Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.205) for this occupation.

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Duties will include, but may not be limited to the following:

• Conducts patient assessments, assesses severity of illness/injury and identifies life threatening problems.
• Determines/prioritizes appropriate medical treatment/procedures and need for additional assistance.
• EMTs shall perform patient triage, take and records patient's vital signs as needed.
• Performs physical examinations and obtains patient history, assesses status of patient's neurological system, cardiovascular system, circulatory system, skeletal system, orthopedic system, motor and sensory skills, and level of consciousness.
• Administers basic life support care at emergency scene in accordance with established medical standards, which may include providing CPR, and/or drug treatments. Performs invasive and non-invasive procedures on patients with life threatening and non-life-threatening conditions.
• Operates or utilizes various emergency vehicles and emergency/medical equipment, tools and supplies which may include ambulance, extrication tools, blood pressure cuff, AED, glucose monitor, oxygen terminal, pulse oximetry monitor, medical supplies, radio communications equipment, and general office equipment.
• Provides treatment as prescribed in protocol.
• When not responding to Emergency Response Team calls, the incumbent may serve in a technical support capacity to the Emergency Department.
• Selects the most efficient route to and from sites, taking into consideration traffic patterns, health facility locations, etc. EMTs operate emergency transport vehicle and uses telephone and radio communications equipment and systems.
• Adheres to traffic ordinances and regulations pertaining to operation of emergency vehicles. EMTs prepare appropriate patient and vehicle use documentation and reports to ensure medical requirements are met.
• Provides a thorough safety inspection and operator maintenance (e.g., monitoring fluid levels, replacing air filters and interior lights, checking tire pressure, etc.).
• Responsible for taking patients to and from medical areas.
• Assists in lifting and carrying patients into or out of transport vehicles and into treatment facility.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

A current, valid stated driver's license is required for this position.

Condition of continued employment: EMT shall obtain certification as a National Registered Emergency Medical Technician (EMT Basic) no later than (NLT) 18 months after employment as condition of continued employment with VA.

Work Schedule: Work rotating shifts, including holidays, and are subject to occasional recall to maintain adequate coverage of the Emergency Department and ambulance service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Mandatory overtime may be required due to run times that may extend beyond normal scheduled work hours.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Medical Care Transportation Technician- EMT/PD99774S
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/09/2025.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

English Language Proficiency Requirements: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to perform the duties of this position.

~AND~

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR (SCREEN-OUT) - THREE Selective Placement Factors (SPF) have been identified for this position. Selective Placement Factors (SPF) are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for the position. Applicants who do not meet the SPF are ineligible for further consideration.

1. Must possess a valid/current state issued license/certification for eligibility for employment (EMT).
2. Must possess and maintain current Basic Life Support Provider (BLS) Certification. (CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED to receive credit for further consideration).
3. Possess a valid and unrestricted state driver's license. (Please DO NOT provide driver's license. We may not accept pictures. This requirement will be verified during interview).

In addition to the English Language Proficiency and Selective Placement Factor above, to qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must meet one of the following:

Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-06) in the Federal Service, that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the Medical Care Transportation Technician - EMT. Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes applying skill of body systems (e.g., skeletal, muscular, nervous, respiratory, circulatory) to conduct patient assessments and provide emergency patient medical care; operating emergency vehicles and a variety of emergency/medical equipment, tools, supplies; and using communication techniques and equipment to relay information to and from dispatchers and health care providers.

-OR-

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: Successful completion of one (1) full year of graduate education directly related to the work of this position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. (Transcript Required)

-OR-

COMBINING EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Combination of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. (Transcript Required) NOTE: If you qualify based on a combination, your experience must be documented in your resume and transcripts are required. Education cannot be credited without documentation.


Physical Requirements and Work Environment: The EMT's work involves extended periods of heavy moving and lifting of patients in a variety of situations. Generally, the work requires recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, and positioning of patients, frequently under adverse conditions or in confined areas. EMTs may be required to spend prolonged periods in protective breathing apparatus and protective clothing during chemical, nuclear, biological, or hazardous materials incidents/exercises. On a regular and recurring basis, employee is exposed to infection and contagious diseases, is required to work in all types of weather and traffic conditions and faces risks and discomforts at the scene of accidents, to include the possibility of noxious fumes, dangerous substances, cuts, bruises, etc., requiring the EMT to comply with special safety and health precautions and/or to use protective gear. Work may also expose the EMT to patients who are intoxicated, under the influence of drugs or mentally unstable resulting in belligerent and sometimes violent behavior.


For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position:

• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Reading Comprehension
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

USA Hire Assessments include a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.