Health Technician-Prosthetics and Sensory Aids

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position. ~AND~

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped you with the knowledge, practices, principles and other guidelines to successfully perform the duties of this position, and that is typically related to the work of the position. This specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower graded level (GS-6) in the Federal service. Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. Qualifying experience includes working as a Health Technician responsible for measuring, designing, fabricating, fitting, altering, and repairing orthopedic appliances, assistive devices, orthopedic shoe modifications, and orthotic supports. This information must be clearly listed in your resume.-OR-

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: Successful completion of one (1) full year of graduate education in a field directly related field to the position of Health Technician-Prosthetics and Sensory Aids.-OR-

COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: Possess combinations of successfully completed directly related graduate education and specialized experience may be used to meet the qualification requirements.

You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Clinical Data Collection/Documentation
• Compliance
• Medical Information
• Patient Care

IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such 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; religious; 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.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions: The position demands a moderate degree of exertion and a high degree of dexterity, long periods of standing, and long-distance walking from clinic to clinic. The work requires some physical exertion, prolonged periods of standing and working at a variety of machines, bending, stooping, crouching, reaching and stretching to work on devices and appliances and to fit them to the veteran. There may be recurring lifting and moving of moderately heavy supplies and equipment such as wheelchairs and durable medical equipment. Toxic and caustic fumes and materials are handled in the Orthotic Lab. Lab coat must be worn. Wards and clinics will be visited. The work environment is generally in the prosthetic/orthotic laboratory. The work is frequently around machines which may expose the incumbent to dust, noise and potential injury. The incumbent will ensure that all machine safeguards are in place and properly used at all times. The incumbent will ensure that gloves, hearing protection and proper dust masks are used when needed. Work may also be performed in a variety of settings, including wards, State veteran homes or other nursing homes, the homes of veterans and in adapted vehicles.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.