Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP app within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Responsibilities VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. Staff Optometrists are responsible for patient care, education, and research within the Optometry and Ophthalmology section of Surgical Service. The scope of activities covers all phases of ambulatory care, with most time devoted to patient care, and remaining time allocated to teaching, and administration. Staff Optometrists must be competent clinicians with a Doctor of Optometry degree, licensed in a U.S. state or territory, and Board Certified or Board Eligible by a recognized Optometry Certification Board. They are expected to contribute to teaching and research, possess leadership skills, and demonstrate knowledge in adult education principles, psychosocial aspects of health care, preventive medicine, and primary care. Staff Optometrists examine, diagnose, treat, and manage conditions of the visual system and associated structures, including diseases, injuries, and disorders. Duties include performing specified surgical procedures, prescribing medication, visual rehabilitation, and corrective lenses. They provide primary eye and vision care services, order diagnostic imaging and laboratory studies, prepare referrals, and educate patients and families. Clinical procedures include medical and ocular history, visual acuity measurement, pupillary function testing, color vision testing, extra-ocular muscle function and binocularity testing, refractive and accommodative testing, external examination, bio-microscopic evaluation, ophthalmoscopic, tonometric, and perimetric evaluations. Staff Optometrists actively participate in patient care, conferences, consultations, ambulatory care, and similar activities. They coordinate and provide optometry consultation throughout the medical center, assist in the selection and development of other Optometrists, and ensure educational experiences meet accrediting body standards. They represent the Optometry Section on medical center committees and are responsible for completing relevant documentation within specified time frames and meeting organizational goals. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 4:45 PM Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens. 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). You may be required to serve a probationary period. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. Qualifications Health profession trainees (HPT's) 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 Education. Degree of Doctor of Optometry resulting from a course of education in optometry. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools or colleges approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are United States and Canadian schools or colleges of optometry listed as accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE), in the list published for the year in which the course of study was completed https://theacoe.org/Affiliates/ACOE/Documents/ACOE/Current%20OD%20Directory%20.pdf Licensure and Registration. Optometrists must possess a current, full and unrestricted license to practice optometry, and maintain a current registration in a state, territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia that requires successful passage of all parts of National Board of Examiners in Optometry intended for basic licensure. The Optometrist must maintain current registration in the state of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active, current licensure. Residency Training or Comparable Experience. Optometrists must have successfully completed residency training, approved by the Secretary of VA in an accredited post-graduate training program, or have comparable experience, as described below: (1) Approved residencies are those with accredited or within pre-accredited status by the ACOE, in the list published for the year the residency was completed. https://theacoe.org/Affiliates/ACOE/Documents/ACOE/Current%20Residency%20Directory.pdf OR (2) Two years of licensed clinical optometric practice in the United States consisting of active involvement in the management of medically complex patients Preferred Experience: none GRADE DETERMINATIONS Staff Optometrist, VM-0662-15. None beyond the basic requirements. The individual must possess the experience to perform general optometry duties, including clinical oversight of trainees as needed, and some specialized functions and procedures without supervision. 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 VM-15. Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination. 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/. Education. Degree of Doctor of Optometry resulting from a course of education in optometry. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools or colleges approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are United States and Canadian schools or colleges of optometry listed as accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE), in the list published for the year in which the course of study was completed https://theacoe.org/Affiliates/ACOE/Documents/ACOE/Current%20OD%20Directory%20.pdf NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. NOTE: If your school was accredited by ACOE at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the ACOE website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet. Additional Information 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.
