Health Technician-Ophthalmology

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 US citizens
• English Language Proficiency Applicants must be proficient in spoken & written English
• 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 associate's degree in a health care related degree
• Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Examples are listed below:
• a) Six months of experience in the health care field; and one year above high school; or
• b) 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
• c) 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 JCAHPO's entry-level certification examination for a Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

Exception. Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements may be appointed as a graduate Health Technician (Ophthalmology) under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of certification for a period not to exceed two years for a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) that provides care under the supervision of an Ophthalmologist. The exception only applies below the full performance level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level the candidate must be certified. Failure to obtain COA certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment and may result in termination of employment

Failure to Obtain Certification. In all cases, the Health Technician (Ophthalmology) must actively pursue meeting certification requirements starting from the date of appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the uncertified Health Technician (Ophthalmology) with the written requirement to obtain certification, the date by which the certification must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline. Failure to become certified within two years from date of appointment will result in removal from the Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-0640 series and may result in termination of employment

Loss of Credentials. A Health Technician (Ophthalmology) who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment

Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpreting foreign educational credentials & such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs

Grade Determinations: Following criteria must be met when determining candidate's grade in addition to basic requirements

GS-5

Experience or Education. None beyond basic requirements

GS-6

Experience. One year experience equivalent to GS-5 grade level

AND

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs) - Candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs in addition to above experience

1) Knowledge of general outpatient clinical policies & procedures in a healthcare environment
2) Ability to obtain, document & record demographic & patient medical information to develop an accurate medical records
3) Ability to use basic ophthalmic equipment &
4) Knowledge of basic disinfection of non-critical reusable medical equipment

GS-7

Experience. One year experience equivalent to GS-6 grade level

AND

Candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs in addition to above experience

1) Knowledge of anatomy & eye function & basic ocular pharmacology
2) Knowledge eye care outpatient policies & procedures in health care environments
3) Ability to use basic ophthalmic diagnostic equipment to perform preliminary ocular testing
4) Ability to perform minor extraocular surgical assisting &
5) Ability to provide eye care patient education

GS- 8

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

AND

Candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs in addition to above experience

1) Ability to perform advanced tonometry & 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 & physiology
5) Knowledge of medication effects & proper eye instillation
6) Knowledge of optics &
7) Knowledge of proper cleaning & maintenance clinic equipment

Preferred Experience:

At least 1 year experience working in an eye clinic, experience using ophthalmology diagnostic & imaging equipment
Experience fitting, dispensing & adjusting eyeglasses
Certification by The Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant, COA

Reference: For more information on qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Vacancy full performance level is a GS-8. Applicants may be selected in grade ranges GS-5 to GS-8

Physical Requirements:

Requires some physical exertion: prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching & lifting moderately heavy items: manuals, record boxes, equipment or assisting patients.
Requires above average agility & dexterity.
Must possess & maintain valid state's driver's license to travel when required for work