Therapeutic Medical Physicist

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval – award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (1 to 5 years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application.

Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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.

• 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: TMPs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) – and 7407(d)
• Education:
  
  Master's degree or higher in a physics, science, or engineering discipline recognized by an accredited college or university with at least 30 semester hours in medical physics, health physics, radiological science, physics, engineering, chemistry, or biology
• or an equivalent foreign degree and coursework substantiated by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services
• Board Certification:
  Persons hired or reassigned to TMP positions in the VHA must be board certified in the field of therapeutic medical physics by an approved certifying body
• The board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirements for continuing education
• Approved Certifying Bodies: (a) The American Board of Radiology (A ) in any of the following field titles:
  Therapeutic Medical Physics, Therapeutic Radiologic or Therapeutic Radiological Physics, Radiologic Physics or Radiological Physics; (b) The American Board of Medical Physics (ABMP) in the subfield of Radiation Oncology Physics; (c) The Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine (CCPM) in the subfield of Radiation Oncology Physics
• Exception for Non‑Board Certified – Entry Level Candidates
• Non‑board certified TMPs designated by the certifying agency (e.g. – American Board of Radiology) as "board eligible" – who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements – may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate TMP under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B)
• The appointing official may waive the requirement of certification for a period not to exceed 2 years for a TMP that provides care under the supervision of a board certified TMP at or above the full performance level
• This exception only applies at the GS‑12 entry level
• For grade levels at or above the full performance level – the candidate must be board certified
• Temporary appointments of non‑board certified TMPs may not be extended beyond 2 years – or converted to a new temporary appointment
• Grade Determinations: GS‑12 Therapeutic Medical Physicist (Entry Level) – Experience, Education, and Board Certification
• None beyond the basic requirements (
  
  NOTE:
  
  See exception to certification requirement in subparagraph above.) – Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• In addition to the basic requirements – a minimum of 1 year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities – In addition to the experience above – the candidate must demonstrate knowledge regarding the safe and efficient use of all radiotherapy devices for external beam radiotherapy, ability to evaluate and ensure correct and safe operation of radiotherapy equipment through complex problem diagnosis and scheduled quality assurance, knowledge of the scientific, clinical, and technical applications of high‑dose‑rate and low‑dose‑rate brachytherapy treatment simulation, planning, dosimetry, and treatment methods, expertise in the professional, scientific, and technical aspects of shielding methods for external beam radiation delivery systems, radiation survey methods, developing procedures, setting action levels, delivering radiation safety training, developing and…