Summary The Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist will perform CT treatment planning scans for treatment planning/tumor localization, compensators, and customized patient immobilization devices. This achieved using a CT scanner. Deliver the prescribed therapeutic radiation for the purpose cancer therapy. These treatments are performed by operating a Linear Accelerator. The incumbent will be expected to give oversight, training and encouragement to lower grade therapists or newly hired therapists. Responsibilities Major Duties: Schedules treatments in a manner as to optimize accelerator times while maintaining flexibility for emergency cases. Performs quality control for the treatment machines by taking recorded readings every morning prior to patient treatments using the dosimetry verification and record system for each energy level. Identifies individual patient by the required identification methods set forth by hospital policy and departmental procedures before simulation and each daily radiation treatment is delivered. Has the knowledge of consultations, simulation, and treatment planning and treatments procedures. Ability to determine the appropriate timely sequence for patient studies and any special orders required. Verifies patient consent prior to initiating CT simulation. Prepares required contrast materials that are to be used for treatment simulations. Ensures proper use and administration of contrast materials to avoid the risk of patient morbidity and mortality, therefore it is essential that the therapist has a thorough understanding of contrast material usage. Ability to recognized abnormalities in relevant lab procedures and notifies appropriate staff. Properly operates CT simulator and provides reproducible patient treatment position set ups that can be accurately used for daily treatments to the Linear Accelerator. Understands the computer operations to ensure proper control of computer patient data input for accuracy of data output and of complex computer applications relating to treatment planning. Verifies patient's treatment area daily in the treatment machine vault. Performs simulation verification before prescribed treatment. Accurately reproduces initial simulation set-up, with proper patient positioning, immobilizing devices, ensure proper alignment and quality treatment. Employs any necessary accessory beam restriction devices, i.e., wedges, bolus, collimator angles, or cerro bend blocks for fields to be treated. Maintains treatment rooms and equipment in a clean, neat, and safe condition at all times, as well as ensures appropriate supply availability. Follows guidelines for storing and cleaning patient immobilization devices. Providing the patients with accurate and compassionate treatment. To communicate both orally and in writing with patients. Participates in reviewing, revising, or authoring policies and procedures as needed or assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 512-24146-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. 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. Education. Individuals must have successfully completed a program in therapeutic radiologic technology, evidenced by a certificate or an associate's or higher degree accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology or other accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the subsequent completion of a 12-month ED accrediting body-approved program in therapeutic radiologic technology. 4 Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 C.F.R. Part 75. They must have successfully completed an educational program meeting or exceeding the standards described in that regulation and is accredited by an organization recognized by the ED, and be radiation therapists certified by the ARRT in Radiation Therapy (T). Certification. All applicants must be certified in therapeutic radiologic technology by the ARRT in Radiation Therapy (ARRT (T)). (1) All applicants must be certified in therapeutic radiologic technology by the ARRT in Radiation Therapy (ARRT (T)). English Language Proficiency. TRTs must be proficient in spoken and written English. See 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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). Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration 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 to it, the following provisions apply: 1. Employees in an occupation not requiring a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted or demoted within the occupation. 2. Employees in an occupation requiring a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level, 5 or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. 3. Employees in an occupation requiring a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher-grade levels. 4. 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 basic requirements of the standard. 5. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. Grade Determinations: Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist, GS-10 Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled. Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist, GS-10 KSA's: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate all the KSAs below: Skill in independently performing machine warm up procedures and interpreting output levels compared with established thresholds adhering to the principles of radiation safety and all aspects of quality assurance. Ability to independently perform patient chart reviews using an electronic medical record and the Record and Verify System or other similar treatment delivery systems. Ability to independently perform all basic and complex CT simulations, including independently operating the CT equipment, following directives, designing custom immobilization for reproducible set-ups, obtaining optimal imaging, completing accurate data transfer for treatment planning and providing accurate and precise patient documentation. Ability to utilize a Linac's On Board Imaging system to interpret complex images. Preferred Experience: Varian's ARIA OIS; Varian Edge linear accelerator; Siemens SOMOTOM go. OPEN Pro CT Simulator using IV contrast and RGC-4-D Respiratory Gating Camera; treatment ,modalities: electrons, 3-D, VMAT, SRS, SBRT; imaging techniques: 3-D, CBCT, Varian's Identify System; ASTRO's APeX Accreditation Standards ; Daily QA; SunCheck Machine Platform. 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-10. Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019 Education 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 "Whole Health is an approach to health care that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their life to the fullest. The VA is committed to Whole Health and values Veteran and Employee health and wellbeing. As a VA employee, you will practice Whole Health in an environment that supports personalized and proactive care." Receiving Service Credit or 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.
