Health Technician (Optometry)

Health Technician (Optometry)

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Salary Range: $37193 - $59665 Per Year

Job Summary: Incumbent is a staff health technician (Optometry) who reports directly to the Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS) Cape Girardeau Health Care Center (HCC). The clinical workload provided by the incumbent is under the direct supervision of the optometrist. This position is located in the Medical Services department at Cape Girardeau HCC of the John J. Pershing VAMC in Missouri.

Major Duties:

• The duties and responsibilities are to be carried out in all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the Optometry Service. The health technician supports the function of the clinical programs in Optometry. Major Duties: Greeting and escorting patients Completion of brief ocular history for each patient Documenting the ophthalmic and medical information received from the patient in the electronic medical record Provide patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions Accurately enter into a phoropter the autorefractometry or habitual refractive prescription or lensometer finding Perform patient spectacle fitting and dispensing, including selection of appropriate frame Ability to provide basic triage of patient telephone calls or optometry requests Knowledge of ophthalmic medications and supplies needed in the process of restocking the eye clinic exam rooms Perform patient testing a wide range of equipment including but not limited to Optical coherence tomography (OCT), Humphries Visual Analyzer (HFA), B-Scan for ultrasound, Corneal topography, Auto Refractor and equipment to take photosof both the interior and exterior of the eye Measuring and recording visual acuity (with use of pinhole testing as indicated) Evaluates pupillary light responses and measure pupil size, determine the presence or absence of fusion, and perform stereoacuity measurements Performs Amsler grid testing, administer eye drops under the order of an eye care provider (optometrist), may be asked to perform basic tonometry (e.g., non-contact, Goldmann, Tono-Pen) and estimate the anterior chamber depth with a penlight or slit lamp biomicroscope. Read a basic spectacle prescription using an automated or manual lensometer, obtaining accurate autorefractometry and keratometry measurements Performing confrontation and standard automated visual field testing and administering and scoring basic color vision tests Work Schedule: 7:00am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday (excluding federal holidays) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Title/Functional Statement #:Health Technician (Optometry)/PD000000 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Physical Requirements: The work is mostly sedentary and requires good fine motor control, assisting patients, standing, sitting, bending, lifting, and carrying light items such as incoming mail, papers, and books. A significant amount of walking is also required to interact with patients and other services. The incumbent must be able to utilize good body mechanics and have the stamina to withstand stressful situations. 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)

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: Individuals appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA must be proficient in written and spoken English. Experience and Education: 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 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 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. (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. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Grade Determinations: Optometry Technician experience preferred. GS-04: Experience None beyond the basic requirements. GS-05: Experience. One year of experience comparable to the next lower grade which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled. In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of basic eye anatomy and function. (b) Ability to obtain, document and record ophthalmic and medical information from patients in order to develop an accurate electronic progress note. (c) Ability to practice basic hygiene and infection control in a patient care setting. (d) Ability to follow eye clinic and patient care medical policies and procedures. (e) Ability to perform minor eyeglasses repairs, such as replacing nose pads and screws. GS-06: Experience. Completion of one year of progressive experience equivalent to the next lower grade which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Ability to provide patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions, to include assisting with patient contact lens insertion, removal and hygiene (cleaning and disinfection) care. (b) Ability to accurately enter into a phoropter the autorefractometry or habitual refractive prescription (i.e., eyeglasses prescription) or lensometer findings, including sphere, cylinder and axis. (c) Ability to perform patient spectacle fitting and dispensing, including selection of appropriate frame, ophthalmic lenses, interpupillary measurements (distance and near) and proper segment height determination, as well as the ability to transpose sphere, cylinder and axis. (d) Ability to provide basic triage of patient telephone calls or optometry requests. (e) Knowledge of ophthalmic medications and supplies needed in the process of restocking the eye clinic exam rooms. GS-07: Experience. Completion of one year of progressive experience equivalent to the next lower grade which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) 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. (b) Ability to triage and manage eyeglasses issues (e.g., measurement of vertex distance, base curve, prism correction, center thickness, slab off, Fresnel prism, decentration, etc.). (c) Ability to perform accurate assessment of accommodation, near point of convergence and ocular alignment (far and near). (d) Ability to assist the eye care provider (optometrist or ophthalmologist) with ophthalmic procedures. (e) Ability to assist with obtaining accurate ocular cultures and smears. (f) Knowledge and ability to provide advanced patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G68 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-04 to GS-07. Starting Salary: GS-4 = $37,193 GS-5= $48,167 GS-6= $53,693 GS-7= $59,665

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 01/26/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12865363. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2026-01-26