Health Technician (Pedorthist)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; West Palm Beach (FL); On-site; USD 48,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System, seeks a Health Technician (Pedorthist) to assess veterans, design and fabricate orthopedic footwear and devices, ensure prescription accuracy, and support mobility through pedorthic care and patient education.

The role involves collaborating with physicians and staff, developing follow‑up treatment plans, taking measurements, fabricating devices, and applying emerging pedorthic techniques to improve outcomes.

Qualifications

• Citizenship and credentialing requirements must be met.
• English language proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Board certification in pedorthics by ABC or credentialed by BOC.
• Grandfathering provision may apply to current VA employees.
• Grade determination: GS-7 with one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-6.
• Demonstrated knowledge and abilities in designing advanced pedorthic devices and fabrication, with clear communication.

Responsibilities

• Assess Veteran patients to develop pedorthic treatment plans.
• Fit orthotic devices, shoes, and braces ensuring high-quality outcomes.
• Collaborate with physicians and allied health professionals as a subject‑matter expert.

Skills

Pedorthic device design

Device fabrication

Written and verbal communication

Complex patient assessment

Emerging pedorthic tech

Education

ABC pedorthist certification

BOC pedorthics credential

Job description

Summary

Health Technician (Pedorthist) position in the Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) in the West Palm Beach Healthcare System in VISN8. Provides specialized pedorthic care by assessing patients, designing and fabricating orthopedic footwear and devices, ensuring prescription accuracy, and supporting mobility and comfort through advanced pedorthic treatment and patient education.

Qualifications

• Applicants must complete educational or certification/licensure requirements; may be referred and tentatively selected but cannot be hired until all requirements are met.
• United States citizenship required (non‑citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy).
• English language proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Board certified in pedorthics by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics – Prosthetics and Pedorthics (ABC) or Credentialed in pedorthics by the Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC).
• Applicants may qualify based on the Grandfathering Provision (only applicable to current VHA employees who meet the criteria).
• Grade determination: GS‑7 with one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS‑6, including skills in developing follow‑up treatment plans, processing paperwork, placing administrative orders, assessing device structural soundness, and processing consults/orders.
• Demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities in designing advanced pedorthic devices, assessing device structural soundness, written and oral communication, fabrication of all pedorthic device types, and designing innovative devices with new and emerging technology.
• Preferred experience: Pedorthist, Orthotic Fitter, or Mastectomy Fitter.
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS‑07.
• Physical requirements include continuous walking, standing, stooping, bending, lifting up to 50 lbs, and normal safety precautions.

Duties

• Assess Veteran patients with complex needs to formulate and implement pedorthic treatment plans.
• Specialize in fitting orthotic devices—including shoes and bracing—while ensuring high‑quality patient outcomes and improving compliance in the Orthotic Laboratory.
• Communicate and interact with physicians, allied health professionals, patients, and caregivers in various interdisciplinary clinical settings as a subject matter expert.
• Provide complex patient analyses for patients with unusual or interrelated conditions.
• Assess patients for indications/contraindications and discuss assessment with the physician to develop the overall treatment plan.
• Analyze the potential use of new and emerging technologies to design unique or innovative pedorthic devices for a wide range of complex medical conditions.
• Takes scans and measurements for advanced devices, prepares and modifies casts, repairs and fabricates advanced devices, and provides patient/caregiver education.
• Recognize physical abnormalities, deviations, and complicating conditions with potentially life‑threatening implications.
• Work under the range of practice privileges for other credentialed clinicians based on ABC privileging requirements.

Work Schedule

8:00am‑4:30pm, Monday‑Friday. Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.