This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. 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 and/or Experience Combination: (1) A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in medical laboratory science, medical technology, clinical laboratory science or in a related science (e.g., laboratory sciences such as chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, immunology, etc.). AND Completion of a medical technology clinical practice program. Clinical practice programs completed after 1974 must have been accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP, formerly CAHEA), or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). The professional curriculum may have consisted of a post-baccalaureate certificate program or be integrated into a four­ year program of study that culminated in a baccalaureate degree. OR (2) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry) and one course in mathematics, AND Two years of post-certification clinical laboratory experience (e.g., blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, clinical microscopy, etc.) within the last ten years as a certified Medical Laboratory Technician by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP-BOC), American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Registry (ASCP-BOR) or American Medical Technologists (AMT). This experience must include performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory. OR (3) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry) and one course in mathematics, AND Five years of clinical laboratory experience within the last ten years performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory. Foreign Graduates: Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational and/or experience requirements if the degree is found to be equivalent to degree programs recognized by the NAACLS or clinical laboratory experience as described in paragraph 2b(2) or (3) above. This finding may be based on either of the following: (1) A letter from a college or university with a baccalaureate program recognized by the NAACLS stating that the individual's foreign degree has been evaluated and been found to be equivalent to its bachelor of medical technology degree. (2) A letter from ASCP-BOC or AMT stating that the individual is eligible for the certification examination. Certification: Candidates must have either (1) or (2) below: (1) Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. (2) For positions up to the full performance level, candidates must currently possess the categorical or specialist technologist level certification from the certification agencies listed above, such as, but not limited to, chemistry (C/SC), hematology (H/SH), microbiology (M/SM), molecular biology (MB/SMB) and blood bank (BB/SBB). Technologists with categorical or specialist certifications may only perform duties within the area of the laboratory specific to their categorical certification ( e. g., an individual with a chemistry (C) certification can only perform duties in chemistry). 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: GS-10 (a) Experience: Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1 - Comprehensive knowledge of and skill in applying a wide range of concepts, principles and methodology of the field to perform advanced techniques. 2 - Ability to modify or adapt established methods, procedures or techniques to resolve difficult or complex problems. 3 - Knowledge of the application of laboratory regulatory requirements. 4 - Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training. (c) Assignments: MTs at this level generally have a higher level of professional oversight responsibilities and may have responsibility for a specific large-scale automated analytical instrument system; a specific area of laboratory functions, such as employee competency records, supply functions, laboratory safety, quality control review, new method development or employee or student training; or provide professional and technical advice to other technicians and technologists on alternate tours of duty. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Preferred Experience: 3 years Chemistry experience References: Hybrid Title 38 Occupation official qualification standards of the position as stated in VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G24-GS-0644 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-10. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. ["- Modifies or adapts new methods or techniques to improve or expand services. - Develops protocols for performance of tests and evaluation of results. - Ensures that laboratory tests and procedures are consistent with accrediting agencies standards and requirements. - Acts as designee to assist supervisor with QC troubleshooting and review. - Recognizes methodology limitations such as linearity, interference, sensitivity, and specificity and considers these when drawing conclusions about the validity of testing results. - Performs validation/method verification studies for new systems. - Consults with healthcare providers on logical protocol to follow in attempting to confirm the diagnosis or risk assessment of a patient. - Provides advisory services to technicians, technologists, and other specialties. - Performs phlebotomy on weekends, holidays and as required. - Attends primary operator training for assigned instrumentation and serves as the technical expert on operation and troubleshooting. - Trains other technologists in correct procedures of operation, reviews procedures should problems arise, and demonstrates more advanced troubleshooting procedures. - Orders all reagents and supplies for assigned instruments to ensure availability of all tests on the analyzer's menu, making sure to allow for reagent or calibrator problems that may arise. - Is primary operator and technical expert of assigned instruments. - Confers with other Lead Techs, Supervisor, Pathology Resident, and/or Clinical Pathologist on any unusual findings that may require further testing and relays information to all other technologists who rotate through applicable lab section. - Ensures that all maintenance is done per manufacturer's schedule. - Acts as designee to assist supervisor with distribution, testing, transcription, and submission of CAP surveys so that they are completed and submitted before deadlines as required by CAP. - Assists supervisor with 6-month instrument cross-checks, 6 month non-CAP CVL studies, annual auto-pipet carryover studies, annual thermometer calibration verification, statistical analysis program data entry as needed, and any other duties as assigned. - Assists supervisor and acts as designee with Laboratory Accreditation preparedness, including reviewing and answering checklist questions, and assistance with inspections of assigned areas of the laboratory. - Responsible for the daily bench assignments of technologists in the absence of the Chemistry Supervisor, and reorganizes coverage of all critical instrumentation and testing should short staffing occur. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., rotating weekends and holidays. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 54935-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Jeffrey.Young9@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

Return to Search Results