Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This job announcement is open to all US Citizens.

Tulsa (James Mountain Inhofe VAMC) - Tulsa (James Mountain Inhofe VAMC) facility
VA Careers - Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist: https://youtube.com/embed/I-4ku5UMvWM List of major duties and responsibilities for this position:

• The employee performs computerized axial tomographic scanning using both cerebral and whole-body techniques, both routine and helical computerized tomography technology.
• The employee performs difficult and complex computerized axial tomography of the head, abdomen, spine, chest, neck and other areas of interests determined by the physician. Biopsies of the head, neck, chest and abdomen are performed at the direction of the radiologist.
• Receives patients, explains procedures, positions patients and makes exposures necessary for the examination, Schedules patients for examinations. Evaluates the nature of critical and emergency procedures and arranges priorities to accommodate requests.
• The employee must maintain knowledge of physiology and cross sectional anatomy, such as the location, appearance, and function of the various major and minor systems susceptible to radiologic exposure and the physical abnormalities associated with most diseases or lesions which are customarily illustrated by computerized scanning in order to evaluate examination requests accurately, To recognize scans which illustrate the lesion and develop them through control of contrast, density, etc., to optimize their clarity for diagnostic use; To recognize when additional scans or different positions are needed to fully illustrate the lesion.
• Performs computer applications including operation of teletype keyboard input, for the purpose of programming and knowing when to select the various preset programs, e.g., scan, view, transfer, and print. Enters specific patient data into a computer via the digital keyboard and retrieves patient information from the computer to complete the statistical input. This would require registering patients into the VA VISTA/CPRS system, technically. dispositioning the procedure and transferring the medical and radiology records to the proper location.
• The employee has regular access to printed and electronic files containing sensitive data which must be protected under the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws, federal regulations, VA statutes and policy, & DM&S policy.
• The employee will also ensure all exams performed will be stored in the current PAC System. Included in the exam imagery will be the image of total radiation doses for the performed exam/exams. When a new CT procedure is developed, the protocol the employee will program it into the scanner using the equipment manufacturer's CT Dose Index calculation.
• The employee confers with the radiologists to ensure radiation doses to the patients from CT exams are maintained at the safest minimum levels, consistent diagnostic quality of images and meet ALARA recommendations. Establish requirements of nonstandard examinations and determines technical factors, positioning number and thickness cut of scans, etc. to satisfy the requirements.
• The employee will ensure that prior to performing the requested CT exam: the appropriate programmed and selected protocol is used.
• The employee will ensure all CT exam protocols are preprogrammed into the CT equipment and must reflect an overall dosage per exam which is lower than the ACR recommended dose requirements.
• When due to patient condition or unique body habitus, requiring a change to the preprogrammed technical factors or acquisition parameters, the exam will only be performed after consultation with one of our in-house or on-call radiologists.
• The employee prepares all CT requisitions to be reviewed by a radiologist for appropriateness prior to scanning a patient.

Work Schedule: Multiple Shifts
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
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: No
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 51283

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 1 or 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

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. DRTs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and7407(d).
• Certification. All applicants must be certified in general radiologic technology by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology, Radiography (ARRT} (R). Advanced ARRT certification is required for assignments that include computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), [or Mammography (M) duties performed independently, as applicable]. Advanced certification indicates that the incumbent [can operate independently] and has demonstrated specific clinical competency in the appropriate specialty and taken and passed the designated examination.
• Education. Completion of a full-time training course of at least 24 months in duration (or the equivalent) in a post-high school diagnostic radiologic technology program, evidenced by a certificate or an associate degree, accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT}.

Grade Determinations: Computed Tomography (CT). This specialty modality requires specific knowledge of cross sectional human anatomy and its application in spiral, and/or, multi-slice computer tomography, inclusive of 3-D reconstruction scans, including drainages, biopsies, and peripheral vascular examinations. The technologist requires specific knowledge and training in the location, appearance, and function of the various major and minor systems susceptible to radiological illumination; to interpret the examination request accurately; to understand the functioning and inter-relationship of the various organs; to use the methods and techniques which will identify org appearing on the digital display monitor, or on film, and the various stages of the examination to judge the acceptability of the image and/or scan for diagnostic use and to emphasize the aspects of interest to the physician. [DRT assignments that include performance of independent duties in this subspecialty require advanced ARRT certification.]

Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist, GS-9

Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, directly related to the position being filled that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Employees at this level are fully functional as an advanced DRT and carry out their assigned tasks independently. DRTs at this level may have varying assignments including special and complex imaging procedures beyond the full performance level, clinical instruction, and basic QM type duties within the program. Regardless of the nature of the specific assignment, the work must be of sufficient scope and complexity to meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform at this level. The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment-specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*):

• Ability to balance the needs of patients and staff while still performing complex scans and procedures.
• Knowledge of techniques for gathering relevant information from the medical record, significant others, and health care providers.
• Ability to assess factors that may contraindicate the procedure.
• Knowledge of basic first aid and basic life support practices related to radiography.
• Knowledge of physical assessment, aseptic techniques, intravenous methods and techniques and universal precautions.
• Knowledge of pre-procedural, procedural, and post-procedural care of patients.

Preferred Experience: CT tech experience of at least 1 year. Must be ARRT (R) (CT) registered.

This position is being hired above the full performance level at GS-9.

References: VA Handbook 5005/119 PART II APPENDIX G25

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.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume
• Advanced ARRT (CT) Certification
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Transcript

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• Resume
• Advanced ARRT (CT) Certification
• Other (3)
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Next steps