Health Technician (Optometry)

Summary

The GS-7 Health Technician provides independent optician services with the Charleston VAMC. Duties include optical measurements, prescription fitting and verification, repairs and adjustments, patient education, and clinical support for Optometry. The non-supervisory role promotes quality eyewear, clinic efficiency, Veteran satisfaction, and interdisciplinary coordination.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include but not limited to: Provide courteous, culturally competent assistance to Veterans/caregivers; explain frame options, lens choices, pricing, timelines, expectations. Perform complex optical measurements (PD, segment height, base curve, prism) using digital/manual instruments. Ensure proper fit, comfort, safety with advanced frame adjustments (pantoscopic tilt, temple spread, nose pads). Document all measurements, fittings, verifications, repairs, dispenses, patient interactions in CPRS per VHA/Joint Commission standards. Independently verify prescriptions; reconcile spectacle orders; resolve discrepancies before fabrication. Ensure eye-wear meets ANSI Z80.1/Z87.1 requirements; conduct final inspection for power, axis, prism, PD, seg height, bevel fit. Perform repairs and adjustments; dispense eyewear ensuring fit, function, satisfaction. Maintain inventory organization, cleanliness, visual display; support merchandise control, record keeping, pricing accuracy. Provide patient education on eyeglass care, cleaning, safe handling, storage, lens adaptation; troubleshoot adaptation issues. Track orders; resolve missing, damaged, delayed eyewear issues; provide updates. Support Optometry clinical workflow (pre-exam readiness, imaging prep, optical measurements). Triage walk-in optical issues; resolve minor concerns independently. Communicate with Optometrists regarding prescription issues, adaptation concerns, lens compatibility Protect PHI per HIPAA, VA Handbook 6500; ensure proper system use and documentation security. Work Schedule: 8:00 - 4:30 Monday through Friday, subject to change depending on the needs of the agency Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: FS 63620 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Qualifications

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. 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). Experience. One year of experience as a health technician or assistant in the health care field demonstrating the applicant's 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. 3 (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. Licensure/Certification/Registration. None. 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: GS-07 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. GS-7. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade which Demonstrates 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 determine preliminary objective estimate and/or refinement of the optical status of the eye, not to include the patient's final subjective refraction. Ability to triage walk-in optical issues; resolve minor concerns independently. Perform complex optical measurements (PD, segment height, base curve, prism) using digital/manual instruments. Ability to perform repairs and adjustments; dispense eyewear ensuring fit, function, satisfaction. Support Optometry clinical workflow (pre-exam readiness, imaging prep, optical measurements). Independently verify prescriptions; reconcile spectacle orders; resolve discrepancies before fabrication. Knowledge and ability to provide advanced patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions Preferred Experience: At least one year of hands-on experience in optical dispensing, ophthalmic/optical support. Strong customer skills. Experience performing optical measurements such as pupillary distance, segment height and other measurements necessary for fitting and dispensing eyewear. Experience in selecting, fitting, adjusting, repairing, and dispensing eyewear. Experience in verifying ophthalmic prescriptions inspecting eyewear for accuracy and identifying discrepancies. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07. Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, a…

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.