Summary

The primary purpose of the Health Technician - Orthotic Fitter is to support the clinical and administrative functions of the Prosthetic & Sensory Aid Service (PSAS) by constructing simple orthotic and prosthetics devices and fitting over the counter orthotic soft goods - as deemed appropriate and prescribed by VA and medical facility policies - procedures and treatment plans.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 09/26/2025. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-06 and GS-07 position - you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05 and GS-06 - respectively. The grade may have been in any occupation - but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year - it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade - as required by the announcement. In this instance - you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Basic Requirement - Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) In order to meet the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) for this occupation - candidates must have: Specialized Experience: Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists - speech pathologists - medical officers - and optometrists. Therefore - technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge - methods - and techniques of the position to be filled. In addition to the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) - candidates must meet the following grade requirements. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-06: Specialized Experience (Developmental): You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized Experience: I possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05) in the Federal Service that has given me the particular knowledge - skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of the Health Technician - Orthotic Fitter - and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled in the normal line of progression for the occupation. Specialized experience includes assisting in the fitting and dispensing of non-custom orthotic soft goods - therapeutic footwear - and prefabricated orthoses under supervision; performing basic patient screenings; documenting clinical or administrative information in medical or electronic records; preparing fabrication materials and/or making limited adjustments under guidance; maintaining inventory; and providing general administrative support such as answering phones - scheduling - or processing supply transactions. OR - Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successful completion of 1 full year of graduate education directly related to the work of this position. GS-07: Specialized Experience (Full Performance): You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized Experience: I possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-06) in the Federal Service that has given me the particular knowledge - skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of the Health Technician - Orthotic Fitter - and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled in the normal line of progression for the occupation. Specialized experience includes independently fitting - sizing - and dispensing non-custom orthotic soft goods - therapeutic footwear - and foot orthoses; interpreting consults or work orders from clinicians; performing patient evaluations - taking accurate anatomical measurements - documenting clinical findings and device fitting information; constructing - repairing - or modifying orthotic/prosthetic devices using hand tools and fabrication methods; monitoring and managing orthotic and prosthetic inventory; and educating patients on the proper usage - adjustment - and care of devices. OR - Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successful completion of 1 year of graduate education directly related to the work of this position. NOTE: Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. One full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-7. Two full years of graduate education or a master's degree meets the requirements for GS-9. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school - 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. Administration and Management Communication Planning and Evaluating Technical Competence 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements - The position demands a moderate degree of exertion and a high degree of dexterity - long periods of standing and long-distance walking from clinic to clinic may be required. Other physical demands will include but not limited to; bending - kneeling - some lifting (not to exceed 50 lbs.) and work with some power tools. Work Environment - Office setting with an area to fit measure and repair prosthetic and sensory aid appliances as well as a laboratory setting with equipment to modify - fabricate and repair orthotic and prosthetic devices. Lab coat must be worn. Wards - nursing homes and clinics may also be visited. Occasional travel may be required to assess patients. PPE may be required for patient assessment. For more information on these qualification standards - please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/

Duties

• ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION - YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** If selected at the GS-06 - it is a developmental position leading to a GS-07 - performing assignments intended to broaden skills and provide practical experience leading to progressively more complex assignments performed under progressively less supervision
• Duties include - but are not limited to the following: Constructs/shapes and repairs common orthotic/prosthetic devices from casts and/or documents provided by clinician - such as repairs to custom foot orthoses and shoes - using a wide variety of materials
• Under the direction of a Certified Prosthetist/Orthotist - constructs/shapes molded and custom-made orthoses/prostheses including but not limited to upper - lower limb - including shoe modifications - and spinal orthoses
• Fits and dispenses non-custom orthotic soft goods
• Assists with the repair - engineering - fitting and dispensing of orthotic appliances
• Answers telephone inquiries directed toward the Service and responds appropriately
• Assists in the managing of orthotic and prosthetic inventory within the Department - including chemical inventory
• Requests patient specific items through the Remote Order Entry System (ROES)
• Limited plaster modifications to upper and lower extremity orthotic and prosthetic devices under supervision of Certified Orthotist/Prosthetist
• Blister or drape forming materials under vacuum over positive models and trimming and smoothing devices for fitting
• Fabrication of custom foot orthotics using Amfit blanks and carver
• The incumbent adheres to specifications - conformance to models and tracings provided by the certified practitioner requesting the service
• Installs valves - locking mechanisms and assembles transtibial and transfemoral sockets with bench alignment to an endoskeletal pylon system per manufacturer recommendations in preparation for dynamic alignment
• Shapes and cosmetically finishes the outer contours of prosthesis
• Follows instructions on the orthometry form and cast or tracing provided by the clinician to create AFOs and KAFOs
• verifies correct size metal is used based on the pt's weight and alignment provided on the orthometry form - bends/ contours metal stirrups and uprights - rivets through the midsole - attaches the bars to the ankle joint and attaches the calf band
• Answers telephone inquiries directed toward the Service and responds appropriately (e.g
• directly answer the inquiry or direct the individual to another resource) when required
• Ensures inventory locations are kept clean and organized
• The incumbent may also be required to unpack shipments - check packing slips against orders and contents of the shipment and assemble the necessary documentation for orthotic and prosthetic items needing to be reordered
• Requests patient specific items through the Remote Order Entry System (ROES)
• Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory - qualification - and performance requirements are met
• Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Health Technician - Orthotic Fitter/ PD23356A and PD23357A
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• Bargaining Unit Position: No
• The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers
• This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest
• As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care - you will operate in a model with three core elements - seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran
• This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community
• This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.