Individual Occupational Requirements for
GS-667: Orthotist and Prosthetist Series
The text below is extracted verbatim from
Section IV-B of the Operating Manual for Qualification Standards
for General Schedule Positions (p.IV-B-113), but contains minor edits
to conform to web-page requirements.
This is an individual qualification standard.
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION/TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
Qualifying experience and training may have been acquired in automotive, electronic, furniture,
garment, or woodworking shops or factories, in a hospital or clinical setting, or in the Armed Forces
as a medic or mechanic. All applicants must have the ability to:
- Deal with patients' orthotic or prosthetic needs while recognizing their emotional and mental
outlook and attitudes;
- Accept responsibility as participating members of the health care team, be aware of the
ethical considerations present and the need to adhere to medical ethical practices in all
their relationships; and
- Work with professionals and nonprofessionals, and recognize the contribution of each in
attaining the objectives of the treatment plan prescribed by a physician or developed by a
clinical team.
EXPERIENCE
| For GS-3: |
Applicants must have 1 year of experience that provided (1) knowledge of or skill in the use
of hand or power tools, or of wood, plastics, metal, leather, or other materials used in
orthotic or prosthetic devices; or (2) a practical knowledge of the medical environment and
procedures related to the care of patients through work such as a nursing assistant, therapy
assistant, or medical aid. |
| For GS-4: |
Applicants must have 1 year of experience that provided familiarity with orthotic or
prosthetic work, or skill and knowledge in the use of hand and power tools in working with
materials used in orthotic or prosthetic devices. |
| For GS-5 and above: |
Applicants must have 1 year of experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level
that provided a solid background of:
- The theories and principles of orthotics or prosthetics;
- The use of hand and power tools for the development or fabrication of orthotic or
prosthetic devices and appliances;
- The technology of materials commonly used in orthotic or prosthetic appliances; and
- The measurement of patients, the fabrication and fitting of orthoses or prostheses
from prescriptions according to recognized and accepted techniques.
|
OR
EDUCATION/TRAINING
| For GS-3: |
Successful completion of 1 academic year of post-high school study that included a course
appropriate to the work such as orthotics, prosthetics, anatomy, psychology, nursing, biology,
medical terminology, handicrafts, physical education, or industrial arts education. |
| For GS-4: |
Successful completion of 2 academic years of post-high school study that included courses as
described above for GS-3.
Successful completion of apprenticeship training in such trades and crafts as plastics and
sheet metal work, machinist, patternmaker, or similar trades and crafts that provided knowledge
of the practices, procedures, techniques, and use of the equipment and tools meets the
educational requirements on a year-for-year basis up through GS-4. |
| For GS-5: |
A full 4-year course of study at an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's
degree with major study in prosthetics and orthotics. |
| For GS-6: |
A full 4-year course of study at an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's
degree with major study in prosthetics and orthotics, and subsequent successful completion of
the clinical affiliation training prescribed by the school to assure professional competence
to practice the occupation.
A successfully completed Orthotist-Prosthetist apprenticeship in a facility approved by the
American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics, Inc. meets in full the
requirements for grade GS-6 positions. |
TEST REQUIREMENTS
Refer to Section V of this Manual for information about test requirements.
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