Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Due to a critical staffing shortage, 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement.

Videos

Health Technicians (Optometry) perform duties such as measuring and recording visual acuity, obtaining accurate potential acuity meter, laser interferometry, contrast sensitivity or other specialized visual acuity measurements. At the full performance level, Health Technician assignments typically involve more complex optometry needs which can vary within a range of predictable to unpredictable requirements including peer education/mentorship. Based on assignment and grade, major duties and responsibilities may include but are not limited to:

• Measuring and recording visual acuity (with use of pinhole testing as indicated).
• Obtaining accurate potential acuity meter, laser interferometry, contrast sensitivity or other specialized visual acuity measurements.
• Evaluate pupillary light responses and measure pupil size, determine the presence or absence of fusion and perform stereoacuity measurements.
• Perform Amsler grid testing.
• Administer eye drops under the supervision of an eye care provider (optometrist or ophthalmologist).
• Perform basic tonometry (e.g., non-contact, Goldmann, Tono-Pen) and estimate the anterior chamber depth with a penlight or slit lamp biomicroscope.
• Skilled in properly reading a basic spectacle prescription using an automated or manual lensometer.
• Obtaining accurate autorefractometry and keratometry measurements.
• Performing confrontation and standard automated visual field testing.
• Administering and scoring basic color vision tests (e.g., pseudoischromatic plates, Farnsworth D-15).
• Adept at measuring and recording corneal thickness by pachymetry as well as performance of advanced corneal measurements, exophthalmometry, tear testing and ocular imaging (e.g., stereo fundus, basic slit lamp biomicroscopy, intraocular lens master measurements, ocular ultrasonography, posterior segment optical coherence tomography, fundus autofluorescence and/or ocular angiography).
• Consistently responds to patients, families, and co-worker's requests for assistance promptly and in a friendly and cooperative manner.
• Consistently provides written and oral communication that is thorough and correct, using clear precise communication methods to ensure that customers understand.
• Applies therapeutic communication techniques when interacting with demanding or distressed patients; Demonstrates professionalism at all times, modeling the tenants of I-CA

Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: F03021
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Available
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Available
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement).

Notifications:

• This position is not a Bargaining Unit position.
• Due to critical staffing shortage, U.S.C. 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veteran's preference for this job announcement.
• This position is in the Excepted Service.
• This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay.
• Current and former Federal employees may be required to submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.
• Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.

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.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 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 trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

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 both spoken and written English.

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).


Health Technician (Optometry), GS-07

• Experience. One year of experience comparable to the next lower level (GS-6) which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA). In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Ability to determine preliminary objective estimate and/or refinement of the optical status of the eye, not to include the patient's final subjective refraction.
2. Ability to triage and manage eyeglasses issues (e.g., measurement of vertex distance, base curve, prism correction, center thickness, slab off, Fresnel prism, decentration, etc.).
3. Ability to perform accurate assessment of accommodation, near point of convergence and ocular alignment (far and near).
4. Ability to assist the eye care provider (optometrist or ophthalmologist) with ophthalmic procedures.
5. Ability to assist with obtaining accurate ocular cultures and smears.
6. Knowledge and ability to provide advanced patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions.

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).

Preferred Experience:

• Prior eye clinic technician experience preferred.

References: Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G68.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07.

Physical Requirements: The incumbent requires adequate manual dexterity and fine motor coordination to utilize some of the instrumentation. In addition, the incumbent may be required to transfer patients from a wheelchair to the examination chairs or seating in the testing areas. This position requires regular walking, sitting, standing and occasionally handling supply boxes of varying weights. It is not a sedentary position.

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 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.