Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

Ophthalmology Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) support Ophthalmologists and Optometrists diagnosis, treatment, prevention, follow-up care and patient counseling. The Full Performance Health Technician (Ophthalmology) performs a range of standard, but complex, diagnostic procedures, assists during clinic-based surgical procedures, educates patients and legal representatives, assists with the education of medical students and residents.

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
a. Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.)
b. 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.

c. 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).
d. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs.
e. English Language Proficiency.Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 USC 7402(d) and 38 USC 7407(d).
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 listed above, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:
Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-8 (Full Performance Level)
a. Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level.
b. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Ability to perform advanced tonometry and 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 and physiology.
5. Knowledge of medication effects and proper instillation in the eye.
6. Knowledge of optics.
7. Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipment.

References: VA Handbook 5005/98, Part II, Appendix G52 (VHA Health Technician (Ophthalmology) Qualification Standard).
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8.Education: IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.Employment Type: FULL_TIME