Qualifications

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
• English Language Proficiency: Orthotists, prosthetists, or orthotist/prosthetists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d)
• Education: A bachelor's degree or higher in orthotics and prosthetics from a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredited program
• OR, A bachelor's degree or higher in any major along with a post-graduate orthotics or prosthetics certificate from a CAAHEP accredited program
• Foreign Graduates: Graduates of foreign degree programs must have proof of a minimum of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as verified through an independent credential evaluation company), with a specialization in orthotics and prosthetics
• Board Certification: Candidates must be board certified by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC) as an orthotist/prosthetist
• The board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirements for continuing education
• Certification as a technician, pedorthist, assistant or fitter does not meet this requirement
• Grade Determinations: GS-12 Supervisory Orthotist/Prosthetist Experience: Completion of 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) as an Orthotist/Prosthetist functioning as a full member of the clinical team which includes significant involvement in treatment plan development for the most complex types of conditions
• GS-11 experience includes: Communicating and interacting with physicians, allied health professionals, patients, and caregivers in various interdisciplinary clinical settings, rehabilitation medicine, orthopedics, neurosurgery, vascular care, podiatry, oncology, etc., as a subject matter expert to develop the orthotic and/or prosthetic treatment plan
• Performs complex patient analyses and orthotic and prosthetic care in accordance with established procedures for patients with unusual conditions, multiple complex conditions, interrelated conditions, etc
• Assessment of the patient for indications/contra-indications and discussion of the assessment with the physician/requesting provider for the purpose of developing the overall treatment plan with considerable influence in the development of that plan
• Recognize physical abnormalities, deviations, and complicating conditions with potentially life threatening implications
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment-specific KSAs designated by an asterisk(*): Knowledge of regulatory requirements established by the ABC
• BOC, the National Committee for Orthotic/Prosthetic Education *NCOPE), the International Association of Orthotists and Prosthetists (IAOP), the American Academy of Orthotists (AAOP), Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), etc
• *Knowledge of administrative functions including budget development and management, inventory management, space and workload planning, as well as knowledge of the National Prosthetic Patient Database (NPPD)m knowledge of the Prosthetic National Software (PNS) package, Decision Support System (DSS), and knowledge of accreditation requirements for orthotic and prosthetic laboratories and certification requirements for individuals
• *Ability to analyze data and provide reports using CPRS, Vista, DSS, HCPCS codes and other patient database information
• *Ability to provide training to orthotists/prosthetists in new technologies and innovations in devices
• *Ability to manage and supervise employees
• Preferred Experience: Preferred 3-5 years experience as a certified CPO practicing in patient care
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.