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 (Pedorthist) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
Credential. Candidates must possess one of the below credentials.
- 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.
Failure to Obtain Certification. In all cases, Health Aid (Pedorthist) must actively pursue meeting requirements for certification starting from the date of their appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the Health Aid (Pedorthist) with the written requirements for certification, including the time by which the certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline. Failure to obtain certification during this time period may result in termination of employment.
Loss of Credential. Management officials, in collaboration with HR Office staff must immediately relieve employees, who fail to maintain the required certification, of the duties and responsibilities associated with this occupation, which may also result in separation from employment.
GRADE REQUIREMENTS for Health Technician (Pedorthist), GS-07
Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-06). Examples of experience at the GS-06 grade level include, but are not limited to: (1) possess a broad working knowledge of simple and complex device types; (2) independently takes scans and measurements; (3) prepares and modifies casts and repairs and fabricates complex devices in accordance with the input of the individual providing clinical oversight; (4) with minimal clinical oversight and direction of a credentialed pedorthist, orthotist, or CPO, they provide complex devices and deliver patient/caregiver education for them; (5) assess simple and complex devices for quality including structural soundness, compliance with the prescription, fit, and patient comfort; (6) assists with advanced device types to include quality assurance assessment; (7) assists with development of a follow up treatment plan for atypical conditions; and (8) assists 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/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07.
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements