Clarification from the agency

1st Priority will go to internal to current hiring facility federally employed applicants. 2nd Priority will go to status applicants such as veterans with preference or other current or previous federal employees. 3rd Priority will go to all other applicants. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Ability to recognize improper packaging of radioactive material and take appropriate actions.
• Ability to perform radiopharmaceutical preparation. Familiarity with hot lab procedures.
• Ability to develop new protocols for imaging procedures.
• Flexibility to handle a decrease in staffing or increase in workload.
• Ability to coordinate workload with other technologists to maintain efficient functioning of the clinic.
• Receive and interpret requests for procedures. Evaluate the suitability of the procedure requests and obtain physician review if request is thought to be inappropriate.
• Selects, performs, evaluates and monitors the performance of test procedures using manual and/or instrumental techniques in accordance with established protocols.
• Performs and monitors special studies including liver, brain, bone, lung, cardiovascular, and endocrine studies, and assists physician with radiopharmaceutical therapies (i.e., Lu-177 Dotatate, Iodine-131, Samarium-153, Strontium-89, Yttrium-90 Zevalin, and Radium-223). Studies include planar-single-photon imaging, SPECT, SPECT/CT, and PET/CT scans. CT training and credentialing is preferred.
• Demonstrates practical knowledge and skill in the use of ancillary equipment with an understanding of how the results will affect the study outcome. Operates, maintains, calibrates, standardizes, and adjusts instruments. Verifies correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks and monitoring. Identifies the cause of common problems and makes simple corrections.
• Knowledge of CT and/or MR techniques utilized in quality control and acquisition parameters.
• Responsible for the generation and verification of laboratory results and transfer of data from the work area into the imaging Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS).

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 identification 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.

• 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.

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.
• Certification. All applicants must be certified in nuclear medicine technology by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) or the American Registry of Radiologic Technology (ARRT) (N). NMTCB or ARRT (N) certification eligibility requirements are normally satisfied by one of the following:
  • Completion of a NMTCB-recognized nuclear medicine technology program, OR
  • Completion of a nuclear medicine technology program accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT), or other accrediting agencies as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), culminating in a certificate, associate, baccalaureate, or master's degree. Educational programs must have structured clinical training sufficient to provide clinical competency in radiation safety, instrumentation, clinical procedures, and radio-pharmacy, as deemed acceptable by the NMTCB.
• Exceptions. Non-certified applicants, who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for NMTCB or ARRT (N) certification, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate NMT under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 (a)(1)(D). Failure to obtain certification [within 1 year from the date of appointment] is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. This may result in termination of employment.
  • Failure to Obtain Credential. In all cases, NMTs must actively pursue meeting certification requirements starting from the date of their appointment. Failure to become certified within 1 year from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0601 NMT occupation and may result in termination of employment.]
  • Loss of Credential. [Once certified, NMTs must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted certification. Loss of credential will result in removal from the GS-0601 NMT occupation and may result in termination of employment.] For occupations which require an active certification at all grade levels, at the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation for which he/she qualifies if a placement opportunity exists. For occupations which require an active credential (licensure/certification/registration) in assignments above the journey level only, at the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may remain at an appropriate lower grade level in the occupation when both of the following apply: the credential is not a requirement and a placement opportunity exists.
• English Language Proficiency. [NMTs] must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, of this part.

• Experience. For assignments above the journey level, the candidate must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level (GS-9).
  • Ability to document excessive radiation exposure in the working environment.
  • Knowledge of medical events requiring documentation and the ability to properly document them and make recommendations to the radiation safety officer (RSO).
  • Ability to communicate orally and in writing post iodine-131 therapy radiation safety precautions.
  • Ability to troubleshoot gamma camera and auxiliary equipment problems.
  • Ability to analyze computer generated data for technical quality and artifacts and initiate corrective measures.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical GS-11 grade KSAs:
  • Ability to produce and assess high quality fusion and quality control images using independent judgement to recognize abnormal or unacceptable results.
  • Practical knowledge and skill in the use of ancillary equipment with an understanding of how the results will affect the study outcome.
  • Knowledge of physiologic processes as they relate to altered radiopharmaceutical uptake and/or artefactual findings.
  • Knowledge of CT and/or MR radiographic techniques utilized in quality control and acquisition parameters.
  • Ability to recognize and correct fusion imaging system errors.

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; 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.

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.