Summary DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation. Responsibilities The primary purpose of this position is to provide patient care and support to routine and specialized procedures for a staff of Podiatric surgeons. Major duties include, but not limited to: Performs a variety of specialized clinic procedures such as preliminary examination and evaluation of patients. Prepares podiatric work-up (show fitting, monofilament testing, etc.). Performs a variety of standardized and routine procedures that are not invasive (debriding corns and calluses, trimming nails and providing blister care). Requests, obtains and prepares aerobic cultures and pathology specimens. Provides prophylactic instruction on nail and blister care. Performs prep and variety of ankle/foot tapings in treatment for injuries. Writes history, findings and treatments in outpatient records in the appropriate format. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, normal business hours Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician-Podiatry/PD15171A Physical Requirements: Work may involve frequent bending, stooping, stretching, etc. as well as re-positioning patients. Manual dexterity in handling instruments is required. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: knowledge of medical and podiatric terminology and laboratory materials; knowledge of the anatomy of the foot and ankle; knowledge of foot problems often affecting diabetic-vascular patients and those with spinal cord injuries; skill performing basic foot examination, evaluating pedal pulses and other signs of circulatory impairment; knowledge of the many specialized instruments and supplies unique to podiatry and their use to perform podiatric care; skill to reduce toenails by use of various nail clippers; skill using sharp instruments to reduce hyperkeratotic lesions of the feet; and skill collecting specimens for bacterial and fungal cultures. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have graduate education or have completed an internship in courses directly related to the work of the position (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond . To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-XX. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. Additional Information The following will be communicated to applicants for VA employment in a testing designated position and will also be included in all VA vacancy announcements for such positions: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. 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.