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. Learn more. 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 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 education: See information located in education section of announcement. Certification: Candidates must have either (1) or (2): (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 (GS-9), 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). Grandfathering Provision: All MTs employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Additional details outlined below. English Language Proficiency: MTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, VA Handbook 5005. Grade Determinations: To qualify for the GS-7 grade level, you must meet the above listed education and/or experience combination listed above under the basic qualifications. This is considered an entry level position. Employees at this level serve in an entry level Medical Technologist career development position practicing under close supervision of a Medical Technologist at or above the full performance level. To qualify for the GS-9 grade level, you must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled. Creditable experience is defined as experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level and is directly related to the position being filled. Examples may include serving as an entry level employee in a career development position practicing under close supervision of a Medical Technologist. OR, Have a Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or directly related field. In addition, to the experience or education above, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs): Comprehensive knowledge of professional MT principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work. Comprehensive knowledge of laboratory quality control and assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement in order to manage reagent and supply inventories and document control systems. Knowledge of laboratory equipment and ability to maintain, troubleshoot and repair instrumentation. Ability to plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member and effectively complete assignments. Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results. Ability to read, interpret and apply complex written instructions. Skilled in informatics, laboratory data flow and the understanding of laboratory processes. Ability to communicate, consult and interact with other members of the healthcare team, external relations, customer service and patient education Preferred Experience: N/A References: VA Handbook 5005/72, Part II, Appendix G24 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-9. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44lbs), pushing and kneeling (2 hours), walking and standing (8 hours), both legs required, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" and to 20/40 in the other, both eyes required, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of color, hearing (aid permitted). ["Evaluates the suitability of the specimen for analysis, requesting new specimen if determined to be unusable. Prepares specimens for analysis, insuring that the physiologic state of the specimen properties is maintained. Utilizes comprehensive knowledge of professional medical technology/clinical laboratory science principles, practices, concepts, and theories providing for sound independent work. Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of laboratory quality control and assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement providing for sound independent work. Utilizes knowledge of laboratory equipment and has the ability to troubleshoot, and repair instrumentation. Utilizes independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results. Interprets and applies complex written instructions. Communicates, consults, and interacts with other members of the healthcare team, external relations, customer service and patient education. Including telephoning critical/toxic and other unusual test results to clinician or provider with appropriate documentation. Selects, performs, evaluates and monitors the performance of test procedures using manual and/or instrumental techniques in accordance with established protocols. Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunction; locates and implements corrections. Conducts quality control procedures on equipment, reagents, and products and maintains proper records for quality control reports. Calibrates, standardizes, adjusts and maintains instruments. Verifies correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks and monitoring. Identifies the cause of common problems and makes simple repairs. Evaluates the validity of data in relation to the test system and accepted assay procedures. Correlates quantitative data with patient data (i.e., history, medications) to verify results. Performs additional tests to clarify or confirm abnormal patient results excluding microbiology, blood bank per individual procedure. Recognizes abnormal results that require immediate attention by the physician and reports them directly. Responsible for the generation of laboratory results from the work area into the laboratory computer system and for the editing and verification of the results recorded into the computer system. Communicates effectively and courteously while working as a healthcare team member. Provides excellent service as defined by the customer (healthcare providers, patients, and others). Gives direction and guidance using underlying principles of laboratory testing. Performs analysis following safety and infectious disease policies. Individual must keep up with the assigned Medical Center educational hours for the fiscal year. Performs routine and STAT laboratory tests within the established time limits. Telephones Critical/Toxic and other unusual test results to Clinician or provider with appropriate documentation. Performs analysis following the safety and infectious disease control policies. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 4:00pm - 12:30am, with rotating weekends and holidays Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Eve Harper, HR Specialist, VISN 10, Compensation Center of Excellence (CCoE) at Eve.Harper@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]