Clarification from the agency

Open to all US Citizens. Current permanent Washington DC VA Medical Center and Veterans Health Administration employees should apply under CBTF-12902031-26-DM. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Videos

The incumbent works in the Neuromodulation Clinic in Mental Health Service.

Major Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Preparing the TMS or other device, depending on the device, this includes, but is not limited to powering-on the device, attaching the proper magnetic coils to the device, attaching protective covering to the coil or other device components. Screening patients or and, if necessary and appropriate, assisting them with removal of worn metal (e.g., jewelry, clothing and clothing fasteners, hearing aids) that could compromise patient safety or interfere with the neuromodulation targeting and delivery. This is done in a location distal from the neural modulation device prior to positioning patients in it.
• Positioning patients properly and comfortably in accordance with the neuromodulation device configuration.
• Providing patients with hearing protection (earplugs) and ensuring that they are worn properly.
• Positioning the neuromodulation device (e.g., its electromagnet coil) properly over the prescribed and anatomic target as determined by the Neuromodulation Clinic Attending Psychiatrist or qualified designee.
• Activating the device to deliver neuromodulation in accordance with the prescribed "dosage" as determined by the Neuromodulation Clinic Attending Psychiatrist or qualified designee.
• Providing eyes-on monitoring of the patient and the device during neuromodulation delivery for possible adverse events or problems arising due to the device itself, coil placement, or unexpected problems. This requires knowledge acquired during training in potential problems and warning signs.
• Pressing the stop button on the machine and ability to alert the TMS Physician as needed whenever issues arise.
• Assisting patients out of the neuromodulation device after the completion of treatment.
• Giving patients a questionnaire so they can fill out a self-answered questionnaire.
• Providing medical record review informed by basic knowledge of the absolute contradictions to TMS or other neuromodulation therapy, including seizure disorders and metal in the head.
• Provides scheduling support to the Neuromodulation Clinic. This includes scheduling veterans for neuromodulation therapy and reminding new veterans of upcoming dates for their treatment.
• Providing supervised operational support for the Neuromodulation Clinic.
• Monitoring clinic supplies (e.g., Neuro-Star, Sen-Star Pads, earplugs, Magstim Components, etc.), ensuring at least quarterly reviews of available supplies and coordination with inventory management.
• Listening to voicemails daily prior to the start of the clinic day.

Work Schedule: 9:00am - 5:00pm, Monday - Friday
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000002, 000003
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this 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.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial 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 trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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. There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation. Education may be substituted for experience only at the GS-4 and GS-5 levels. See the grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutions.
• Licensure or Certification. Licensure or Certification is not required for this occupation; however, it is strongly desirable at GS-6 or above as evidence of possession of the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities. For certain functional areas at the higher levels or supervisory assignments, specific certifications appropriate to the specialty are indicated in this standard under "Titles and Certification/Registrations".

NOTE: For all specialties identified in this standard, Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications are desirable. Training which does not result in official certification does not meet this definition.

• English Language Proficiency. Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a

Grade Determinations:
Medical Instrument Technician-EEG, GS-07 Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level. This would be experience which provided knowledge of advanced specialized procedures, the pharmacology related to this occupation, and knowledge of related acute disorders and diseases and their effects on organs and methods of treatment. (GS-06) Experience: Operates and monitors EEG equipment in the EEG Lab, intensive care units, operating room, and the patient's bedside. Performs a full range of standard, routine EEG examinations including routine awake and sleep recordings, electrocerebral silence recordings, multiple sleep latency recordings, intraoperative monitoring, electrocorticography. Performs nerve conduction studies using electromyography equipment. Prepares recordings for interpretation and performs a preliminary review and interpretation of the recordings. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the GS-06 following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk:

1. Knowledge of basic medical terminology, neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and EEG interpretation.
2. Ability to position patients for the examination or treatment including using standard alternate positions for patient with common physical disabilities.
3. Ability to operate the appropriate EEG equipment to administer routine, standardized diagnostic or treatment procedures.
4. Knowledge of normal and abnormal results to recognize and report obvious abnormalities during procedures.
5. Knowledge of universal precautions and basic sterilization methods to clean instruments to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
6. Knowledge of EEG and peripheral equipment to conduct routine maintenance and adjustment checks.

Medical Instrument Technician-EEG, GS-08 Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level. This would be experience which provided knowledge of advanced specialized procedures, the pharmacology related to this occupation, and knowledge of related acute disorders and diseases and their effects on organs and methods of treatment. (GS-07) Experience: Independently performs routine but complex procedures and has advanced knowledge in certain areas. They are able to deal with difficult or more complex patients. They are able to identify and correct most artifacts. Procedures are fully explained to the patient and family members to set them at ease. Interpretative skills are sufficient to allow identification of more serious conditions requiring rapid intervention. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the GS-07 following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk:

1. Ability to perform more complex electroencephalography studies such as evoked potential (visual, auditory, somatosensory) and transcranial Doppler studies.
2. Knowledge of medication effects related to electroencephalography studies and clinical situations requiring medication.
3. Knowledge of life threatening or medically emergent testing or patient situations.
4. Ability to recognize artifacts (patient or environmental) and document, eliminate, or take proper measures to monitor the artifact.

Medical Instrument Technician-EEG, GS-08 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

1. Ability to interpret testing data to evaluate critical information for surgeons and other medical staff during testing procedures.
2. Knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the nervous system and the ability to understand the relationship of EEG and evoked potential testing in detecting states of disease and health.
3. Knowledge of behavior assessment during seizure attacks in order to insure adequacy of recordings during seizure discharges.
4. Knowledge of a variety of advanced EEG equipment and peripheral equipment such as equipment for brain mapping, video EEG telemetry systems with seizure detection computers, and spike analysis software.
5. Knowledge of anticonvulsant medications and their effects on the EEG as well as other frequently used pharmaceuticals.
6. Ability to adapt neurodiagnostic devices, parameters, and procedures to complex, unusual, and often critical situations.

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-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07 to GS-08.

Physical Requirements: Physical requirements are those physical, mental, and emotional capabilities, and characteristics that are essential for successful job performance.

How you will be evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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; 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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.