Qualifications

Qualifications: Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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
• Education: Individuals must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor
• Licensure: Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a full, current and unrestricted license from a state to practice as an RRT
• Credential: Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a valid, current, unrestricted credential of RRT
• Loss of Licensure, Certification or Credentials
• An employee in this occupation, who fails to maintain the required certifications, RRT credential or license must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in the termination of employment
• Once credentialed, licensed or certified, RTs/RRTs must maintain a full, valid and unrestricted license, credential and certification to practice respiratory care
• Grandfathering Provision: The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all hybrid title 38 qualification standards
• Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation
• Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education, credential or certification requirements that apply to this occupation
• All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education, credential or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure, certification or registration, may be reassigned, promoted or demoted within the occupation
• (2) Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure, certification or registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• (3) Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure, certification or registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure, certification or registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels
• (4) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• (5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure, certification or registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• (6) If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation or employment with the VA, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation and/or VA
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment above, all individuals referred and assigned to this occupation must meet all the qualification requirements and KSAs defined in the specific assignment as follows: (a)Experience, Licensure and Credential: Candidates must i
• Have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level
• ii
• Hold an active license and RRT credential
• (b)Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: i
• Ability to assist in establishing a completely integrated patient care program
• ii
• Ability to organize work, delegate tasks, evaluate performance, manage fiscal matters and meet multiple deadlines
• iii
• Ability to supervise and manage subordinate employees
• iv
• Skill in interpersonal relationships including conflict resolution
• v
• Ability to establish and monitor standards and priorities for production and patient care
• vi
• Skill in recommending improvements to operations based on evaluation of data
• (c) Assignments: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and must be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• This Supervisory RRT assignment is designated as the Chief
• They manage complexity level 3 facilities whose work involves providing respiratory and related care in the facility or at multiple sites
• These facilities may offer specialty care and services and may be affiliated with academic institutions
• Supervisory RRTs at this grade in this assignment manage and supervise all aspects of respiratory care including clinical practice, program management, education, human resources management and supervision of the service
• Preferred Experience: American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC) membership preferred
• References: VA Handbook 5005/141 PART II APPENDIX G11The full performance level of this vacancy is 13
• Physical Requirements: Work is primarily performed in patient care areas, in-patient and outpatient
• Extensive interaction with patients, staff, physicians, family members and visitors involved
• Moving equipment and supplies, lifting to 40 pounds, bending, stooping and possible exposure to body fluids is involved
• Education: IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
• Additional Information: Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience
• This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave
• Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed
• This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies
• If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement
• Benefits Link: http://www.vacareers.va.gov/why-choose-va/benefits/index.asp