Acvrep Jobs in New York (NOW HIRING)

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be May 18, 2026, with subsequent cut-off dates on the 30th of each month until 09/30/2027. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.
Qualifications:

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C. 7407(a).
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Education The individual must have earned:
  • (a) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, or a closely related program in rehabilitation, special education, family and consumer science education, technology, and industrial arts education; OR
  • (b) A master's degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, or a closely related program in rehabilitation, special education, family and consumer science education, technology, and industrial arts education; OR
  • (c) A bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited college or university (without a major field of study as outlined in (1)(a) and (b) above) and obtained a certificate from an accredited college or university in the core curriculum in orientation and mobility, vision rehabilitation therapy, assistive technology for blind and visually impaired individuals, or low vision therapy. This education must have included supervised practice; AND
  • (d) Completion of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the BRS, GS-9 grade level; OR
  • (e) Three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a doctoral degree in blind rehabilitation or a directly related field.
• Certification:
  • (1) Applicants must possess at least one active, current, full, and unrestricted certification to be eligible for appointment.
  • (2) An applicant who has, or ever had his/her certification suspended, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in Chapter 3, Section B, Paragraph 16 of this part. An applicant who has or has ever had a certification revoked or terminated for cause, or voluntarily relinquished such certification after being notified in writing by the State of potential revocation or termination for cause, is ineligible for employment and must be removed from the GS-0601 series. This applies even if the applicant possesses one or more valid certifications or registration (38 U.S.C. 7402(f)).

NOTE: The Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP) administers four certification programs: Low Vision Therapy, Orientation, and Mobility, Certified Assistive Technology Instructions Specialist] and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy. They may then use the designation for the certification they hold as listed in subparagraph below:

• BROS who provide the following services must obtain and maintain two certifications at the GS-12 grade level granted by ACVREP as follows:
  • (a) Orientation and mobility training - Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists COMS.
  • (b) Communication and daily living therapy - Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists CVRT.
  • (c) Low vision therapy - Certified Low Vision Therapists CLVT.
  • (d) Assistive technology - Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist CATIS.

Creditable Experience: To be creditable, the experience must demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with current blind and vision rehabilitation practice as outlined in the current scope and standards of practice, for blind and vision rehabilitation. One or more of the following may have evidenced this:
(1) The equivalent of one year of active practice. Active practice means paid/non-paid employment (VA or Non-VA) as a BRS or BROS.
(2) Academic course work leading to an advanced degree in blind or vision rehabilitation, or related therapeutic intervention program.
Quality of Experience: The work to be credited is at a level comparable to BROS experience at the same or next lower grade level than the grade level being considered for placement.
Part-Time Experience: Part-time experience as a professional BROS is credited according to its relationship to the full-time work week. For example, a BROS would receive one week of full-time credit for each two weeks of half-time work.
Content Specialty: Specialized content areas of blind and vision rehabilitation include, but are not limited to: orientation and mobility, low vision therapy, vision rehabilitation therapy, manual skills, technology, and computer access for people who are visually impaired, and case-management for disability resulting from blindness.
Grade Determinations:
GS-12 Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of a minimum of 1 year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level is required.
Certification: Candidates must meet the certification requirements as stated in the basic requirements above. BROS at the GS-12 grade level must achieve two ACVREP certifications to demonstrate full mastery in two areas of blind rehabilitation.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to meeting the KSAs at the GS-11 grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Skill to independently develop, plan, and administer complex treatment programs.
(b) Ability to act as a subject matter expert in the blind/vision rehabilitation field, and as consultant, supervisor, and/or mentor in evaluating and treating patients in specialty or program areas.
(c) Ability to coordinate, motivate, and effectively manage staff and/or committee members to include organizing work, setting priorities, and delegating tasks and responsibilities.
(d) Ability to disseminate appropriate information through various media as a consultant or mentor.
(e) Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with patients, employees, other team leaders, managers, and other stakeholders.
(f) Ability to identify team group dynamics, objectively observe, and modify behaviors.
(g) Ability to apply decision-making principles to adjust programs on a day-to-day basis, to develop short-term and long-range goals, and to plan for future utilization of resources.
Preferred Experience: An applicant with 3-5 years of clinical experience in providing rehabilitation to severely visually impaired veterans with two certifications in blind rehabilitation disciplines with one ideally in Orientation and Mobility and the other in Low Vision Therapy, Vision Rehabilitation Therapy or Computer Access Training is preferred.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is a GS-12 which is the actual grade an applicant may be selected for.
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.Education:Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.Employment Type: OTHER