Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Summary

The Nuclear Medicine Technologist at this level independently performs a wide range of specialized nuclear medicine procedures, including imaging, advanced fusion imaging (PET/CT, SPECT/CT, PET/MR), therapies, quality control, and equipment maintenance while following NRC, DOT, OSHA and related guidelines. Complex, advanced-level assignments are handled at least 25% of the time.

Learn more about this agency

Duties

Help

Major duties include but are not limited to:

• Prepare, assay, and administer radiopharmaceuticals by various routes.
• Insert and manage IV catheters for radiopharmaceuticals/medications.
• Recognize and respond to radiopharmaceutical/medication side effects.
• Receive, explain procedures, position patients, and ensure comfort.
• Gather clinical information from charts, requisitions, and patient interviews.
• Safely move and transfer patients using proper ergonomic methods.
• Operate and perform QC on nuclear medicine imaging and counting equipment.
• Understand and apply exposure rate calculations.
• Perform diagnostic, non-imaging, in-vitro, therapeutic, and advanced SPECT/CT procedures.
• Cross-train and maintain competency in PET/CT as required.
• Analyze images for quality and troubleshoot issues.
• Apply knowledge of 2D and 3D anatomy.
• Correctly identify patients and administer radioactive pharmaceuticals safely.
• Perform radionuclide therapy with physicians, ensuring safety, documentation, and waste handling.
• Prepare complete study documentation for physician interpretation.
• Schedule procedures considering equipment, patient condition, preparation needs, and urgency.
• Safely receive, handle, transport, use, and dispose of radioactive materials per NRC, NHPP, DOT.
• Practice ALARA to keep radiation exposures as low as reasonably achievable.
• Follow all Nuclear Medicine, Medical Center, VISN and Radiation Safety policies.
• Identify potential radiation contamination and act to minimize exposure; notify appropriate staff.
• Calibrate and maintain imaging and counting equipment; troubleshoot and coordinate repairs.
• Participate in Nuclear Medicine research projects.
• Instruct, supervise and evaluate students, new technologists and residents.
• Perform area surveys, wipe tests and bioassays; respond to contamination per ALARA.
• Identify and correct technical artifacts in studies.
• Maintain clean, stocked, and operational work areas; monitor supply levels.
• Support coworkers during difficult cases or heavy workloads; promote teamwork.
• Interact professionally with external regulatory agencies when required.
• Work irregular tours of duty and participate in on-call rotations.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule : Monday - Friday 6:30 a.m - 3:00 p.m. ; 7:00 a.m. - 3:30; 0730 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; Rotating call

Telework : Not Available.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : PD54277F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Requirements

Help

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, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Pre-Employment/Post-Employment Physical Examination: May be required, depending on the needs of the organization.
• 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.
• Certification. All applicants must be certified in nuclear medicine technology by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) or the American Registry of Radiologic Technology (ARRT) (N). NMTCB or ARRT (N) certification eligibility requirements are normally satisfied by one of the following: [(1) Completion of a NMTCB-recognized nuclear medicine technology program, OR (2) Completion of a nuclear medicine technology program accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT), or other accrediting agencies as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), culminating in a certificate, associate, baccalaureate, or master's degree. Educational programs must have structured clinical training sufficient to provide clinical competency in radiation safety, instrumentation, clinical procedures, and radio-pharmacy, as deemed acceptable by the NMTCB.
• English Language Proficiency. Nuclear Medicine Technologists must be proficient in spoken and written English.

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 :

Nuclear Medicine Technologist GS-11:

• Experience. The candidate must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) directly related to the position being filled, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs:
  • Ability to produce and assess high quality scans and quality control images using independent judgement to recognize abnormal or unacceptable results.
  • Knowledge and skill in use of ancillary equipment with an understanding of how the results will affect the study outcome.
  • Knowledge of physiologic processes as they relate to altered radiopharmaceutical uptake and/or artefactual findings.
  • Ability to obtain, assess, and document pre-therapy patient preparation information and provide post-therapy patient education following proper administration of advanced therapy dose.
  • Ability to develop new protocols for imaging procedures.
  • Ability to analyze instances of increased radiation exposure levels and recommend measures to reduce.
  • Ability to analyze consequences of improper packaging of radioactive material and take appropriate actions.

Preferred Experience:

• Minimum of three years experience preferred.
• Demonstrates expertise as a Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist, with proficiency in hybrid imaging modalities such as PET/CT and SPECT/CT.
• Strong background in advance imaging techniques, radiopharmaceutical preparation, quality control, and radiation safety protocols.
• Additional experience in post-processing, quantitative analysis, and multidisciplinary collaboration to optimize patient outcomes is highly desirable.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds), moderate carrying (15-44 pounds), use of fingers with both hands, walking (4 hours) and standing (4 hours) with both legs. Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously. Near vision correctable at 13' to 16' to Jaeger 1 to 4. Hearing (aid permitted). Mental and emotional stability required. See VA Directive Handbook 5019.

Education

There is no educational requirement or substitution for this grade level.

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.

Help

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.