SUMMARY

The health technician (optometry) at the full performance level measures and accurately records visual acuity; obtains accurate specialized visual acuity measurements; accurately assesses accommodation, near point of convergence, and ocular alignment; and determines a preliminary objective estimate of optical status of the eye (not to include final subjective refraction).

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 EDUCATION:

One year of experience as a health technician or assistant in the health care field demonstrating the applicant’s ability to perform the work or by demonstrating a basic understanding of work in the health care field; OR
Education: Successful completion of two academic years above high school with a minimum of 12 semester hours related to health technician/assistant or health technician (optometry)/assistant or associate degree, or completion of an independent study course in an optometry related technician or assistant field; OR
Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Examples are listed below:
(a) Six months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge of optometry assistant theory and practices and general understanding of the health technician/assistant duties and one year above high school with a minimum of six semester hours of health technician/assistant or health technician (optometry)/assistant related courses.
(b) Successful completion of a course for health care technicians or assistants, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or hospital training in a program given by the U.S. Armed Forces, the U.S. Maritime Service, or the U.S. Public Health Service, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis.

EDUCATION

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

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.

IF YOU ARE RELYING ON YOUR EDUCATION TO MEET QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

DUTIES

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Duties include, but not limited to:

• Assist with efficient patient movement throughout the eye clinic. Demonstrates the agility to alter procedures to meet the special needs of our patient population.
• Advanced knowledge of eye anatomy and function.
• Obtain, document, and record ophthalmic and medical information from patients to develop an accurate electronic progress note. This includes patient intake information related to accurate medical/ophthalmic health history.
• Practice hygiene and infection control in a patient care setting. This includes proper cleaning and disinfection of examination rooms and stocks each room with the required supplies. Understands hygiene, cleaning, and disinfection of reusable medical equipment instruments and ophthalmic equipment.
• Knowledge of ophthalmic medications and supplies needed in the process of restocking the eye clinic exam rooms.
• Follow eye clinic and patient care medical policies and procedures. Ability to write to basic standard operating procedures or documents for eye care tasks.
• Ability to perform advanced eyeglasses repairs, such as replacing nose pads and screws and custom adjustments to meet the special needs of our Veteran population.
• Ability to perform patient spectacle fitting and dispensing, including selection of appropriate frames, ophthalmic lenses, interpupillary measurements (distance and near) and proper segment height determination, as well as the ability to transpose sphere, cylinder, and axis.
• Ability to transfer data for eyeglass orders through the prosthetics process including medical record documentation.
• Properly read spectacle prescription using an automated or manual lensometer. Ability to triage and manage eyeglass issues (e.g. measurement of vertex distance, base curve, prism correction, center thickness, slab off, Fresnel prism, decentration, etc.)
• Provide triage of patient telephone calls or optometry requests consistent with full performance.
• Provide patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions to include assisting with patient contact lens insertion, removal, and hygiene (cleaning and disinfection) care. This may also include prosthetic eye insertion, removal, hygiene or polishing.
• Ability to accurately enter into a phoropter the autorefractometry or habitual refractive prescription (i.e. eyeglass prescription) or lensometer findings, including sphere, cylinder, and axis.
• Ability to properly document and code eye clinic procedures for eye testing performed during the patient encounter.
• Perform screening procedures for automated testing to gather ophthalmic intake information. This may include autorefractometry, kerotometry, confrontation and standard automated visual field testing and basic manual perimetry, administering and scoring basic color vision testing (e.g. pseudoisochromatic plates, Farnsworth D-15).

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, subject to change based on the needs of the facility
Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not 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)
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)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 00677F, 00379F, 00378F, 00377F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50’s (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Other (1)
• PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcrip

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/05/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12786920.

• To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
• Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package