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: Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
- English Language Proficiency. Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who are not proficient in written and spoken English.
- Education. Applicants must have earned:
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, closely related program in rehabilitation, special education for the visually impaired, family and consumer science education, or technology and industrial arts education; OR,
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (without a major field of study as outlined in 1. above) that included, or was supplemented by, at least one of the following:
- At least 30 semester hours of directly related, upper level undergraduate courses (e.g., at least 200-course level or higher, or as identified by the college or university).
- One full year of directly related graduate level coursework (typically at least 15 - 18 semester hours).
- A certificate from an accredited college or university in the core curriculum in orientation and mobility, vision rehabilitation therapy, assistive technology for blind and visually impaired individuals, or low vision therapy and a directly related practicum/internship in the occupation, either included in the degree or post-degree.
- Foreign Graduates must have proof of a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as verified through an independent credential evaluation company), with a specialization in blind rehabilitation.
- Certification.
- Applicants must possess at least one active, current, full and unrestricted certification to be eligible for appointment. Certification must be granted by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP), or another equivalent, closely related professional credential in special education or rehabilitation. NOTE: The ACVREP administers four certification programs: Low Vision Therapy, Orientation and Mobility, Assistive Technology Instruction and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy. They may then use the designation for the certification they hold.
- BRS who provide the following service must obtain certification granted by ACVREP as follows:
- Orientation and mobility training - Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS®).
- Communication and daily living therapy - Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (CVRT®).
- Low vision therapy - Certified Low Vision Therapists (CLVT®).
- Assistive Technology - Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialists (CATIS®).
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, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
GS-12 Supervisory Blind Rehabilitation Specialist
- Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of a minimum of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.
- Certification. BRS must meet the certification requirements listed above.
While we no longer require essay-style responses to our Knowledge's Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics (KSAOs), you must be able to demonstrate that you possess the (below) competencies which are necessary to perform the work of the position. Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training; otherwise, we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim. These are the KSA's for this subject position:
GS-12 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Ability to plan, direct, mentor, and distribute work assignments to volunteers, assistants, interns, and/or Blind Rehabilitation Specialists at lower grade levels.
- Ability to act as a subject matter expert in the blind/vision rehabilitation field and as consultant, supervisor and/or mentor in evaluating and treating Veterans in specialty or program areas.
- Ability to coordinate, motivate, and effectively manage staff and/or committee members to include organizing work, setting priorities, and delegating tasks and responsibilities.
- Ability to disseminate appropriate information through various media as a consultant or mentor.
- Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with Veterans, employees, other team leaders, managers, and other stakeholders.
- Ability to identify team group dynamics, objectively observe, and modify behaviors.
- Ability to apply decision-making principles to adjust programs on a day-to-day basis, develop short term and long-range goals, and plan for future utilization of resources.
- Skill in developing, planning, and administering complex treatment programs.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit
https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
This position is being filled above the full performance level at GS-12.
Physical Requirements: It requires reaching overhead, reaching at or below the shoulder, pushing, pulling, some light lifting less than 25lbs. Walking, bending, sitting and stooping. The employee works with inpatients and occasionally with outpatients in a medical center setting.