Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This job is open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees, current permanent Federal employees of other agencies, and all US Citizens.

NOTE: Starting and ending salaries will vary based on location requested. Minimum salary will be the lowest step 1 salary of the applicable pay tables and max will be the highest step 10 salary rate of the pay tables.

This is an open continuous announcement. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available. Applications will remain on file until April 30, 2026.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

The duties of the Medical Records Technician (Cancer Registrar) includes, but is not limited to:

• Read and comprehend detailed and complex medical information from patient medical records (computer system).
• Information to code meets regulatory agencies and state requirements and includes malignant and/or benign disease information including topography; morphology; laterality; SEER Extent of Disease; TNM stage; date, source and basis of diagnosis; grade (differentiation); date and type of treatment received prior to MEDVAMC registration; date, type and disposition of treatment received at MEDVAMC; last contact date; vital status; source, place and cause of death; quality of life and disease status at 4 months after registration; non- neoplastic condition that affect treatment; and referral diagnosis. .
• Maintains clinical registries and work to meet the standards of regulatory and accrediting agencies related to approved cancer and/or other programs requiring registries.
• Adheres to the guidelines set forth by the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) in the Registry Operations and Data Standards (ROADS), the AJCC Staging Manual International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICDO), ICD-9, and SEER Surgical Codes when coding tumor registry abstracts.
• Independently codes a wide variety of medical diagnostic, therapeutic, and surgical procedures.
• Analyzes the consistency of abstracting of registry data, cancer diagnosis, and histology, treatment (including surgical procedures, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal therapy and radiation therapy.)
• Code minimum number of charts based on time on the job with an error rate that falls within the departmental guidelines.
• Assist in developing, implementing policies and procedures to process, document, store and retrieve medical record information conforming to Federal, State and local statutes.
• Review abstracting/coding to ensure accuracy and communicate any discrepancies to the supervisor.
• Responsible for maintaining the security and integrity of the administrative and clinical records in the possession of the cancer registry.

This announcement is being used to fill a variety of positions across 8 Veterans Affairs Medical facilities located in Alexandria, LA, Biloxi, MS, Fayetteville, AR, Houston, TX, Jackson, MS, Little Rock, AR New Orleans, LA, and Shreveport, LA. Applicants may select the location(s) they wish to be considered in the application. Exact duties and expectations will be discussed during the interview process.

Work Schedule: Work schedules may vary based on the location requested and needs of the service. Tour of duty is 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 When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
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 #: Will vary based on the location selected
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• 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

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. MRT (Cancer Registrar) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Experience and Education.
  • (1) Experience. One year of experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology and general understanding of the health record. Six months of the required one year of experience must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) needed to perform MRT work. OR,
  • (2) Education. Two years above high school with a minimum of 12 semester hours directly related to MRT work (e.g., courses in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and introduction to health records). Transcripts must be submitted if qualified by education. OR,
  • (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. The following educational/training substitutions are appropriate for combining education and experience:
    • (a) Six months of experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology and general understanding of the health record and one year above high school with a minimum of six semester hours of health information technology courses.
    • (b) Successful completion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or hospital training obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces or the U.S. Maritime Service under close medical and professional supervision. Training may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to six months of experience, provided the training program included courses in anatomy, physiology, and medical record techniques and procedures. The position requires six additional months of experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology and general understanding of the health record.

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:
MRT (Cancer Registrar), GS-4.
Experience or Education. None beyond basic requirements.

MRT (Cancer Registrar), GS-5.
Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level or successful completion of four years of education above high school from an accredited college or university with a minimum of 24 semester hours in health information technology.
AND,
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Ability to utilize health information technology and various office software products utilized in MRT (Cancer Registrar) positions (e.g., the electronic health record, coding and abstracting software, release of information systems, etc.).
(b) Knowledge of the Joint Commission requirements, [Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services], Commission on Cancer, and American College of Surgeons (ACoS) guidance and/or health record documentation guidelines.
(c) Ability to manage priorities and coordinate work to complete duties within required timeframes and ability to follow-up on pending issues.

MRT (Cancer Registrar), GS-6.
Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower level.
AND,
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of medical terminology to understand the content of the medical record.
(b) Knowledge of anatomy and physiology to understand the location of the cancer.
(c) Ability to operate computerized programs to review documentation within the electronic medical record.
(d) Ability to notify appropriate parties and organize all required documentation to ensure complete case presentation at tumor boards.

MRT (Cancer Registrar), GS-7.
Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
AND,
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of pathophysiology to understand the spread of the cancer disease process.
(b) Ability to analyze the electronic health record and enter appropriate data into the OncoTrax cancer registry software abstract.
(c) Knowledge of ACoS standards regarding tumor boards, including clinical staging, prognostic indicators, clinical guidelines, and clinical trials availability.

MRT (Cancer Registrar), GS-8.
Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
AND,
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of professional registry operations.
(b) Knowledge of medical terminology, staging of cancer, and requirements of internal and external approving organizations.
(c) Knowledge of the cancer committee processes and procedures to improve patient care and verify compliance with ACoS and/or facility standards.
(d) Ability to serve as a subject matter expert on cancer programs for the medical center.
(e) Skill in utilizing electronic health records and cancer registry software.

Preferred Experience: Preferred experience will be determined by the service for the location in which you apply and will be discussed at the interview.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS4 to GS8.

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, puling, 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.

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:
Internal, VA Nationwide, Other federal (if applicable), VHA HPTs (if applicable), all other US Citizens.

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
• 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.

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 more than one year old; or
• SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date 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
• 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.

Next steps

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