Orthotist-Prosthetist

VA Careers - Prosthetics: position functions primarily as a clinical staff member in the VISN 2 Prosthetics and Sensory Aides Service Line. Prosthetics and Sensory Aides Service Line in VISN 2 is a fully integrated system at the VISN level. Although our staff are assigned to specific primary duty stations at the facility level our staff are not employed by that facility and rather works for the VISN.

1) Performs a comprehensive assessment of the patient to obtain an understanding of the patients orthotic/prosthetic needs:

• Review patients prescription/referral
• Take a comprehensive patient history including demographic characteristics family dynamics previous use of an orthosis/prosthesis diagnosis work history vocational activities signs and symptoms medical history (including allergies to materials) reimbursement status patient expectations and results of diagnostic evaluations.
• Assist in formulating the treatment plan by performing a diagnosis-specific functional clinical examination including manual muscle-testing gait assessment and evaluation of sensory function cognitive ability range of motion joint stability skin integrity and compliance.
• Consult with other health care professionals and caregivers about patients condition to assist in formulating a treatment plan.
• Communicate with patient and/or caregiver about the recommended treatment plan and any optional plans to involve them in orthotic or prosthetic care; include disclosure of potential risks/benefits.
• Verify patient care by documenting history ongoing care and follow-up using established record-keeping techniques.
• Refer patient if appropriate to other health care professionals (e.g. psychologist therapist physician) for intervention beyond orthotic/prosthetic scope of practice.

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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification 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.
• Unrestricted current drivers license in a state is required.

• 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.

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.
• Education:
  • A bachelors degree or higher in orthotics and prosthetics from a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredited program. OR
  • A bachelors degree or higher in any major along with a post-graduate orthotics or prosthetics certificate from a CAAHEP accredited program.
• Foreign Graduates: Graduates of foreign degree programs must have proof of a minimum of a Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent as verified through an independent credential evaluation company) with a specialization in orthotics and prosthetics.
• Board Certification: Candidates must be board certified by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC) or the Board for Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification (BOC) as an orthotist prosthetist or orthotist/prosthetist. The board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by the certifying bodys requirements for continuing education. Certification as a technician pedorthist assistant or fitter does not meet this requirement.

• Experience: Completion of 1 year of experience as an orthotist/prosthetist equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates possession of the knowledge skills and abilities needed to provide orthotic/prosthetic services in a hospital setting.
• Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSA and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment- specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*):
  • Ability to attend clinics and participate as a fully participating member of the treatment team with considerable influence in the development of the treatment plan. This includes advanced knowledge of medical terminology anatomy physiology biomechanics kinesiology physics and etiology of diseases as well as knowledge of psychology and age related competencies.
  • Ability to conduct clinical patient analyses such as gait range of motion life style etc. for patients with a wide range of complex medical conditions which include unusual problems or complications and to design unique or innovative devices to accommodate those conditions.
  • Ability to recognize physical abnormalities deviations and complicating conditions with potentially life threatening implications.
• Assignments. This is considered to be the full performance level. The orthotist/prosthetist 7 communicates and interacts with physicians allied health professionals patients and caregivers in various interdisciplinary clinical settings rehabilitation medicine orthopedics neurosurgery vascular care podiatry oncology etc. as a subject matter expert to develop the orthotic and/or prosthetic treatment plan. The work includes complex patient analyses in accordance with established procedures for patients with unusual conditions multiple complex conditions interrelated conditions etc.; assessment of the patient for indications/contra-indications and discussion of the assessment with the physician/requesting provider for the purpose of developing the overall treatment plan with considerable influence in the development of that plan; consideration of new and emerging technologies in designing unique or innovative devices to accommodate or treat a wide range of complex medical conditions which include unusual problems or complications. The orthotist/prosthetist at this level is expected to recognize physical abnormalities deviations and complicating conditions with potentially life threatening implications.