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. Program 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.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. BASIC REQUIREMENTS. To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following: a. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). b. Education. A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university. NOTE: The Supervisory CLS (Laboratory Director), GS-15, requires unique education requirements. Please reference the education requirements located in that assignment below. c. Certification. (1) Candidates must meet one of the certification options below. (a) Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT. (b) Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT. (c) Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT. NOTE: Categorical and specialist certifications are not acceptable for CLS Generalist positions or lab sections unrelated to the categorical or specialist certification held. Categorical or specialist certifications are acceptable for higher-graded positions within the relevant lab section or one of the non-section specific assignments (including, Ancillary Testing Coordinator, Education Coordinator, Laboratory Information Manager, Quality Manager, Laboratory Manager, Regional Technical Specialist, National Quality and Compliance Agent, Regional Program Manager, Regional Director, Laboratory Director, or National Quality and Compliance Officer). (2) Exception for Non-Certified. (a) Applicants who do not currently hold valid certification may be hired by VA and actively work toward their certification if they meet one of the routes identified in Appendix A that makes them eligible to take the MLS certification exam through the ASCP BOC or the MLS certification exam through AMT Certification Agency. (b) Non-Certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure may be given a temporary appointment CLS under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2). (c) Non-Certified individuals may only provide care under the supervision of a certified CLS at or above the FPL. (d) Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained. (e) Temporary appointments of non-certified CLS may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment. (3) Failure to Obtain Certification. In all cases, CLSs must actively work to meet requirements for certification starting from the date of their placement into the occupation. At the time of appointment, the Human Resources (HR) Office staff, in collaboration with the supervisor, will provide the employee with the written requirements for certification, including the time by which the certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline. Failure to obtain certification during this time period may result in separation from employment. d. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational requirements if they meet either of the following: (1) Foreign transcripts are evaluated by an acceptable evaluation agency, and the degree is found to be equivalent to a NAACLS-approved U.S. clinical laboratory science degree program. OR (2) The applicant submits a letter from ASCP BOC or AMT stating the individual is eligible to take the certification examination. NOTE: Possession of a certification identified in 4c above automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed. e. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 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). GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specified. a. Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-07. (1) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. b. Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-09. (1) Experience or Education. Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below: (a) Experience. 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade. OR (b) Education. Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or a directly related science. (2) Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of policies and procedures of clinical laboratory testing. (b) Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance principles. (c) Knowledge of laboratory equipment and routine maintenance. (d) Ability to work as a team member and effectively complete assignments. (e) Ability to read and interpret written instructions. (f) Ability to accurately perform pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of testing. c. Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-11. (1) Experience or Education Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below: (a) Experience. 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. OR (b) Education. Must have 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related science. (2) Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of professional clinical laboratory science principles, practices, concepts, and theories that support sound, independent work. (b) Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement. (c) Skill in informatics, laboratory data flow, and laboratory processes. (d) Ability to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair instrumentation. (e) Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results. (f) Ability to read, interpret, and apply complex written instructions. (g) Ability to communicate, consult, and interact with other members of the health care team, external relations, customer service, and patient education. Preferred Experience: More than 1 year of general laboratory experience, preferably in Chemistry, Hematology, Coagulation, Urinalysis, Manual/Rapid/POC, laboratory Information Systems, and Quality Management practices. 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-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds); reaching above the shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (up to 6-8 hours); standing (up to 6-8 hours); the ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; the ability to distinguish basic colors; the ability to distinguish shades of colors; and hearing (aid may be permitted). Environmental Factors: Dry atmospheric conditions; constant noise; and you must be able to work alone and closely with others.
The Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) is a generalist who independently carries out day-to-day operations in the laboratory. The CLS develops, performs, evaluates, interprets, correlates, and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results in line with current laboratory regulatory requirements. The work performed may be in a variety of laboratory specialties such as chemistry, urinalysis, hematology, coagulation, referrals, microbiology, immunochemistry, serology, and molecular testing. Testing procedures are performed on a variety of biological specimens or environmental samples using manual or automated methods. In addition to routine testing, the CLS conducts quality control and routine maintenance of instrumentation and troubleshooting. Functions or Scope of Practice. Schedule and prioritize laboratory testing to meet provider demands as well as to accommodate urgent testing requests. Evaluate requested procedures to determine the suitability of specimens for analysis, requesting new patient specimens as necessary if the original is determined unsatisfactory. Prepare reagents and primary reagent reference materials. Select, perform, evaluate, and monitor the performance of non-routine and specialized test procedures using manual and/or instrumental techniques in accordance with established protocols. Calibrate, standardize, adjust, and maintain single and multi-channel laboratory analyzers. Perform quality control procedures on equipment, reagents, and products, and maintain proper records for quality control reports. Evaluate and recommend new tests to be incorporated into the laboratory testing menu. Confer with the Chief of Laboratory and pathologist to determine requirements for non-standard tests. Determine the validity of test results and the variations/dilutions required to acquire a satisfactory test result determination. Instruct providers, nursing staff, and others in laboratory specimen requirements for specific laboratory tests. Practice laboratory safety to reduce contamination and infection to patients, staff, and self. Maintain records and files of tests performed on patients. This includes patient logbooks, requisition, and editing of patient test results. Operate highly sophisticated computer controlled multi-channel analyzers. Perform basic troubleshooting of laboratory analyzers including interacting with vendor technical staff in person or by telephone. Utilize computers for look up, accession, testing, and verifying results in the Laboratory Information System. Consult with clinicians or review patient clinical history in the electronic medical record. Compare test results from other sections of the lab (Surgical Pathology, Chemistry, Hematology, and Microbiology) to support observations. Refer cases to consulting Pathologists for critical review as appropriate. Use critical judgment in the evaluation of test discrepancies, taking appropriate action as detailed in test protocols. Interact with Reference Laboratories to schedule testing and transport of difficult-to-obtain samples (e.g. body fluids) to ensure timely sample delivery and appropriate testing. Utilize critical judgment in subjective test areas and recognize when changes or abnormalities may be critical to patient outcome. Correlate abnormal lab data with pathologic states, determine the validity of test results, and the need for additional tests. Maintain the work area in a clean environment appropriate for the assigned section. Conduct training and instruction for new employees and students. May work off-hour shifts and holidays as priorities demonstrate a need. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Mon - Fri, 8:00am -4:30pm. Recruitment / Relocation Incentive: Not Authorized. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA. Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement). Telework: Ad-hoc. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 50447-F. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.