Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist

VA Careers - Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist:

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional
This occupational series may be eligible for the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP). Repayment is limited to $40000 annually up to $100000 in lifetime awards. Participants must sign a three-year service agreement and maintain an acceptable level of performance to remain eligible for this program. Contact for more information.

Duties consist but are not limited to the following:

• Receives patients explains the procedures positions the patient and makes necessary equipment adjustments.
• Determines the critical isocenter value necessary for accurate exams.
• Confers with cardiologists to establish requirements for non-standard examinations and determine technical factors positioning and proper angulation to achieve optimum views of specific vessels and/or lesions.
• Makes adjustments to equipment such as frame rates exposure time kV mAs settings shutter openings cardiac shielding magnification factors source-intensifier distance etc.
• Performs proper calibrations on pressure transducer to maintain the accuracy of arterial and venous pressure tracings.
• Prepares radiological ultrasound and specialized equipment used in electrophysiology angiographic and angioplasty procedures.
• Recognizes changes in patients conditions including emergencies.
• Calculates ventricular function coronary sizing and percent stenosis.
• Practices radiation safety to reduce exposure to patients staff and self.
• Is current on the practice for removal of indwelling arterial and venous sheaths and the achievement of hemostasis post procedure
• other duties as assigned

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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers 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.

• 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.

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.
• 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 modalities that require advanced certification to support their continued development technologists who do not possess an advanced certification may be provided on the job training with oversight from a certified radiologic technologist.
• 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) or from other accrediting agencies as recognized by the Department of Education (DOE).
  • Credentialing Standards. Public Law 97-35 the Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act of 1981 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75 Standards for the Accreditation of Educational Programs and the Credentialing of Radiographic Personnel. Essentially they must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation and is accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and be certified as radiographers in their field.
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
• English Language Proficiency. DRTs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).

• Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-8) directly related to the position being filled that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level.
• Knowledge Skills and Abilities: 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.