Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to all US Citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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*Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.*

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Ophthalmology Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) support eye providers in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, follow-up care and patient counseling.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Obtain, documents and record demographic and medical information from patients in order to develop an accurate medical record.
• Use basic ophthalmic equipment.
• Obtains an accurate medical and ophthalmic history.
• Measures and records visual acuity.
• Administers anesthetic and dilating eye drops.
• Performing basic tonometry.
• Estimates the anterior chamber depth.
• Triages patient phone calls or requests.
• Ensures exam rooms are stocked with adequate supplies.
• Instructs patients on administration of eye drops and post-operative instructions.
• Accurately measures, compares, and evaluates pupillary responses.
• Performs basic color vision screening.
• Perform advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation.
• Fit eye glasses.
• Performs basic visual field testing (using Amsler grid or automated equipment).
• Performs basic imaging testing such as corneal topography; external photography.
• Performs basic ocular testing such as pachymetry, tear production with test strips, glare testing, stereo acuity, contrast sensitivity, potential acuity meter, measuring spectacles using both automated and manual lensometry and transposing cylinders.
• Assists the ophthalmologist during minor ophthalmic surgical procedures and is adept at applying sterile technique and infection control procedures.
• Performs autorefractor to determine spectacle prescription.
• Participates in performance of quality assurance activities such as staff meetings, mandatory educational in-services, quality control reports, systems redesign, and team and morale improvement.
• Perform minor extraocular surgical assisting.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
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)
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)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 58007A; 58008A; 58009A; 58010A
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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 identification 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).
• 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. Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Basic Experience and Education- To be found qualified you must possess one of the following basic requirements:

• Experience.
  • One year of experience in a health care field, such as but not limited to nursing, medical assistant, or health technician

OR

• Education.
  • Two years above high school with a minimum of six semester hours directly related to a health care field or associate's degree in a health care related degree.

OR

• Experience/Education Combination
  • Six months of experience in the health care field; and one year above high school OR
  • Six months of experience in the health care field and successful completion of a course for health care technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or ophthalmology technicians given by the U.S. Armed Forces OR
  • Six months of experience in the health care field and completion of an independent study course in Ophthalmic Medical Assisting.

Certification.

• All applicants must be certified as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) with the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO). The COA certification is JCAHPO's entry-level certification examination for a Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

Grade Determinations:

GS 5- Health Technician (Ophthalmology)-(Entry Level)

• Experience or Education
  • None beyond the basic requirements

GS 6- Health Technician (Ophthalmology)-(Developmental Level 1)

• Experience.
  • One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level.

GS-6 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of general outpatient clinical policies and procedures in a healthcare environment.
• Ability to obtain, document and record demographic and medical information from patients in order to develop an accurate medical record.
• Ability to use basic ophthalmic equipment.
• Knowledge of basic disinfection of non-critical reusable medical equipment.

GS-7 -Health Technician (Ophthalmology),(Developmental Level 2)

• Experience.
  • One year of experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level.

GS-7 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of anatomy and function of the eye and basic ocular pharmacology.
• Knowledge of outpatient eye care policies and procedures in a health care environment.
• Ability to use basic ophthalmic diagnostic equipment to perform preliminary ocular testing.
• Ability to perform minor extraocular surgical assisting.
• Ability to provide eye care patient education.

GS-8 Health Technician (Ophthalmology), (Full Performance Level)

• Experience.
  • One year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level

GS-8 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Ability to perform advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation.
• Ability to perform calculations for selection of intraocular lens.
• Knowledge of clinic based ophthalmic surgical assisting.
• Knowledge of eye anatomy and physiology.
• Knowledge of medication effects and proper instillation in the eye.
• Knowledge of optics.
• Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipment.

Preferred Experience: COA Certification; 2 years of ophthalmology experience in Refractions, Zeiss, OL Biometry.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS 5 to GS 8.

Physical Requirements: 20/40 or better vision in one or both eyes. Use of both upper extremities. Use of both lower extremities. Dexterity to handle small instruments. Ability to lift 20 lbs.

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.