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 program in therapeutic radiologic technology, evidenced by a certificate or an associate's or higher degree accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology or other accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the subsequent completion of a 12-month ED accrediting body-approved program in therapeutic radiologic technology
• 4 Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 C.F.R
• Part 75
• They must have successfully completed an educational program meeting or exceeding the standards described in that regulation and is accredited by an organization recognized by the ED, and be radiation therapists certified by the ARRT in Radiation Therapy (T)
• Certification
• All applicants must be certified in therapeutic radiologic technology by the ARRT in Radiation Therapy (ARRT (T))
• (Loss of Certification
• Once certified, a TRT who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met for the Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist, GS-10: Experience
• At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled
• Example of GS-09 Experience: Employees at this level serve as staff TRTs at the full performance level independently carrying out most procedures which have varying assignments, including advanced treatment modalities and procedures
• Assignments at this level include but not limited to providing emergency treatment delivery, simple Monitor Unit dose calculation as assigned
• scheduling simulation and treatment procedures
• handling and storing radioactive materials
• educating patient, family and staff on the administration of ionizing radiation
• inspecting equipment for safety, operability and troubleshooting basic problems and machine issues
• Assignment: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity, range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Employees at this level serve as advanced staff TRTs independently carrying out procedures which have varying assignments
• This includes basic and advanced treatment modalities and procedures, which exceed the full performance level
• Employee will be assigned the responsibility of emergency on-call treatments, if applicable, and perform simple Monitor Unit calculations
• Other assignments include but, are not limited to performing CT simulations, troubleshooting for basic problems and machine issues, maintaining treatment rooms and equipment in a clean, neat and safe condition and assisting patients to and from the treatment room
• Regardless of the nature of the specific assignment, the work must be of sufficient scope and complexity to meet the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform at this level
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Candidates must demonstrate all the KSAs below: Skill in independently performing machine warm up procedures and interpreting output levels compared with established thresholds adhering to the principles of radiation safety and all aspects of quality assurance
• Ability to independently perform patient chart reviews using an electronic medical record and the Record and Verify System or other similar treatment delivery systems
• Ability to independently perform all basic and complex CT simulations, including independently operating the CT equipment, following directives, designing custom immobilization for reproducible set-ups, obtaining optimal imaging, completing accurate data transfer for treatment planning and providing accurate and precise patient documentation
• Ability to utilize a Linac's On Board Imaging system to interpret complex images
• Preferred Experience: Prefers applicant to have 5 years' experience in radiation therapy, but new graduates are also encouraged to apply
• A bachelor of science degree in radiation therapy 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 GS-10
• Physical Requirements: Heavy Lifting and carrying (50lbs.), straight pulling/pushing, hand-over-hand pushing (2 hours), reaching above shoulder level, use of fingers and both hands required, walking/standing/crawling (5 hours), repeated bending (3 hours), ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of color, emotional and mental stability.