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.
- English Language Proficiency: Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English.
- Experience, Education, or Certification
1. Associates degree in Biomedical Electronics Technology, Biomedical Equipment Technology ~or~
2. Associates or higher degree in electronics, a field of information technology, or engineering (other than biomedical engineering) AND 1 year of creditable experience; ~or~
3. Completion of the Department of Defense (DOD) biomedical equipment technician training program; ~or~
4. Completion of a DOD training program in repair and maintenance of electronic systems or information technology AND 1 year of creditable experience; ~or~
5. Completion of a biomedical engineering technician or Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) certificate program that included an internship or apprenticeship; ~or~
6. Completion of biomedical engineering technician or HTM certificate program that did not include an internship AND 1 year of creditable experience;
7. ) Hold or having ever held certification as a Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET), Certified Radiology Equipment Specialist (CRES), Certified Laboratory Equipment Specialist (CLES), or Certified Healthcare Technology Manager (CHTM). Continuous maintenance of certification is not required throughout VHA employment.
May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).
Grade Determinations:
- GS-5 (Entry Level): None beyond basic requirements.
- GS-7 (Development Level I): Applicants need to have 1 year of creditable experience at the GS-5 level and demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):
- Ability to read, interpret, and apply a great variety of technical data such as schematic drawings, wiring diagrams, table charts, mathematical expressions and formulas.
- Ability to learn equipment maintenance, operating procedures, and repair procedures from training materials and courses.
- Fundamental knowledge of electronics to include analog, digital and microprocessor theory, pneumatics, hydraulics, optics, electro-mechanics, physics, basic networking, and chemistry.
- Knowledge of the use of standard level test equipment to include, but not limited to, multi-meters, electrical safety analyzers, patient simulator, storage oscilloscopes, manometers, tachometers, etc.
- Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, medical equipment, and technology.
- Knowledge of basic networking, computer/server hardware/software and information technologies and computer virus protection software, available software patches and upgrades, and information security tools (i.e. Microsoft Office, Windows operating systems, McAfee, etc.).
- GS-9 (Development level II): Applicants must have one year of creditable experience at the GS-7 level and demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):
- Knowledge of electronics and electricity including analog and intermediate digital electronics to test, calibrate, maintain, and repair biomedical equipment and moderately complex biomedical instrumentation systems.
- Skill in the setup and use of standard and advanced level test equipment to perform precise and detailed analysis of the operating and design characteristics of equipment and initiate repairs, reconfiguration, or redesign of moderately complex medical systems.
- Skill in applying theory, concepts, techniques, design characteristics, operation, and functions to assist and support installation, operation, test, maintenance, repair, design, and modification for a comprehensive range of medical equipment connected to networks or other operating systems.
- Ability to evaluate practical and technical information from manufacturers, contract specifications, manuals, and historical data in order to perform analysis required to make effective recommendations concerning operation, maintenance, and repair of medical equipment.
- Ability to perform testing and troubleshooting of medical devices involving their interfaces and connections to other medical devices, clinical systems, or information systems either directly or through the hospitals hardwired and wireless networks.
- Ability to use application software and hardware as it relates to the operation and diagnostics of medical equipment.
- Knowledge of computer equipment with a wide variety of software to input and retrieve data as required, and to prepare a variety of specific working documents and forms such as spreadsheet, database, word processing, and other similar products.
- GS-11 (Full Performance Level): Applicants must have one years of creditable experience at the GS-9 level. Certification as a Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET), Certified Laboratory Equipment Specialist (CLES), Net+ and A+ are highly desirable at this level but not required. In addition to the experience at the next lower grade level, candidate must and demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):
- Knowledge of a wide range of sciences including, but not limited to, electronics (analog and digital), computer science/networking, mechanical engineering design, pneumatics, hydraulics, chemistry, physiology, medical terminology, anatomy, optics, and biology to perform duties of a broad scope and nature on complex and sophisticated patient-related medical systems and sub-systems.
- Ability to perform advanced testing and troubleshooting of medical devices involving their interfaces and connections to information systems either directly or through the hospitals hardwired and wireless networks.
- Knowledge of codes and standards relevant to safe operation of medical instrumentation such as National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Joint
- Commission (TJC), and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI).
- Skill in the use of all types of test and calibration equipment such as digital multi-meters, electrical safety analyzers, defibrillator analyzers, patient simulators, digital oscilloscopes, pulse generators, and Local Area Network (LAN) analyzers in performing troubleshooting/repair and preventive maintenance activities
- Ability to configure and maintain medical servers and desktop computers.
- Knowledge of contracting regulations, requirements, and specific contract specifications including performance-based contracts.
Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.
References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/95 PART II APPENDIX G49
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-11.
Physical Requirements: Incumbent often will be required to walk and/or stand for extended periods of time. Work is often tedious and precise, requiring good concentration with proper hand-eye coordination. Some climbing and working from ladders may be required. The ability to lift objects up to 40 pounds is required.