Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

• 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 identification 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.

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 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.

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. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with chapter 3 section A paragraph 3g this part.)

Experience and Education

• Experience. One year of experience in a health care field such as but not limited to nursing medical assistant or health technician.

OR

• Education. Two years above high school with a minimum of six semester hours directly related to a health care field or associates degree in a health care related degree.

OR

• Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Examples are listed below:

1. Six months of experience in the health care field; and one year above high school; or
2. 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
3. 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 JCAHPOs entry-level certification examination for a Health Technician (Ophthalmology).

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).

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

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

Assignment. This is considered to be the full performance level for this assignment. The Health Technician (Ophthalmology) at this level performs a range of standard but complex diagnostic procedures with responsibility for checking calibration of instruments prior to the procedure. Responsible for obtaining patient physical history to include chief complaint; reason for visit; pertinent signs/symptoms; past history both ocular and general; family history both ocular and general; social history; and review of medications and allergies including current ocular prescription and non-prescription medications. Accurately tests visual acuity at distance and near with and without correction or with and without a pinhole. Measures eyeglass prescription using manual or automated lensometer recording sphere cylinder axis and prism in both plus and minus cylinder. Performs pupil evaluation recording pupil size shape symmetry reaction to light and accommodation and any abnormalities including relative afferent pupillary defect. Performs basic refractometry utilizing an auto refraction or habitual glass prescription in the phoropter. Instills eye medications (i.e. drops or ointments including anesthetic dye dilation cycloplegic or antibiotics. Responsible for measuring intraocular pressure of the eye utilizing techniques including Goldmann applanation tonometry. Performs pachymetry to determine corneal thickness and manual keratometry or automated topography to determine corneal curvature. Performs intra-ocular lens calculations using the IOL Master. Performs automated visual field testing using various perimetry machines. Performance of external photographs and fundus photography. Performs optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the anterior segment retina and optic nerve. Performs patient screening and triage emergencies identifying ocular emergencies. Performs patient screening and telephone triage for immediate care. Assists during clinic-based ophthalmic surgery including revision of wounds biopsies of the eyelid lesions cultures of conjunctiva or cornea; reformation of anterior chamber evacuation of hyphema repositioning of corneal endothelial grafts intra-vitreous injections and laser surgical procedures. Educates patients and legal authorized representatives in eye care including preoperative and postoperative instructions. Assists in the education and training of medical students residents and fellows in those facilities with medical school affiliations. Ensures proper cleaning and disinfection; calibration maintenance backup annual inventory and ordering of instruments supplies and equipment; obtains quotes as needed; and reports needed repairs to biomedical engineering.

Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Ability to perform advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation;
2. Ability to perform calculations for selection of intraocular lens;
3. Knowledge of clinic based ophthalmic surgical assisting;
4. Knowledge of eye anatomy and physiology;
5. Knowledge of medication effects and proper instillation in the eye;
6. Knowledge of optics; and
7. Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipment.

Preferred Experience: International Joint Commission on Allied Health Professionals in Ophthalmology (IJCAHPO) certification required. See statement of duties for position functions and requirements.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-8

Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing bending reaching crouching stooping stretching and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals record boxes equipment or assisting patients. The work requires above average agility and dexterity. The incumbent may be required to travel between VA and/or Non-VA clinical care sites and possession of a valid drivers license may be required.