Clarification from the agency

First Consideration: Current internal facility employees. All other applicants will receive secondary consideration. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Health Technician
Employees may be required to perform most or all duties listed:

• Perform limited, routine tasks under direct supervision, referring unusual issues to their supervisor.
• Measure and record vital signs-blood pressure, pulse, and glucose.
• Participate in quality assurance activities like staff meetings, training sessions, quality reports, systems improvements, and team morale initiatives.
• Take medical and eye history; measure and record visual acuity.
• Administer anesthetic eye drops; perform basic tonometry (NCT, tonopen).
• Estimate anterior chamber depth; record spectacle readings via lensometry.
• Conduct basic automated visual field tests; perform posterior fundus photography.
• Acquire OCT scans of retina and optic nerve.
• Triage patient calls and urgent walk-ins with provider; restock supplies.
• Educate patients on eye drop administration and post-op care.
• Assess pupillary responses; measure and record pupils' size, shape, and reaction.
• Administer dilating and other ocular drops.
• Determine eyeglass prescriptions with manual or automated lensometry.
• Perform autorefraction; assist in minor ophthalmic surgeries with sterile technique.
• Manage equipment inventory; maintain clinic stock.
• Collect comprehensive patient history: chief complaint, symptoms, medications, allergies, medical and family ocular history, social habits.
• Measure vision at distance and near, with/without pinhole.
• Evaluate pupils; instill medications, including anesthetic, dye, dilators, and antibiotics.
• Measure intraocular pressure (Goldmann applanation); perform pachymetry and keratometry.
• Calculate intraocular lens power with IOL Master; perform automated visual fields.
• Conduct OCT of anterior segment, retina, and nerve; screen for urgent ocular issues.
• Assist during ophthalmic procedures such as injections and laser treatments.
• Educate patients and guardians pre- and post-op; ensure proper cleaning/disinfection.
• Calibrate, maintain, backup, and inventory equipment; coordinate repairs.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): No Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
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 #: 000000, HT GS-0640 GS 5-8
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorize

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Must possess the basic experience and/or education for the Health Technician (Ophthalmology) position.
• Must be a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) with the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO) for permanent employment.
• 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).
• 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

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.
• Experience and/or Education:

(1) Experience: One year of experience in a health care field, such as but not limited to nursing, medical assistant, or health technician.
OR
(2) 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
(3) Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying.
Examples listed:
(a) Six months of experience in the health care field; and one year above high school; or
(b) 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
(c) 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).

(1) Exception: Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements may be appointed as a graduate Health Technician (Ophthalmology) under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of certification for a period not to exceed two years for a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) that provides care under the supervision of an Ophthalmologist.
The exception only applies below the full performance level. Below full performance level is GS 5, GS 6 and GS 7.
For grade levels at or above the full performance level (GS 8) the candidate must be certified.
Failure to obtain COA certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment and may result in termination of employment.

(2) Failure to Obtain Certification: In all cases, the Health Technician (Ophthalmology) must actively pursue meeting certification requirements starting from the date of appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the uncertified Health Technician (Ophthalmology) with the written requirement to obtain certification, the date by which the certification must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline. Failure to become certified within two years from date of appointment will result in removal from the Health Technician. (Ophthalmology), GS-0640 series and may result in termination of employment.

• Grandfathering Provision: 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).
• Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs.

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

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

AND

• 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; and
• Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipment.

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

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

AND

• 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; and
• Ability to provide eye care patient education.

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

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

AND

• 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; and
• Knowledge of basic disinfection of non-critical reusable medical equipment.

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

• Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements

Preferred Experience: Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA)

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: Must be in overall good health, sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, reaching and carrying supplies. Applicants must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands of lifting 15-44 pounds, light carrying of 15 pounds. Position requires walking for 3-4 hours, and standing 1-2 hours per day. This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: Preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; and repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.

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.