Registered Respiratory Therapist (Pulmonary)

Registered Respiratory Therapist (Pulmonary)

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Baltimore, Maryland

Salary Range: $102415 - $133142 Per Year

Job Summary: The primary purpose of this position is to perform comprehensive diagnostic pulmonary function studies, including spirometry, diffusion studies, lung volume measurements, and bronchial challenge testing. The role involves patient instruction, equipment setup, troubleshooting, preliminary data interpretation, and assisting in quality improvement efforts. The position supports diagnosing and managing respiratory conditions through accurate testing and collaboration with physicians.

Major Duties:

• Major Duties Included but not limited to: Performing and managing pulmonary function tests (e.g., spirometry, diffusion, lung volume, bronchial challenge) with proper patient instruction, equipment calibration, troubleshooting, and preliminary interpretation. Ensuring equipment functions correctly through calibration, maintenance, and quality control, and recognizing malfunctions for prompt resolution. Explaining procedures to patients, obtaining cooperation, and adapting techniques for patients with special needs or limitations. - Maintenance of confidentiality of patients/employee information, electronic and printed. Analyzing test results for accuracy, internal consistency, and reproducibility, and discarding or repeating tests as necessary. Recognize malfunction of the equipment, correct routine problems; explain more complex problems to personnel from the Biomedical Service and the manufacturer. Conducting arterial blood gases and pulse oximetry assessments. Adhere to infection control policies. Maintaining comprehensive documentation, developing skills through ongoing literature review, and adhering to American Thoracic Society guidelines. Collaborating with physicians by presenting diagnostic findings, assisting with clinical decision-making, and contributing to patient management plans. Supporting quality improvement initiatives and ensuring the overall operational efficiency of the pulmonary function testing process. Providing clinical consultation, training staff, and assessing complex pulmonary procedures, including advanced testing such as cardiopulmonary stress testing and bronchoprovocation. Ensuring patient safety and comfort during testing, recognizing adverse reactions, and initiating appropriate interventions. Maintaining certification and licensure requirements, including BLS certification, and possessing the necessary experience and credentials to perform advanced pulmonary diagnostics. Present diagnostic, therapeutic information to the Director of Pulmonary Medical Director for a final report and review consultations. Contact with other personnel and services are done as necessary to assure adequate day-to-day operations of the PFT Lab. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 7:30am - 4pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 26279-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. Education. Individuals must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor. Licensure. Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a full, current and unrestricted license from a state to practice as an RRT. Credential. Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a valid, current, unrestricted credential of RRT. Exception. RT positions will be designated only to individuals who are in the process of obtaining credentials to become an RRT. These individuals will only be hired on a temporary appointment as provided below. (a) VHA may waive the RRT credential requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified and pending completion of prerequisites for RRT credential. Individuals who have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor, acquired the CRT credential, are fully licensed by their state and are working toward completion of their RRT credential may be given a temporary appointment as an RT. The temporary appointment is made under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7401(a)(1)(B) for a period not to exceed one year from date of employment. Candidates must hold an active, current, full and unrestricted RRT credential and be licensed to hold a position at or above the GS-07 level. (b) RTs may only be temporarily appointed at the GS-05 level and may not be promoted/converted to a higher-level position as an RRT until the RRT credential is received. (c) RTs must provide care only under the close supervision of an RRT. (d) Temporary RT appointments may not be extended beyond one year or converted to a new temporary appointment. English Language Proficiency. RTs/RRTs appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 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. The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all hybrid title 38 qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education, credential or certification requirements that apply to this occupation. All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education, credential or certification 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 that does not require a licensure, certification or registration, may be reassigned, promoted or demoted within the occupation. (2) Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure, certification or registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level 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 that requires a licensure, certification or registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure, certification or 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 or registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in theoccupation. (6) If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation or employment with the VA, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation and/or VA. Grade Determinations: GS-12 Registered Respiratory Therapist (Pulmonary) Experience, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must have: (a) One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. AND (b) Hold an active license and RRT credential. In addition to the basic requirements for employment listed above, all individuals referred and assigned to this occupation must meet all the qualification requirements and KSAs: Knowledge of complex pulmonary function testing to include but not limited to cardiopulmonary stress testing, exercise testing, metabolic testing, bronchoprovocation testing and shunt testing. Ability to establish a quality control program related to pulmonary function lab. Skill in analyzing physiologic specimen and information from basic diagnostic procedures. Skill in assessing for signs and symptoms of adverse actions to medications and or testing procedures. Skill in determining appropriate intervention for adverse actions to medications and or testing procedures. Ability to provide training in advanced pulmonary function procedures. Ability to provide clinical consultation in advanced pulmonary function procedures. Preferred Experience: CPFT/RPFT required 1 year credible experience in PFT testing required. 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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12 Physical Requirements: The employee frequently stands, walks, reaches with hands and arms, and bends over. Occasionally, the employee must lift and/or move up to 40 lbs. unaided. Lifting more than 50 lbs. requires assistance. Specific vision abilities necessary for this role include near vision, distant vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 05/18/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12953843. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-18