Health Technician (Optometry)

Summary

This position is located within VA Altoona in Surgical Service Line. The Health Technician (Optometry) performs work independently and with minimal supervision mainly at the Du Bois Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) and travel to Indiana CBOC on Fridays.

Duties

Major duties include, but may not be limited to:

• Traveling to Indiana CBOC on Fridays.
• Responsible for obtaining a patient’s physical history to include chief complaint, pertinent signs/symptoms, past history (both ocular and general), family history (both ocular and general), social history and review of medications and allergies to include current eye medications.
• Performs spectacle data collection using a manual lensometer; including measurement of sphere, cylinder and axis by lensometry, whether single vision, progressive add, bifocal or trifocal; whether glass or plastic lenses; amount and base direction of prism power.
• Will troubleshoot spectacle complaints for optometrist(s) to further assist the patient.
• Prepares glasses prescription for practitioners to evaluate and sign.
• Performs stereopsis testing using Randot or another appropriate test.
• Performs color vision measurement using pseudoisochromatic plates or another appropriate test.
• Measures and records intraocular pressure by non-contact tonometry Assists the Optometrist(s) in other non-specified technical areas within the clinic.
• Performs corneal keratometry, and automated refraction as indicated and accurately record in electronic health record (CPRS).
• Performs visual fields with any technologically current perimetry equipment, e.g. Humphrey or Goldmann perimeter.
• Obtains corrected and uncorrected Snellen visual acuity or acuity with low vision specialized charts before they are seen by the Optometrist(s) and accurately record results in the electronic health record (CPRS).
• Operates all diagnostic equipment within the clinic, including but not limited to, optical coherence tomographer (OCT), pachymeter, visual field (VF) analyzer, “A” scan IOL (lntraocular Lens) Master, lensometer, B-scan ultrasound, anterior segment camera, and digital fundus camera.
• Performs simple repairs on spectacles to include but not limited to tightening screws, replacing lenses that have fallen out, and replacing nose pads.
• Will perform adjustments on spectacles for patient comfort including temple, nose pad, and pantoscopic tilt adjustments.
• Performs other duties as directed.
• Work Schedule: 7:30am to 4pm, Monday – Friday.
• Recruitment Incentive (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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
• 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 #: 503-04192-F, 503-05368-F, 503-05369-F, 503-05370-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

• 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver’s licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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 interest.
• In 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.

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/.

How You Will Be Evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate’s abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document.
• This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted ‘Resume’ document upload field.
• Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the ‘Other’ document upload field.
• The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50’s (current/former Federal employees), etc.
• Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) CV/ Resume
• Resume SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript