Knowledge of medication effects & proper eye instillation
6) Knowledge of optics &
7) Knowledge of proper cleaning & maintenance clinic equipment
Preferred Experience:
At least 1 year experience working in an eye clinic, experience using ophthalmology diagnostic & imaging equipment
Experience fitting, dispensing & adjusting eyeglasses
Certification by The Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant, COA
Reference: For more information on qualification standard, please visit
https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
Vacancy full performance level is a GS-8. Applicants may be selected in grade ranges GS-5 to GS-8
Physical Requirements:
Requires some physical exertion: prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching & lifting moderately heavy items: manuals, record boxes, equipment or assisting patients
Requires above average agility & dexterity
Must possess & maintain valid state's driver's license to travel when required for work