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Posted: January 29, 2026 (8 days ago)

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Staff Optometrist

Veterans Health Administration

Department of Veterans Affairs

Recent

Salary

$124,308 - $140,000

per year

Closes

March 13, 2026

Job Description

Summary

This job is for an optometrist at a VA clinic in Rochester, New York, where you'll provide eye exams, prescribe medications, and educate veterans on eye health as part of a team serving those in upstate New York and northern Pennsylvania.

It's an independent role focused on outpatient care, following national guidelines to help manage eye conditions and promote wellness.

A good fit would be a licensed optometrist with residency training or equivalent experience who enjoys working with veterans and collaborating with other healthcare professionals.

Key Requirements

  • Doctor of Optometry degree from a VA-approved school
  • Current, full, and unrestricted license to practice optometry in a U.S. state, territory, or D.C., including passage of National Board of Examiners in Optometry
  • Successful completion of an accredited residency training program or two years of licensed clinical optometric practice with medically complex patients
  • Proficiency in spoken and written English
  • U.S. citizenship (non-citizens only if qualified citizens unavailable)
  • Ability to maintain Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
  • Physical ability to perform duties per VA Directive 5019

Full Job Description

The VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System is recruiting for an Optometrist for a position at our Rochester VA Clinic.

Rochester VA Clinic offers a wide range of health, support, and facility services for Veterans in upstate New York and northern Pennsylvania. Come join the team and see what Rochester has to offer!

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 tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Currently employed Optometrists in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation.

Staff Optometrist Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

Degree of Doctor of Optometry resulting from a course of education in Optometry.

The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed.

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: 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: 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 Two years of licensed clinical optometric practice in the United States consisting of active involvement in the management of medically complex patients. Proficiency in spoken and written English.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: In Accordance With VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Major Duties:

The VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System is recruiting for an Optometrist for a position at our Rochester VA Clinic.

Rochester VA Clinic offers a wide range of health, support, and facility services for Veterans in upstate New York and northern Pennsylvania. Come join the team and see what Rochester has to offer!

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. The VA Finger Lakes Health Care System seeks a full time outpatient clinical Optometrist.

The Optometrist functions as an independent practitioner exercising initiative and judgement in day-to-day activities.

Duties include but are not limited to the following: Perform and document comprehensive or targeted eye examinations. Provide patient care following national guidelines.

Accurately document patient care activities in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) per WTVAHCS requirements. Order diagnostic studies pertinent to ocular evaluations.

Prescribe medications for ocular diseases in accordance with federal and state laws or refer patients to appropriate specialists if outside the scope of optometry practice.

Obtain consent for procedures when necessary and document appropriately. Consult with other healthcare disciplines as necessary to complete patient evaluations and ensure integrated care.

Engage in health promotion and disease prevention activities, including patient education and shared decision-making. Maintain updated Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Support the Chief Optometrist and assist in all aspects of administrative duties as needed. Participate in the development and implementation of departmental policies and procedures.

Contribute to performance improvement initiatives within the Optometry Service. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 1/29/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/30/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: CBTE-12871087-26-LK