job
Optometrist (Internal Employees of VA North Texas Only)
Organization Veterans Health AdministrationLocation Arlington, United StatesPosted 15 May 2026Deadline 14 May 2027
Optometrist
Full Description
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: To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following: Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.) in accordance with section7402(c) to title 38, United States Code (U.S.C). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C. §7407(a). 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. Approved schools are United States and Canadian schools or colleges of optometry listed as accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE), in the list published for the year in which the course of study was completed. Licensure and Registration: Optometrists must possess a 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. The Optometrist must maintain current registration in the state of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active, current licensure. Residency Training or Comparable Experience: Optometrists must have 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. OR (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: Optometrists appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38U.S.C. § 7402(d) and 7407(d). OPTOMETRIST STAFF REQUIREMENTS a. 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. b. Attending Optometrist. An Attending Optometrist teaches and supervises students, residents, and, or fellows in the delivery of optometric care to Veterans. The Attending Optometrist accepts full responsibility for adherence to the current care standards of directly assigned patients and for those assigned under the care of the supervised trainee(s). An Attending Optometrist may also serve as a Student Coordinator overseeing the clinical care, and facilitating the coordination of scheduling, periodic reviews, and didactic component for the students. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, and possessing privileges to perform all procedures being supervised, Attending Optometrists must demonstrate the following:(1)Board Certification: Attending Optometrists must be board certified by The American Board of Certification in Medical Optometry (ABCMO) or The American Board of Optometry (ABO); and(2)Meets one of the following criteria:(a)Faculty appointment(s) at a school or college of optometry, medicine, or other health care profession; or(b)Fellowship in the American Academy of Optometry (AAO). c. Residency Coordinator. An Optometrist who serves as the Residency Coordinator provides effective educational and administrative oversight to the residency program. A residency coordinator must meet the requirements of an attending optometrist and meet the ACOE accreditation standards for a residency coordinator. d. Distinguished Optometrist. A Distinguished Optometrist is recognized for scientific, academic, and administrative expertise and would typically been trusted with a variety of key responsibilities beyond those of other Optometrist assignments. These duties could involve leadership, mentorship, research, clinical consultation, and, or influence the advancement of the profession. The Distinguished Optometrist may play a key role in shaping policy, including the development of standards of practice, clinical guidelines, or ethical regulations. This Optometrist is capable of providing expert advice and recommendations on clinical practices, procedures, and protocols. The Distinguished Optometrist will provide continuing education and promote high standards of knowledge and practice in optometry. In addition to meeting the basic requirements of an Attending Optometrist, the individual must meet at least two of the following: (1) Led or contributed to the advancement of the field through publications or clinical studies; (2) Published or presented at national or international optometric conferences; (3) Worked with government agencies, professional organizations, or regulatory bodies to advocate for the profession, addressing issues such as scope of practice or public health initiatives; (4) Served in a VA leadership/manager position with responsibility for the planning, coordination, and operation of a multi-faceted program that may have included clinical research, training, and, or other speciality service; (5) Possess post-residency fellowship training, advanced professional degree(s), or exceptional professional distinction(s); (6) Administrative or leadership experience at the state, regional, or national levels. e. Leadership/Manager Positions. Organizational and functional titles do not replace but complement official position titles. Optometry leadership and management positions may include but are not limited to: Supervisory Optometrists, Section Chiefs, Assistant/Deputy Chiefs, Service Chiefs, Facility/VISN Lead Optometrists, Service Line Managers, and Central Office Program Positions. An Optometrist in a leadership position must demonstrate the following: (1) Outstanding professional ability in the practice of optometry and healthcare administration; (2) The ability to guide the development and implementation of programs within their respective domain, to include but not limited to, optometry practice, professional standards, personnel issues, quality and performance improvement; (3) Effectiveness in coordinating and managing interdisciplinary collaboration with both internal and external stakeholders to optimize the care of patients under their purview. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G5 Optometrist Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: This position may require potentially long periods of continued moderate lifting of 15-44 pounds, Moderate carrying of 15-44 pounds, Pushing for 2 hours, Reaching above shoulder, Use of fingers, Both hands required, Walking for 3-5 hours, Standing for 3-5 hours, Kneeling for 2-3 hours, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, Both eyes required, Depth perception, Ability to distinguish basic colors, Ability to distinguish shades of colors, Hearing (aid permitted).
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