Staff Optometrist-RecruitmentRelocation Incentive-Education Debt Reduction Program

The Staff Optometrist provides comprehensive patient care patient and family education and participates in clinical activities relevant to the service. The role involves working collaboratively with the optometry team including supporting the Chief Optometrist and other senior staff.
Key responsibilities include delivering high-quality optometric care assisting in the education of medical and optometry students and contributing to performance improvement activities within the service. The Staff Optometrist focuses on providing care for ocular disease within the scope of Optometry.
The majority of the Staff Optometrists time is dedicated to direct patient care and contributing to service excellence. While most work occurs at the primary duty station travel and work at other sites may occasionally be required to meet the needs of the West Texas VA Health Care System (WTVAHCS).
Interest and willingness to participate in academic research and education are encouraged. The successful candidate must excel in teamwork coordinating activities efficiently with ancillary staff and effectively supporting the optometry team.
Staff Optometrists should have significant experience in performing diagnostic and therapeutic optometric care. Experience in the treatment of medical glaucoma and retinal conditions is desirable within the scope of their state license. The Staff Optometrist must have a comprehensive understanding of preventive medicine and primary care relevant to ocular health.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

In addition to complying with Federal national and local regulatory policy and accreditation requirements this positions responsibilities include:

Clinical:

• Perform and document comprehensive or targeted eye examinations.
• Provide patient care following national guidelines.
• Accurately document patient care activities in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) per WTVAHCS requirements.
• Order diagnostic studies pertinent to ocular evaluations.
• 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.
• Obtain consent for procedures when necessary and document appropriately.
• Consult with other healthcare disciplines as necessary to complete patient evaluations and ensure integrated care.
• Engage in health promotion and disease prevention activities including patient education and shared decision-making.
• Maintain updated Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

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.
• 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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.) in accordance with section7402(c) to title 38 United States Code (U.S.C). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C. 7407(a).
• 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 (VA) 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 and Registration. Optometrists 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. The Optometrist must maintain current registration in the state of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active current licensure.
• Residency Training or Comparable Experience. Optometrists must have successfully completed residency training approved by the Secretary of VA in an accredited post-graduate training program or have comparable experience as described below:
  • 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
  • Two years of licensed clinical optometric practice in the United States consisting of active involvement in the management of medically complex patients.
• HPTs who are on track to graduate/complete the requirements should respond as if they have met the requirements. Provide details in the narrative sections of the assessment.

• Optometric Practice > Two Years
• Professional communication including the ability to communicate scientific information to patients > Two Years
• Proficiency with modern eye care techniques and equipment > One Year
• Experience with Low Vision > One Year
• Experience with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) > One Year