Health Technician; Orthotic Fitter

Summary

This position is located at the Boise VA Medical Center in Boise - Idaho within VISN 20. This is an open-continuous announcement. Positions will be filled as they become available. The first cut-off date to consider applications for referral to the selecting official will be December 18 - 2025 - the remaining cut-off dates will be at 2-week intervals.

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement - 03/05/2026 This position has a selective placement requirement:
English Proficiency - In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. In addition to the selective placement requirement - applicants must also meet the below specialize experience. GS-6 grade level:
One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-5 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge - skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position - and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled - in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

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 requires application of the knowledge - methods - and techniques of the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes but is not limited to:
Instructs patients in wear and maintenance of orthotic devices to achieve the desired benefit and to maximize the function and lifetime of the device;
Measure - fit - dispense and instructs walk-in patients on a variety of non- custom orthotic appliances;
Perform simple orthotic repairs - such as repairs to cuffs - suspension straps - shoes - using a wide variety of materials including leather - metal - plastic and fabric components of various braces; annotate patient medical records to computerized patient records system regarding services or treatments provided and inputs data into an electronic database system for accurate reporting of National Prosthetic Patient Data recording all work performed including material cost or labor.

• Already holds a credential as a Certified Orthotic Fitter or therapeutic shoe fitter
• Has prior experience as an athletic trainer applying athletic tape to stabilize injuries or provide over the counter Orthotic devices independently
• Has strong knowledge of anatomy – physiology – kinesiology – and tissue characteristics to appropriately apply orthotic devices
• Has experience working with plastics – bending metal – and using machinery to grind – sand – and sew
• Has had coursework or training on the job in orthotics or prosthetics
• Has experience as an orthopedic cast technician applying casts to people with acute injury in an assisting capacity
• Ability to identify anatomical landmarks using medical terminology
• Has an ability to read understand and explain fitting procedures to others
• Knowledge of HIPAA and OSHA guidelines and how to access web sites to locate guidelines
• Knowledge of various orthotic devices and their use
• Has experience fitting over the counter orthotics or applying casts on persons with acute injuries
• Understands medical terminology - and can identify anatomical landmarks using laymen terms possesses strong customer service skills
• Ability to read directions - follow instructions - acknowledge of various orthoses to be able to select them from inventory

NOTE:

Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title - duties - month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. There is no educational substitution for the GS-6 level Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience - including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g.

- Peace Corps - Ameri Corps) and other organizations (e.g.

- professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student;…