Health Technician - Prosthetic/Orthotic Technician

Applicants must meet the following requirements to qualify for this position:

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.

-AND-

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one year of specialized experience that is equivalent to at least the GS-7 level in the Federal service and that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) needed to successfully perform the duties of the position and that is typically in or related to the position (Health Technician - Prosthetic/Orthotic Technician). This experience must have required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled (i.e., fabricating, adjusting and repairing all custom prosthetic and orthotic appliances including bench alignment procedures and proper ankle and knee component placement, bending metal materials for proper orthotic joint function, and shaping and finishing prostheses; entering appropriate prosthetic requests for purchase of components selected based on prescription for the prosthetic limb or custom orthoses to be fabricated; reviewing physical assessment data provided by a practitioner to determine technical requirements for the orthosis/prosthesis; maintaining lab equipment and inventory of fabrication supplies). NOTE: Resume must clearly demonstrate this experience to be creditable. We will not make assumptions regarding experience.

-OR-

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: One and one-half years (27 semester hours) of graduate level education that is directly related to the specialization of the position to be filled may be used to qualify for this position (Health Technician - Prosthetic/Orthotic Technician). This education must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) needed to successfully perform the duties of the position. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. (Copy of transcripts are required at time of application.)

-OR-

COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: An equivalent combination of successfully completed post-high school education and specialized experience as described above to meet the total qualification requirements for the GS-8 level. (Resume must clearly demonstrate the experience to be creditable and transcripts are required at the time of application.)

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT: This position requires an eligible American Board for Certification (ABC) as a Certified Prosthetic-Orthotic Technician, Certified Orthotic Technician and/or Certified Prosthetic Technician. If selected for the position, the applicant must have an ABC certification OR you must obtain an ABC certification.

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

• Applies Technology to Tasks
• Mechanical
• Quality Assurance

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: Duties require extensive periods of standing and walking. Duties require regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, pushing, reaching, carrying supplies and similar activities. Duties require working with machinery including grinders, ovens, drill presses, and other machinery necessary to fabricate custom limbs and braces. Duties require the employee to be able to lift. Occasionally it may be necessary to lift supplies and objects weighing as much as 50 pounds. Requires use of proper body mechanics. The employee must be able to work in stressful situations. Employee must be able to maintain tight deadlines to get Veterans equipment in a fast, efficient manner.

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/.