Clarification from the agency

Open to current, Federal employees (serving on a career/career-conditional appointment or covered under OPM's Interchange Agreement); Reinstatement/Transfer Eligible; Special Authorities; Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista; Military Spouses; Preference eligible veterans or veterans separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three or more years of continuous active service.

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Major duties and responsibilities include:

• Measures, selects, fits, and adjusts prefabricated orthotic and prosthetic devices such as compression garments, braces, orthopedic shoes, and other soft goods.
• Performs simple repairs, adjustments, and modifications on orthotic/prosthetic items using tools and materials such as leather, plastics, metal, and fabric.
• Assists in assembling, preparing, and aligning prosthetic components based on prescriptions, diagrams, clinical specifications, and technical instructions.
• Provides patient education and instructions regarding the proper use, function, care, and maintenance of issued devices.
• Documents all patient interactions, fittings, and work orders in electronic medical record systems such as CPRS and VistA.
• Maintains prosthetic inventory, restocks supplies, and assists with purchasing and usage tracking to ensure availability of required devices.
• Communicates effectively with Veterans, caregivers, and clinical team members to clarify prescriptions, coordinate care, and resolve routine technical issues.
• Follows established safety, infection control, and data security procedures when handling equipment, tools, materials, and sensitive patient information.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday. 8:00am-4:30pm. Work schedule subject to change based on agency needs.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD014700 and PD014700A

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• 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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/26/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6.The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

GS-6 Grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-5 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

Specialized Experience (GS-6):

• Assisting with measuring, fitting, or issuing prefabricated orthotic/prosthetic devices
• Performing basic repairs or adjustments using hand tools
• Documenting patient care or work orders in clinical systems
• Providing basic education or instruction to patients on device use
• Using applications such as VistA, CPRS, Word, or Excel

GS-7 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-6 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Specialized Experience (GS-7):

• Independently fitting, adjusting, and issuing prefabricated orthotic/prosthetic devices
• Interpreting prescriptions and selecting appropriate device models or materials
• Performing repairs using materials such as leather, fabric, plastic, and metal
• Operating specialty tools such as grinders, sanders, drill presses, sewing machines, and heat guns
• Monitoring inventory, tracking usage, and restocking or purchasing supplies
• Documenting clinical work in patient record systems

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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Preferred Experience: Preferred experience includes having a basic knowledge of orthotic and prosthetic concepts and principles, as well as familiarity with VA policies and procedures related to the operations of a VA Orthotic and Prosthetics Laboratory. Applicants should demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively and maintain sound working relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Additionally, preference will be given to candidates who possess knowledge of the mechanical function and operation of prosthetic and sensory aids appliances. Have achieved and completed the Orthotic Fitter Certification.

Physical Requirements: The position demands a moderate degree of exertion and a high degree of dexterity, long periods of standing and long-distance walking from clinic to clinic.

Work Environment: Toxic and caustic fumes and materials are handled in Orthotic Lab. Lab coat must be worn. Ward and clinics will be visited.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

How you will be evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

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.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the 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.