Health Technician (Optometry)

Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Support Optometrist in diagnosis treatment prevention follow-up care and patient counseling.
• Operates and monitors commonly used equipment performing basic screening procedures.
• May perform developmental duties involving more complex procedures performed under supervision
• Perform duties such as advanced color vision testing advanced perimetry including both automated and manual techniques advanced ophthalmic imaging and diagnostic testing (e.g. anterior segment optical coherence tomography advanced ultrasonography confocal microscopy electro-diagnostic testing etc.)
• May perform advanced patient education and training and vision rehabilitation services.

Work Schedule: 7:00am -5:30pm 4 days per week
Compressed/Flexible:Not Available
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:000000

• 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 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 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.

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.
  • Experience. One year of experience as a health technician or assistant in the health care field demonstrating the applicants 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.
• English Language Proficiency. Health Technician (Optometry) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).

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. In addition to the basic requirements for employment the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Health Technician (Optometry) GS-08

• Experience. One year of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled.
• Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities. In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Ability to provide patient education and training to manage complex eye and vision conditions.
  • Knowledge of advanced triage of patients depending upon level of urgency or optometry needs.
  • Knowledge of complex non-standard treatment and/or complex examinations and techniques.
  • Knowledge of ocular pharmacology and systemic medications with ocular side effects

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS8.

Physical Requirements: The work generally requires nominal walking or standing for short periods of time or carrying of light loads of papers books reports computers monitors and may require some physical ability and physical stress.