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 spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).
- Certification: Must be board certified by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC) or the Board for Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification (BOC) as a prosthetist, or Orthotist/Prosthetist.
- Education: Must possess a bachelor's degree or higher in orthotics and prosthetics from a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredited program. OR A bachelor's degree or higher in any major along with a post-graduate orthotics or prosthetics certificate from a CAAHEP accredited program.
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: GS 12 Level Experience: Completion of at least 1 full year of experience as an Orthotist/Prosthetist equivalent to the next lower level (GS- 11) in the federal service functioning as a full member of the clinical team which includes significant involvement in treatment plan development for the most complex types of conditions
.In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSA and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment-specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*):
1. Knowledge of regulatory requirements established by the ABC, BOC, the National Committee for Orthotic/Prosthetic Education (NCOPE), the International Association of Orthotists and Prosthetists (IAOP), the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (AAOP), Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), etc.
2. Knowledge of administrative functions including budget development and management, inventory management, space and workload planning, as well as knowledge of the National Prosthetic Patient Database (NPPD), knowledge of the Prosthetic National Software (PNS) package, Decision Support System (DSS), and knowledge of accreditation requirements for orthotic and prosthetic laboratories and certification requirements for individuals.
3. Ability to analyze data and provide reports using CPRS, Vista, DSS, HCPCS codes and other patient database information.
4. Ability to provide training to orthotists/prosthetists in new technologies and innovations in devices.
5. Ability to manage and supervise employees. (To be used if the assignment is supervisory in nature.)
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit
https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS12.
Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary but may include long periods of standing, sitting and some walking and bending. Time will be spent at a computer terminal performing various keyboard functions. While work is not extremely physical in nature the incumbent will work under pressure with multiple tasks, changing priorities and stringent deadlines.