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
• Citizen of the United States
• Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g
• English Language Proficiency: Health Technicians ( Ophthalmology) must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402 9d) and 38 U.S.C 7407(d)
• 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
• OR Experience/Education Combination
• Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying
• Examples are listed below: Six months of experience in the health care field
• and one year above high school
• or 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 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
• Grade Determinations
• In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-5 (Entry Level) Experience or Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-6 (Developmental Level 1) Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of general outpatient clinical policies and procedures in a healthcare environment
• Ability to obtain, document and record demographic and medical information from patients in order to develop an accurate medical record
• Ability to use basic ophthalmic equipment
• and Knowledge of basic disinfection of non-critical reusable medical equipment
• Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-7 (Developmental Level 2) Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA)
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of anatomy and function of the eye and basic ocular pharmacology
• Knowledge of outpatient eye care policies and procedures in a health care environment
• Ability to use basic ophthalmic diagnostic equipment to perform preliminary ocular testing
• Ability to perform minor extraocular surgical assisting
• and Ability to provide eye care patient education
• Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-8 (Full Performance Level) Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA)
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to perform advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation
• Ability to perform calculations for selection of intraocular lens
• Knowledge of clinic based ophthalmic surgical assisting
• Knowledge of eye anatomy and physiology
• Knowledge of medication effects and proper instillation in the eye
• Knowledge of optics
• and Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipment
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-5 to GS-8. Preferred Experience: 1 year experience as an Ophthalmology Technician, certified as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA), IOL - Intraocular Lens Biometry experience, Fluorescein Angiography experience
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: 20/40 or better vision in one or both eyes, use of both upper extremities Use of both lower extremities, dexterity to handle small instruments, ability to lift 20 lbs.