Duties
If you are not a current, permanent VA employee or Federal employee from another agency, you should apply under CBST-12924928-26-JA.
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional
Duties include (but are not limited to):
- Explains procedures and protocols to patients to insure patient comfort for optimal sleep recording tests.
- Operates polysomnographic recording instruments to obtain an electroencephalographic record of the patient sleep, Recognizes and annotates normal sleep stages respiratory events, sleep movements, nocturnal seizure, parasomnias and REM behavior disorders.
- Conduct respiratory related treatment with nasal continuous positive pressure (PAP) in patients per sleep laboratory protocol or as instructed by the physician.
- Completes patient assessments through direct contact, charts reviews and other means as appropriate and share the information with health care team members.
- Responsible for selecting and adapting equipment and techniques to individual patients to comply with the physician's instructions.
- Collects, analyzes and integrates patient information to identify and meet the patient-specific needs.
- Prepares and calibrates Nocturnal and Home Sleep Testing equipment required for testing to determine proper functioning and adjust if necessary.
- Performs appropriate physiologic calibrations to ensure proper signals and makes adjustments if necessary.
- Follows procedural protocols for Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT), adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV), and parasomnia studies, PAP, oxygen titration and Inspire ® Device Activation, etc. Inspire device titration to ensure collection of appropriate data.
Work Schedule: Intermittent; subject to change based on the needs of the facility
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
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: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 580-02133-F; 580-02134-F; 580-02118-F; 580-02119-F; 580-02120-F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Requirements
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: Citizenship of the United States. (Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
- Education. There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation. Education may be substituted for experience only at the GS-4 and GS-5 levels. See the grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutions.
- Licensure or Certification. Licensure or Certification is not required for this occupation; however, it is strongly desirable at GS-6 or above as evidence of possession of the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities. For certain functional areas at the higher levels or supervisory assignments, specific certifications appropriate to the specialty are indicated in this standard under "Titles and Certification/Registrations".
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:
Medical Instrument Technician (Trainee), GS-4
Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled. Six months of this experience may have been in medically related fields such as nursing assistant, practical nursing, or similar fields. The remaining six months must have been in operating diagnostic and therapeutic equipment covered by this occupation. Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited at this level.
OR
Education. Successful completion of two years of education above high school or an associate's degree with a major field of study directly related to the medical instrument technician occupation.
In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Knowledge of basic medical terminology.
- Ability to learn the components, operating characteristics, and settings of the equipment to be used.
- Ability to learn typical patient reactions to the basic procedures involved and ability to recognize signs of distress.
- Ability to learn the standard positions for the procedure being conducted.
- Ability to communicate orally and in writing.
Medical Instrument Technician (Trainee), GS-5
Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled. This would be experience in operating equipment related to the particular specialization for which application is made or in related functional areas. Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited through this grade level.
OR
Education. Successful completion of 4 academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation, or a bachelor's degree in a major field of study appropriate to medical instrument technician function.
In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Knowledge of standard medical terminology to interpret physician orders or instructions.
- Knowledge of common physical disabilities and ability to position patients for the examination or treatment.
- Ability to learn the normal and abnormal results for routine procedures to recognize and report obvious abnormalities.
- Ability to operate the equipment to administer routine/standard diagnostic treatment or procedures.
- Ability to perform standard operator maintenance on the equipment including the ability to disassemble, clean, reassemble, and calibrate the machine.
Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography), GS-6
Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled.
In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Knowledge of standard, computerized polysomnographs for recording continuous all night physiological data including EEG, EOG, EKG, EMG and respiratory parameters.
- Knowledge of standard devices such as oximeters, respiratory effort devices, nasal pressure devices, thermistors, thermocouples, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, and laboratory computers including the ability to calibrate and operate the equipment and recognize and eliminate recording artifacts.
- Knowledge of medical terminology and medical record organization to review medical records, sleep study orders, consent forms, medical charts, etc.
- Knowledge of polysmnographic procedural protocols (including overnight sleep studies, MSLT, MWT, PAP, etc.).
- Knowledge of basic anatomy and physiology and the international 10-20 electrode placement system in order to conduct the sleep studies.
Certification. No certification or registration is required at this level. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is desirable.
Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography), GS-7
Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled. This would be experience which provided the individual with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to independently conduct difficult but standardized polysomnography examinations.
In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Knowledge of CPAP function and operation to select and fit appropriate PAP patient interface devices.
- Ability to independently titrate and document PAP level to achieve therapeutic goals.
- Knowledge of indications, complications, and contraindications of CPAP therapy.
- Knowledge of Bi-Level pressure titrations.
- Ability to recognize changes seen during the PSG tracing and identify all stages of sleep. This includes the ability to score and analyze sleep stages in clinical polysomnography recordings.
Certification. No certification or registration is required. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is desirable.
Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography), GS-8
Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled. This would be experience which provided a knowledge of the more complex procedures as well as knowledge of the uncommon and/or rare sleep disorders.
In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Advanced knowledge or the International Classification of Sleep Disorders and the ability to recognize uncommon and/or rare sleep disorders.
- Ability to summarize and report polysomnographic data in narrative form.
- Knowledge of event characteristics (e.g., respiratory, cardiac, sleep stage, seizures, etc.) and ability to take appropriate action.
- Ability to provide briefings and orientation to hospital staff including physicians.
Certification. No certification or registration is required. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable for employees at this level.
Qualifications continued in Education section below.
Education
Qualifications Continued:
Preferred Experience:
- Follows the practice and parameters of sleep testing as per Sleep Lab guidelines.
- Follows policies and procedures for Home Sleep Testing per Sleep Lab guidelines.
- Able to cover for call ins / vacation with appropriate lead times and work nights and weekends.
- Selecting and adapting equipment and techniques to individual patients to comply with the physician's instructions.
- Collect, analyze and integrate patient information to identify and meet the patient-specific needs.
- Prepares and calibrates Nocturnal and Home Sleep Testing equipment required for testing to determine proper functioning and adjust if necessary.
- Apply electrodes and sensors according to accepted published standards.
- Perform appropriate physiologic calibrations to ensure proper signals and adjust if necessary.
- Perform positive airway pressure (PAP) mask fitting.
- Follow procedural protocols for Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT), adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV), and Parasomnia studies, PAP, oxygen titration and Inspire ® Device Activation, etc.
- Inspire device titration to ensure collection of appropriate data.
- Follow lights out procedures to establish and document baseline values (such as body position, oxyhemoglobin saturation, respiratory and heart rates, etc.).
- Completes all medical record documentation in CPRS within prescribed time frames.
- Scores sleep/wake stages by applying professionally accepted guidelines.
- Score clinical events such as respiratory events, cardiac events, limb movements, arousals etc. according to center specific protocols. Able to do Cardio-Pulmonary scoring for Home Sleep Testing.
- Generate accurate reports by tabulating sleep/wake and clinical event data.
- Able to properly explain the hookup process for Home Sleep Testing to patients.
- Maintains the cleanliness of all equipment with manufacturer recommended cleaning methods.
- Maintains Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification
- Proven experience as Sleep Technologist
- Experience using medical records and databases
- Good knowledge of Sleep terminology
- Outstanding communication and customer service ability
- Excellent organizational and multi-tasking skills
- Team player
- RPSGT Registration
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-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-04 to GS08.
Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.
Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here:
http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:
https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Additional information
Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:
- Current permanent VA employees of the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
- All other VA employees
- Current Permanent Federal employees of other agencies
- VHA HPTs (if applicable)
- All other applicants
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.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
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.
Resume Requirement: Your resume must include the following information: Job title, description of duties, beginning and ending date (month/year) of employment, and average hours worked per week.SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Eligibility):
- Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
- Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
- Promotions with an effective date no more than one year old; or
- SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date no more than one year old.
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 (VA)
- CV/Resume
- Professional Certification
- Resume
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
- Transcript
Selections from this announcement will be made without regard to Veterans' preference in accordance with OCHCO Bulletin dated 9/25/2025.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.