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 : Medical Dosimetrists must be proficient in spoken and written English. See 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
Education (
Submit transcript) : Effective January 1, 2017, candidates are required to hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree and graduate from a medical dosimetry program of at least 12 months in duration. The medical dosimetry program must be accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), or other accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. JRCERT is the accrediting agency for the medical dosimetry programs recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. Foreign equivalency evaluation from The Foundation for International Services, Inc. or the International Education Research Foundation is required. Foreign equivalency documentation from any other organization will not be considered.
Certification: All applicants must be certified in medical dosimetry by the MDCB. Certified Medical Dosimetry (CMD) is the recognized credential for Medical Dosimetrists.
NOTE: CMDs who perform therapeutic radiologic technologist duties must also possess ARRT(T) certification and be assigned to a functional statement that combines both types of work.
NOTE: The Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act of 1981, P.L. 97- 35 requires persons who administer Therapeutic Radiological procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 C.F.R. § 75. They must have completed an educational program meeting or exceeding the standards described in that regulation and be accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or be a Radiation Therapist certified in medical dosimetry
Grandfathering Provision. Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply:
- Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to a lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
- Employees in an occupation requiring certification only at higher grade levels must meet the certification requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.
- Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the standard's basic requirements.
- Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave this occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
- Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or certification that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment.
NOTE: This provision is not intended to regularize appointments/ placements.
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: Lead Medical Dosimetrist, GS-12
Experience. At this level, candidates must possess at least one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level and must fully meet the KSAs at that level.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Ability to perform lead duties such as orientation and training for staff, provide input for yearly appraisals, direct progress and coordinate dosimetric work.
- Ability to develop the Quality Improvement Program by evaluating, establishing and implementing departmental policies, standard operating procedures and department compliance with the national program office, radiation accrediting agencies, hospital and outside governing body standards.
- Ability to solve complex technical problems by instructing and providing oversight to lower-level Medical Dosimetrists and trainees with regard to treatment planning, using the Record and Verify System (or other similar systems), using newly acquired equipment and other devices and products within the service.
- Ability to successfully communicate with the radiation oncology team and other internal and external customers to manage patients' needs.
- Ability to provide broad oversight and assist in the application of specific methods of patient and/or treatment planning as directed by Medical Physicists.
DEVIATIONS.
- The establishment of a position and subsequent placement of an individual in a grade or assignment not described in the hybrid title 38 qualification standard must be approved by the Under Secretary for Health or designee prior to placement.
- Under no circumstance will educational requirements necessary to meet basic qualifications or assignment specific educational requirements be waived.
- Under no circumstance will the credential (i.e., license, certification, and/or registration) requirements to meet basic qualifications or assignment specific credentials be waived unless an exception provision is provided in the qualification standard.
- In rare and unusual circumstance(s), the Under Secretary for Health or designee may approve requests for reasonable deviations to the grade determination requirements for an individual whose composite record of experience, accomplishments, performance, and qualifications warrant such action based on demonstrated competence to meet the requirements of the grade and/or assignment.
Preferred Experience: 5 years minimum Senior Dosimetry Experience; Board Certified Dosimetrist; Ray Station TPS; Mosaiq R&V; RadCalc MU Check; MIM Protege AI; Excel; Word; CPRS
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-12.
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.