Clarification from the agency

Open to ALL US Citizens - Veterans Preference WILL APPLY. Internal Applicants, including ALL Federal Employees, Department of Veterans Affairs (Agency - VHA, VBA, NCA) Employees, and North Florida/South Georgia VA Health System (Facility) Employees, should apply to Job Opportunity Announcement CBTC-12727754-25-DMD. Facility Employees will have FIRST consideration.

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The Orthotist-Prosthetist functions primarily in the Orthotic-Prosthetic Laboratory Section of the Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service at the Viera Outpatient Clinic in Viera, FL.

The Orthotist/Prosthetist provides appropriate orthotic and/or prosthetic devices and treatment. To accomplish this goal, the Orthotist/Prosthetist:

• Conducts an examination of the patient and assessment of their individual needs and desires.
• Ensures compliance with the treatment plan.
• Designs, selects components, takes measurements/casting of the patient, executes fabrication and fitting of the device to the patient.
• Ensures proper documentation of the patient record.
• Provides continuing care and periodic examination of the patient and the orthotic/prosthetic device to assess fit, function and changing needs of the patient.

Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Performs a limited assessment of the patient to obtain an understanding of the patients orthotic/prosthetic needs.
• Within the scope of privileging, follows an orthotic/prosthetic treatment plan to meet specific needs and goals of the patient
• Within scope of privileging, performs the necessary procedures to deliver the appropriate orthotic/prosthetic services, which may include fabrication of the orthosis/prosthesis
• Within scope of privileging, provide continuing patient care and periodic evaluation to assure/maintain/document optimal fit and function of the orthosis/prosthesis
• Complies with policies, procedures and regulations regarding human resource management, physical environment management, business/financial management and organizational management.
• Participate in personal and professional development through continuing education, training, research and organizational affiliations.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: PD03440F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Qualifications

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. Orthotists, prosthetists, or orthotist/prosthetists must be proficient in spoken and written as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d).
• Education.
  • 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.
• Board Certification. Candidates must be board certified by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC) or the Board for Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification (BOC) as an orthotist, prosthetist, or orthotist/prosthetist. The board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirements for continuing education. Certification as a technician, pedorthist, assistant or fitter does not meet this requirement.

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).

Grandfathering Provision.
Orthotists, prosthetists, or orthotist/prosthetists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard (03/21/2017) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

• Orthotists, prosthetists, or orthotist/prosthetists that do not meet the basic requirements for education and certification may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
• Employees who are 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 this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
• If an employee who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

GRADE DETERMINATIONS:
In addition to the basic requirements, you must also meet the grade level requirements. Orthotist/Prosthetist is an allied health professional specifically trained to provide or manage the provision of custom designed, fabricated, modified and fitted orthoses and prostheses based upon the independent or consultative clinical assessment of the patient's unique needs and desires, as well as their expectations and pursuant to a physician's prescription.

GS-11 Grade Level (Full Performance Level)

• Experience. Completion of 1 year of experience as an orthotist/prosthetist equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) that demonstrates possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to provide orthotic/prosthetic services in a hospital setting.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Ability to attend clinics and participate as a fully participating member of the treatment team with considerable influence in the development of the treatment plan. This includes advanced knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, physics, and etiology of diseases as well as knowledge of psychology and age related competencies.
  • Ability to conduct clinical patient analyses such as gait, range of motion, life style, etc., for patients with a wide range of complex medical conditions which include unusual problems or complications, and to design unique or innovative devices to accommodate those conditions.
  • Ability to recognize physical abnormalities, deviations, and complicating conditions with potentially life threatening implications.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/OHRM/QualificationStandards/HT38/0667-Orthotist-Prosthetist.pdf.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:

1. Veterans with Preference.
2. All other US Citizen applicants (may only be referred if there are NO eligible Veterans' Preference applicants).

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.