Optometrist

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

US Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Staff Optometrist under the Education Debt Reduction Program. Must hold Doctor of Optometry degree and an active unrestricted license to practice optometry. US citizenship required. English language proficiency is required.

Preferred: residency training with 4+ years of experience. See qualification standards for details. Position includes EDRP eligibility and potential education loan repayment; review of applications will follow VA policies.

Qualifications

• US citizenship is required.
• Doctor of Optometry degree from a school approved by VA for the year of completion.
• Active, full and unrestricted license to practice optometry in the US or DC.
• English language proficiency required for direct patient care positions.

Skills

English proficiency

Residency-trained

Education

Doctor of Optometry degree

Active optometry license

Job description

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Must be a US Citizen.
• Education: Degree of Doctor of Optometry resulting from a course of education in optometry. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools or colleges approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are:
  1. United States and Canadian schools or colleges of optometry listed as accredited by the Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association, in the list published for the year in which the course of study was completed. -OR-
  2. Schools (including foreign schools) accepted by the licensing body of a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia as qualifying for full or unrestricted licensure.
• Licensure or Registration. Active, full and unrestricted license to practice optometry in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia; and to maintain a current registration in your State of licensure if this is a requirement of the particular State.
• English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d) optometrists appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English..

Preferred Experience:

• Residency-trained with 4 years or more experience.

Grade Determinations

In addition to the basic requirements above, all applicants must meet one of the following requirements to qualify for a specific grade level:

• Staff Optometrist. None beyond the basic requirements. The individual must possess the experience to perform general optometry duties, including clinical oversight of trainees as needed, and some specialized functions and procedures without supervision.

Reference:

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands of the work requires use of fingers; moderate walking and standing; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in on eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; hearing aid permitted; clear speech; emotional stability; moderate duty.