Optometrist

Optometrist Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administrion VA Central California Health Care System Summary This position is eligible for the Educion Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP applicion within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Educion Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP applicion. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Learn more about this agency Summary This position is eligible for the Educion Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP applicion within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Educion Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP applicion. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Learn more about this agency Overview Help Accepting applicions Open & closing des 04/29/2026 to 09/25/2026 Salary $124,308

• $200,000 per year Educion and length of practice are considered through a formal pay-setting process to determine the final compensable salary (Base Pay + Market Pay) Pay scale & grade VM 15 Locion 1 vacancy in the following locion: Merced, CA 1 vacancy Remote job No Telework eligible No Travel Required Not required Relocion expenses reimbursed No Appointment type Permanent Work schedule Full-time Service Excepted Promotion potential None Job family (Series) 0662 Optometrist Supervisory stus No Security clearance Not Required Drug test Yes Position sensitivity and risk Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk Trust determinion process Credentialing Suitability/Fitness Financial disclosure No Bargaining unit stus No Announcement number

OCA-CBSW-12949879-26-MF

Control number 867294200 This job is open to Help The public U.S. Citizens, Nionals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S. Clarificion from the agency All qualified candides encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.

NOTE:

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more informion, refer to Required Documents below. Videos Duties Help

• This is an

OPEN CONTINUOUS

ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 25th, 2026. The initial cut-off de for referral of eligible applicions May 5, 2026, with subsequent cut-off des every 2 weeks. Eligible applicions received after th de accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candides considered as vacancies become available.

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

VHA Physician Total Rewards . Educion Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more .

EDRP Authorized:

Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact

V21CCOEEDRP

@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinor for questions/assistance

Work Schedule:

Monday

• Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm

Pay:

Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases

Paid Time Off:

50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME)

Retirement:

Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by

VA Insurance:

Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

Licensure:

1 full and unrestricted license from any US Ste or territory

CME:

Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certificion)

Malpractice:

Free liability protection with tail coverage provided

Contract:

No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting The Optometrist is a specialty professional in the care of Optometry. Surgical Department strives to maintain a safe working environment, in which we identify and address issues and concerns as they rele to safety problems within Eye Section. Major duties include, but are limited to: Evalue and tre pients for any disease which need Optometry diagnosis and/or trement to achieve palliion or cure. Available on a 24 hour basis to provide consultion and care for our pients. Demonstre the ability to appropriely and courteously rele to internal and external customers, maintain the confidentiality of pient/employee informion, and to function and work in a safe manner, as well as demonstring an on-going commitment to and understanding of the Medical Center's Performance Improvement program. Demonstre the knowledge of changes associed with ageing and principles of human growth and development possess the ability to assess and interpret pient da, and the ability to identify age-specific needs such as incorporing age specific factors, and needs into pient care activities. Other duties as assigned. Requirements Help Conditions of employment U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentively selected for VA employment in a testing designed position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registrion is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigion. Selected applicants required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identificion required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or ste-issued dentificion cards th are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identificion for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examinion. Participion in the seasonal influenza vaccinion program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). You may be required to serve a probionary period. Complete all applicion requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. Qualificions To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Optometrist Basic Requirements Degree of doctor of optometry resulting from a course of educion in optometry. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools or colleges approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed. Licensed to practice optometry in a Ste, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United Stes, or in the District of Columbia. Optometrists are required to possess full and unrestricted licensure and to maintain a current registrion in their Ste of licensure if this is a requirement of the particular Ste.

United Stes Citizenship:

Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Proficiency in spoken and written English.

Grade Determinions :

Full Grade. Two years of Optometric practice or its equivalent. One year of approved residency training or its creditable equivalent acceptable to the Council on Optometric Educion of the American Optometric Associion is acceptable in lieu of the 2 years of practice. Candide must have demonstred the professional competence and performance necessary to provide independently the full range of clinical optometric diagnosis and trement for all the most prevalent types of vision dysfunctions and the detection and referral of pients with ocular disease or ocular manifestions of systemic disease. Intermedie Grade. Meets the requirements in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) below:(1) Four years of Optometric practice or its equivalent. One year of approved residency training or its creditable equivalent acceptable to the Council on Optometric Educion of the American Optometric Associion is acceptable in lieu of 2 years of practice.(2) The optometrist this level has successfully passed the examinions of the Nional Board of Examiners in Optometry and has tained either of the following:(a) The sture th would warrant appointment the clinical instructor or higher level a school or college of optometry.(b) The professional ability and personal tributes which have merited significant recognition by a recognized professional organizion, such as election to a Fellowship in the American Academy of Optometry.(3) Has achieved a high level of professional tainment as illustred by one or more of the following examples:(a) Is a recognized expert in the diagnosis and trement of unusual and compliced visual dysfunctions. Typically, in this capacity serves as a consultant to optometrist and other professionals in other health facilities or provides expert clinical services in such areas as the partially sighted or contact lenses for aphasics.(b) Has assumed responsibility for a multi-faceted optometric program including clinical research and/or training requiring a high degree of competence and skill in developing innovive and new and advanced instrumention and trement techniques. Typically, the program is in an educionally affilied health care facility having an optometric training program of modere scope involving liaison with other medical services and affilied schools.(c) Has played a significant part in the conduct of vision research in a problem area of considerable scope and complexity which required novel approaches and which resulted in answers to important questions or important changes in existing methods and techniques. Publicions authored by the optometrist are of considerable value to others in the individual's field. Typically, overall contributions are recognized by serving on important committees or other bodies in the profession.(d) Has had full responsibility for carrying out an optometric training program of significant size in which the optometrist has been responsible for maintaining liaison with the affilied school and other educional institutions and professional or scientific organizions. Innovive approaches in development of curriculum and course content and in expanding and improving the educional program have been displayed by the individual. Senior Grade . Meets the requirements for Intermedie grade and the requirements in paragraphs (1) and (2) below:(1) The optometrist this level possesses such academic sture as would warrant a faculty appointment of a professional level in an approved school or college of optometry.(2) Has demonstred recognized superior professional tainment as evidenced by on more of the following examples:(a) Has served as a team leader in tacking major Optometric problems affecting the continued provision of quality care health services a VISN, stewide, or nional level. There is such confidence in the optometrist this level th there is unusual support of the individual's recommendions and conclusions.(b) Has had responsibility for carrying out a major Optometric program segment on a nional level.(c) Has conducted high level studies in a difficult area of vision research which has contributed to a substantial advance in the health field, with important professional publicions. Chief Grade. Meets the requirements for Senior grade and must demonstre a sustained very high level of professional performance with evidence of exceptional professional and/or administrive development by the following:(1) Has assumed substantial professional and/or administrive responsibilities in which the individual is expected to fully advise and make professional clinical and educional recommendions as to courses of action on problems and considerions of nional scope in all areas of optometry. Typically, the optometrist this level has had responsibility for a major optometric program segment on a nionwide basis and has been consistently called upon to represent the organizion in an authoritive manner in mters dealing with development of new and/or revised concepts and programs having a major impact upon the academic, medical, and optometric communities.

References:

VA Regulions, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-5

Optometrist Qualificion Standard Preferred Experience:

Residency trained with 3 years experience.

Physical Requirements:

Light lifting (under 15 pounds), light carrying (under 15 pounds), use of fingers, both hands required, walking (2 hours), standing (8 hours), repeed bending (8 hours), ability for rapid mental and muscular coordinion simultaneously, near vision correctable to 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20, depth perception, hearing (aid permitted), emotional/mental stability, unusual figue factors resulting from long hours on-call, protracted or irregular hours of work. Educion Degree of doctor of optometry resulting from a course of educion in optometry. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools or colleges approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed.

Approved schools are:

(1) United Stes and Canadian schools or colleges of optometry listed as accredited by the Council on Optometric Educion of the American Optometric Associion, in the list published for the year in which the course of study was completed.(2) Schools (including foreign schools) accepted by the licensing body of a Ste, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United Stes, or in the District of Columbia as qualifying for full or unrestricted licensure.

NOTE:

Licensure may be waived by the Under Secretary of Health or designee in Central Office, for individuals in research or academic assignments involving no direct pient care in accordance with current regulions. Additional informion This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those th have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive stus. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-reled positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alterne method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentive job offer. For more informion about the Act and the complaint process, Human Resources and Administrion/Operions, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) The Fair Chance Act . Expand Hide additional informion Candides should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passione about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United Stes Constitution. Benefits Help A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits th are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits . Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more informion on the specific benefits offered. How you evalued You evalued for this job based on how well you meet the qualificions above. Your applicion, resume, C.V., and/or other supporting documention verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect considerion for employment.

NOTE:

A formal pay-setting process used to determine your salary. The salary may be any point in the range listed for this vacancy. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through Nional Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizions (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 th transles directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify informion provided by a candide (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candide's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

Veterans' Preference Note:

Preference eligible candides and other Veterans given preference when qualificion of candides are approximely equal for Title 38 positions in VHA. When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows des and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documention reled to your active duty service which reflects the des of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and des of impending separion. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Applicion for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as sted on the form. Documention is required to award preference. For more informion on Veterans' Preference, please Feds Hire Vets

• Veterans
• Job Seekers
• Veterans' Preference .

Benefits Help A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits th are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits . Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more informion on the specific benefits offered. Required documents Required Documents Help To apply for this position, you must submit a C.V. and/or resume. Other documents may be requested ler in the process if needed. Special Note for

Applicions:

To complete your applicion, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field. Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limition into the 'Other' document upload field. How to Apply Help To begin, click Apply Online to cree a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your

USA JOBS

resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupional questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your applicion package. To apply for this position online, complete steps 1 and 2 above by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/25/2026 to receive considerion. Please note, this announcement may close prior to the closing de indiced if the position is filled through other means. If you are unable to apply online before the closing de click here and include the

OCA-CBSW-12949879-26-MF

in the Notes field. During the applicion process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your applicion for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further considerion for additional positions.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members:

Please the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegrion support for military service members. Agency contact informion Michele Frias Phone 979-633-9615 Michele.

Frias@va.gov Address Fresno VA Medical Center 2615 East Clinton Avenue Fresno, CA 93703 US Next steps Once your online applicion is submitted you will receive a confirmion notificion by email. We will review applicions to ensure qualificion and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certifice(s) is issued, and applicants notified of their stus by email. Referred applicants notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notificion once a selection decision has been made. You may check the stus of your applicion any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applicions. Informion regarding your applicion stus can be found in the USAJobs Help Center .

NOTE:

Participion in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement th all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccinion or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccinion has been granted. HCP in violion of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locions or who come into contact with VA pients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locions include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associed clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrive, remote and onsite, paid and without compension, full

• and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work these facilities.

HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with pients outside VA medical facilities. Fair and transparent The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance. Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Financial suitability New employee probionary period Privacy Act Reasonable accommodion policy Selective Service Signure and false stements Social security number request Required Documents Help To apply for this position, you must submit a C.V. and/or resume. Other documents may be requested ler in the process if needed. Special Note for

Applicions:

To complete your applicion, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field. Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limition into the 'Other' document upload field. How to Apply Help To begin, click Apply Online to cree a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your

USA JOBS

resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupional questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your applicion package. To apply for this position online, complete steps 1 and 2 above by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/25/2026 to receive considerion. Please note, this announcement may close prior to the closing de indiced if the position is filled through other means. If you are unable to apply online before the closing de click here and include the

OCA-CBSW-12949879-26-MF

in the Notes field. During the applicion process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your applicion for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further considerion for additional positions.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members:

Please the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegrion support for military service members. Expand Hide how to apply Agency contact informion Michele Frias Phone 979-633-9615 Michele.

Frias@va.gov Address Fresno VA Medical Center 2615 East Clinton Avenue Fresno, CA 93703 US Next steps Once your online applicion is submitted you will receive a confirmion notificion by email. We will review applicions to ensure qualificion and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certifice(s) is issued, and applicants notified of their stus by email. Referred applicants notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notificion once a selection decision has been made. You may check the stus of your applicion any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applicions. Informion regarding your applicion stus can be found in the USAJobs Help Center .

NOTE:

Participion in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement th all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccinion or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccinion has been granted. HCP in violion of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locions or who come into contact with VA pients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locions include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associed clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrive, remote and onsite, paid and without compension, full

• and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work these facilities.

HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with pients outside VA medical facilities. Expand Hide next steps Fair and transparent The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance. Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Financial suitability New employee probionary period Privacy Act Reasonable accommodion policy Selective Service Signure and false stements Social security number request Overview Help Accepting applicions Open & closing des 04/29/2026 to 09/25/2026 Salary $124,308

• $200,000 per year Educion and length of practice are considered through a formal pay-setting process to determine the final compensable salary (Base Pay + Market Pay) Pay scale & grade VM 15 Locion 1 vacancy in the following locion: Merced, CA 1 vacancy Remote job No Telework eligible No Travel Required Not required Relocion expenses reimbursed No Appointment type Permanent Work schedule Full-time Service Excepted Promotion potential None Job family (Series) Supervisory stus No Security clearance Drug test Yes Position sensitivity and risk Trust determinion process Financial disclosure Bargaining unit stus Announcement number

OCA-CBSW-12949879-26-MF

Control number 867294200