Clarification from the agency

All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified 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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The Optometrist position is primarily located at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Campus of the VA Hudson Valley Health Care System, located in Montrose, New York. While Montrose serves as the main work location, the incumbent must be able to provide coverage at other VA Hudson Valley Health facilities as operational needs arise.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Diagnose, manage, and treat visual and ocular problems through external and internal physical evaluation of the eye and ocular adnexa, using advanced optometric technology and medical imaging/information, laboratory results, radiology services, etc.
• Perform and document comprehensive or targeted eye examinations.
• Provide thorough refractive and ocular health assessments for patients.
• Order diagnostic studies pertinent to ocular evaluations.
• Provide urgent eye care services as needed.
• Provide patient care following national guidelines.
• Treat visual disorders through the prescription of corrective lenses, vision training, and pharmacological means.
• Prescribe medications for ocular diseases in accordance with federal and state laws, or refer patients to appropriate specialists if outside the scope of optometry practice.
• Prescribe and fit eyeglasses per the local facility VA directive for prosthetics.
• Coordinate medical eye care with other physicians within the facility when eye disease is concurrent with systemic disease.
• Consult with other healthcare disciplines as necessary to complete patient evaluations and ensure integrated care.
• Utilize appropriate referral for ophthalmological care when patients' ocular needs surpass the incumbent's scope of practice as defined by clinical privileges, VA regulations, and/or licensure restrictions.
• Educate patients based on findings to help them understand and cope with their eye problems.
• Provide quality patient education and involve the patient/family in decision-making processes.
• Engage in health promotion and disease prevention activities, including patient education and shared decision-making.
• Obtain consent for procedures when necessary and document appropriately.
• Record patient-provider transactions in the problem-oriented medical record and complete required data collection instruments, referrals, and medical records as required.
• Accurately document patient care activities in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) per WTVAHCS requirements.
• Adhere to hospital clinical privileges, Optometric accrediting agencies, medical staff bylaws, rules, policies, and regulations.
• Maintain updated Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Support the Chief Optometrist and assist in all aspects of administrative duties as needed.
• Participate in the development and implementation of departmental policies and procedures.
• Contribute to performance improvement initiatives within the Optometry Service.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Conditions of employment

• All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
• 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 evaluation..
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

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:

• Citizenship: Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
• English Language Proficiency: Optometrists appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• Education: Degree of Doctor of Optometry resulting from a course of education in optometry. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools or colleges approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are United States and Canadian schools or colleges of optometry listed as accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE), in the list published for the year in which the course of study was completed.
• Licensure/Registration: Optometrist must possess a current, full and unrestricted license to practice optometry, and maintain a current registration in a state, territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia that requires successful passage of all parts of National Board of Examiners in Optometry intended for basic licensure.
• Residency: Optometrists must have successfully completed residency training approved by the Secretary of Veteran Affairs in an accredited post-graduate training program, or have comparable experience, as described below:
  1. Approved residencies are those with accredited or within pre-accredited status by the ACOE, in the list published for the year the residency was completed. OR;
  2. Two years of licensed clinical optometric practice in the United States consisting of active involvement in the management of medically complex patients. Note: The Approving Official may approve, under unusual circumstances, a waiver of residency or comparable experience.

1. Such employees are considered to have met the basic qualification requirements for the purposes of transferring or reassignment to another Optometrist position within VA.
2. 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.
3. Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
4. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional certification that meet all the basic or assignment-specific qualification requirements of this standard must maintain the required credential as a condition of employment in the assignment. Note: This provision is not intended to regularize appointments/ placements.

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.

NOTE: A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

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.

This is an Open Continuous Announcement and will remain open until September 30, 2026. The initial cut-off date for referrals of eligible applications will be September 2, 2026, with subsequent weekly cut-off dates. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled.

Applicant will remain active for 6 months after their initial application is received and/or updated. After that time, you must update your application through your USAJOBS account if you would like to be made active again for possible consideration during the open period.