Staff Optometrist

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Hot Springs (SD); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

EDRP

Job summary

The US Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Staff Optometrist to provide clinical optometry services, oversee trainee supervision, and participate in education loan repayment programs. Eligible staff may apply for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) with program approval and set award amounts by the VA.

Basic requirements include U.S. citizenship, a Doctor of Optometry degree from an approved school, an unrestricted license to practice optometry, and residency or two years of licensed

Qualifications

• US citizenship required; non-citizens only where permitted.
• Doctor of Optometry degree from an approved school.
• Current, full and unrestricted optometry license with state registration.
• Residency training or two years of licensed clinical optometric practice in the US.

Skills

English proficiency

Clinical optometry

Trainee supervision

Patient care

Education

Doctor of Optometry

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.

To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed optometrist(s) in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation.

Optometrist Basic Requirements

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. ~AND~
• 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 (VA) for the year in which the course of study was completed. ~AND~
• Licensure: Current, full and unrestricted license to practice optometry, and maintain a current registration in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia that requires successful passage of all parts of National Board of Examiners in Optometry intended for basic licensure. ~AND~
• Residency Training or Comparable Experience: Successfully completed residency training, approved by the Secretary of VA in an accredited post-graduate training program, or have comparable experience, as described below:
  • (1) Approved residencies are those with accredited or within pre-accredited status by the ACOE, in the list published for the year the residency was completed.
  • (2) Two years of licensed clinical optometric practice in the United States consisting of active involvement in the management of medically complex patients.

• English Language Proficiency: Proficiency in spoken and written English.

Staff Optometrist Requirements

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

Daily intermittent walking, standing, bending, stooping, reaching, and carrying of lightweight items required. Rigid deadlines and need for high degree of accuracy periodically become stressful.