Qualifications

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 American Registry of Radiologic Technology (ARRT)
• NMTCB or ARRT (N) certification eligibility requirements are normally satisfied by one of the following: graduation from an educational program in nuclear medicine technology accredited by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation
• or national certification as a registered medical technologist or registered radiologic technologist
• or a bachelor's or associate's degree in one of the physical or biological sciences, and 4 years of clinical NMT experience
• English Language Proficiency: [NMTs] must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part
• Grade Determination: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: GS-11: Experience: At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-9) directly related to the position being filled that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level
• i.e., experience that demonstrates possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics needed to provide Nuclear Medicine Technology services at that level which include: 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 therapeutic 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
• In addition to the experience listed above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSA's: Ability to produce and assess high quality scans and quality control images using independent judgement to recognize abnormal or unacceptable results
• Knowledge and skill in 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
• Ability to obtain, assess, and document pre-therapy patient preparation information and provide post-therapy patient education following proper administration of advanced therapy dose
• Ability to develop new protocols for imaging procedures
• Ability to analyze instances of increased radiation exposure levels and recommend measures to reduce
• Ability to analyze consequences of improper packaging of radioactive material and take appropriate actions
• References: VA Handbook 5005/125, Part II, Appendix G19
• For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position requires the ability to do the following: Heavy lifting (45lbs and over), moderate carrying (15-44lbs), pushing, use of fingers, use of both hands, walking (up to 8hrs), standing (up to 8hrs), repeated bending (up to 8hrs), ability to distinguish basic colors, emotional/mental stability
• Environmental factors include: exposure to radiant energy, slippery or uneven walking surfaces, working closely with others and/or working alone.