Basic Requirements:
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 an allied health personnel in Ophthalmology (e.g., Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA), Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT), or Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT)) 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).
Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including certification requirements. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
- Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance(journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
- Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) who were appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
- Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or certification that meet all the basic requirements of the qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
- Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.
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.
GS-8 Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level
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.
5. Ability to provide eye care patient education.
Grade Determinations:
Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-8 (Full Performance Level)
Experience: Must have one year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA):
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.
7. Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipment.
References: VA Handbook 5005/98, Part II, Appendix G52, Health Technician (Ophthalmology)
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08.
Physical Requirements: The Health Technician (Ophthalmology) needs to be mobile in that the job requires: sitting, walking, standing, and bending. Work requires trips often from employee's work-site to other areas throughout the Medical Center. The Health Technician will be performing eye screening examinations utilizing specialized equipment. The Health Technician must be able to record the findings in the computerized records system and be able to communicate with patients and other staff on a continual basis.