Summary This position functions primarily in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the JJP VAMC-BX. The Orthotist/Prosthetist measures/casts/fabricates/modifies/fits soft goods/braces/shoes and other assorted orthoses and prostheses. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until March 19, 2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be February 25, 2026. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred on a bi-weekly basis. Responsibilities As the Orthotist/Prosthetist, he/she needs to work independently. In accomplishing this the incumbent is responsible for the following: evaluation/fitting/fabrication/provision of custom shoes/molded shoes/stock shoes/foot orthotics/bracing and soft goods (including but not limited to elastic hose, support stockings, abdominal binders, LS belts/binders, neck supports, spinal supports, hernia supports, knee supports, ankle supports, wrist/upper extremity splints/supports and other assorted orthotics soft goods) and lower/upper extremity prostheses. Although working independently this employee is responsible for completing encounters and progress notes on all patients served or when appropriate. All work must be reviewed and when necessary countersigned by a certified practitioner. Lists the major duties and responsibilities of the position may include but are not limited to: The Orthotist/Prosthetist independently provides the appropriate orthotic and/or prosthetic devices and treatment. To accomplish this goal, the Orthotist/Prosthetist through: -A comprehensive examination of the patient and assessment of their individual needs and desires. -Formulation of a treatment plan. -Design, component selection, measurement/casting of the patient, fabrication and fitting of the device to the patient. -Proper documentation of the patient record, including encounters, progress notes, and appointments in a timely fashion. -Ensures inventory of supplies, materials and soft goods are managed properly, utilizing the DALC as much as possible. -Continuing care and periodic examination of the patient and the orthotic/prosthetic device to assess fit, function and changing needs of the patient. -Active clinic participation in assessing and evaluating the patient needs and acting as the subject matter expert to all clinic members as related to all orthotic and prosthetic issues. Perform other duties as assigned, normally of a related nature. VA Careers - Prosthetics: https://youtube.com/embed/3NUvF5jjErQ Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8am to 4:30pm Telework: No Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 13686F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. 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. 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. Education (1) A bachelor's degree or higher in orthotics and prosthetics from a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredited program. OR, (2) A bachelor's degree or higher in any major along with a post-graduate orthotics or prosthetics certificate from a CAAHEP accredited program Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign degree programs must have proof of a minimum of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as verified through an independent credential evaluation company), with a specialization in orthotics and prosthetics. Board Certification. Candidates must be board certified by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC) or the Board for Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification (BOC) as an orthotist, prosthetist, or orthotist/prosthetist. The board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirements for continuing education. Certification as a technician, pedorthist, assistant or fitter does NOT meet this requirement. Loss of Credential. An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation for which he/she qualifies if a placement opportunity exists. English Language Proficiency. Orthotist/prosthetists must be proficient in spoken and written as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(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). Creditable Experience (1) Knowledge of Current Orthotist/Prosthetist Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with current professional orthotic and/or prosthetic professional practice. (2) Quality of Experience. The experience must be post-degree, from an accredited training program and include work as a professional orthotist/prosthetist directly related to the 4 position to be filled. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid or non-paid employment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significantly larger scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. (3) Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a professional orthotist/prosthetist is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, an orthotist/prosthetist would receive 1 week of full-time credit for each 2 weeks of half-time work. Orthotist/Prosthetist. An allied health professional specifically trained to provide or manage the provision of custom designed, fabricated, modified and fitted orthoses and prostheses based upon the independent or consultative clinical assessment of the patient's unique needs and desires, as well as their expectations and pursuant to a physician's prescription. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, candidates must also meet the grade level requirements. GS-11 (Full Performance Level) Experience. Completion of 1 year of experience as an orthotist/prosthetist equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to provide orthotic/prosthetic services in a hospital setting. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Ability to attend clinics and participate as a fully participating member of the treatment team with considerable influence in the development of the treatment plan. This includes advanced knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, physics, and etiology of diseases as well as knowledge of psychology and age related competencies. 2. Ability to conduct clinical patient analyses such as gait, range of motion, life style, etc., for patients with a wide range of complex medical conditions which include unusual problems or complications, and to design unique or innovative devices to accommodate those conditions. 3. Ability to recognize physical abnormalities, deviations, and complicating conditions with potentially life threatening implications. Assignments. This is considered to be the full performance level. The orthotist/prosthetist 7 communicates and interacts with physicians, allied health professionals, patients, and caregivers in various interdisciplinary clinical settings, rehabilitation medicine, orthopedics, neurosurgery, vascular care, podiatry, oncology, etc., as a subject matter expert to develop the orthotic and/or prosthetic treatment plan. The work includes complex patient analyses in accordance with established procedures for patients with unusual conditions, multiple complex conditions, interrelated conditions, etc.; assessment of the patient for indications/contra-indications and discussion of the assessment with the physician/requesting provider for the purpose of developing the overall treatment plan with considerable influence in the development of that plan; consideration of new and emerging technologies in designing unique or innovative devices to accommodate or treat a wide range of complex medical conditions which include unusual problems or complications. The orthotist/prosthetist at this level is expected to recognize physical abnormalities, deviations, and complicating conditions with potentially life threatening implications Preferred Experience: Able to work independently Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS 11. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Education IMPORTANT: A transcript is recommended to be submitted with your application. Unofficial transcript is accepted. 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/. Additional Information During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
