Health Technician (Podiatry)

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

GS-06 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: I. Knowledge of the anatomy of the foot. II. Knowledge of outpatient foot care policies and procedures in the health environment. III. Ability to provide comprehensive diabetic foot exam and diabetic foot care education .IV. Ability to perform routine and general clinic administrative functions including management of weekly outstanding encounters, consults, and escalated secure messages.

GS-07 grade level One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-06 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: I. Knowledge of the anatomy and function of the foot and basic biomechanical pathologies. II. Ability to use impression foam for casting of custom molded orthotics; ability to evaluate custom molded orthotics and/or shoes for proper fitting. III. Ability to provide comprehensive diabetic foot exam and diabetic foot care education.


GS-08 grade level One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: I. Ability to assist the Podiatry surgeon in small elective cases. II. Manage posting of podiatry cases, checking OR for required equipment of the cases. III. Management of the surgery schedule, ie calling patients for pre operative work up and post operative management. IV Obtaining consents for surgical procedures. V. Assisting the provider with wound care-ordering advance wound products

Basic Qualification Requirements.

A. Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. (Non-Citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part)
B. Experience and Education
I.Experience. One year of experience in a health care field, such as but not limited to nursing, medical assistance, or health technician. OR
II. Education. Two years above high school with semester hours directly related to a health care field or licensed practical nurse degree. OR
III. Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying.
C. Creditable Experience:
I. Knowledge of current Health Technician (Podiatry) Practice. To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with a health care field or knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the current occupation. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid or non-paid employment in the health care field.
II. Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be a level comparable to Health Technician (Podiatry) experience at the GS-06 grade level.
III. Part-Time experience. Part- time experience as a health Technician ( Podiatry) is creditable according to its relationship to the Full-time work week. For example, a Health Technician ( Podiatry) employed 20 hours per week, or on a 1/2 time basis, would receive one full-time work week credit for each two weeks of service.
D. Certification: All applicants must have successful completion of the Basic Foot Care Course provided by the Central Office Podiatry and the Director of Podiatry Service VACO, and successful completion of the 80 hour mini-residency administered and evaluated by the Chief of Podiatry.
I. Exception. Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements may be appointed as a graduate Health Technician (Podiatry) under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of certification for a period not exceed two years for a Health Technician ( Podiatry) that provides care under the supervision of a Podiatrist. The exception only applies below the full performance level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level the candidate must be certified. Failure to obtain LPN certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment and may result in termination of employment.
II. Failure to Obtain Certification. In all cases, the Health Technician (Podiatry) must actively pursue meeting certification requirements starting from the date of appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the uncertified Health Technician (Podiatry) with the written requirement to obtain certification, the date by which the certification must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline. Failure to become certified within two years from date of appointment will result in removal from the Health Technician (Podiatry), GS-0640 series and may result in termination of employment.
III. Loss of Credentials. A Health Technician ( Podiatry) who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation which may also result in termination of employment.
IV. Grandfathering Provision . All persons employed in VHA as a Health Technician (Podiatry) on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including certification requirement. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: 1. Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. 2. Health Technicians (Podiatry) who were appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed , on a temporary or permanent basis, until they full meet the basic requirements of the standard. 3. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or certification that meet all the basic requirements of the qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in occupation. 4. Health Technicians (Podiatry) who were converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

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; religions; 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.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/.

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.