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
• Are you proficient in spoken and written English, as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d)? You must meet the basic education requirements of the position as stated below: (1) Associates or higher degree in the biomedical technology or biomedical engineering field
• OR (2) Associates or higher degree in electronics, a field of information technology, or engineering (other than biomedical engineering) AND 1 year of creditable experience
• OR (3) Completion of the Department of Defense (DOD) biomedical equipment technician training program
• OR (4) Completion of a DOD training program in repair and maintenance of electronic systems or information technology AND 1 year of creditable experience
• OR (5) Completion of a biomedical engineering technician or Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) certificate program that included an internship or apprenticeship
• OR (6) Completion of biomedical engineering technician or HTM certificate program that did not include an internship AND 1 year of creditable experience
• OR (7) Hold or having ever held certification as a Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET), Certified Radiology Equipment Specialist (CRES), Certified Laboratory Equipment Specialist (CLES), or Certified Healthcare Technology Manager (CHTM)
• Continuous maintenance of certification is not required throughout VHA employment
• Creditable Experience
• To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with current health care industry and required using knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) directly applicable to the assignment and associated within the scope of the BESS profession
• Experience is only creditable if it was acquired in the health care industry and is either directly related to the position to be filled or a related field (for example, Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist, Biomedical Equipment Technician, Field Service Engineer, Medical Equipment Repairer, or Information Technology (IT) Specialist)
• Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid or non-paid employment as a BESS
• Grade Determinations: To qualify for the GS-12 level, Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade that demonstrates the core competencies as described below
• (a) Knowledge of imaging principles including techniques, technologies, radiological practices, and procedures
• (b) Knowledge of HL7 and DICOM standards
• (c) Skill in applying standards for safe operation of medical equipment and clinical systems including National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Nuclear Radiation Commission (NRC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Joint Commission (TJC), and the American College of Radiology (ACR)
• (d) Ability to resolve complex failures on imaging equipment and clinical systems
• (e) Ability to perform advanced testing to troubleshoot imaging equipment and clinical system interfaces
• 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: In accordance with VA Handbook 5019.