Clinical Laboratory Scientist - Generalist

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.

Qualifications:

Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. 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

- To be considered for this position, all applicants must meet the following requirements: a. Citizenship You must be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). If qualified U.S. citizens are not available, non-citizens may be appointed as per 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). b. Education You must have a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university. c. Certification - You must meet one of the following certification options: (a) Generalist certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) through ASCP BOC or AMT. (b) Generalist certification as a Medical Technologist (MT) through ASCP BOR or AMT. If You Do Not Currently Hold a

Certification:

If you meet an eligibility route in Appendix A for the MLS certification exam via ASCP BOC or AMT, you may be hired by the VA and work toward your certification. You may get a temporary CLS appointment under 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2) if you otherwise meet licensure eligibility. As a non-certified individual, you can only work under the supervision of a certified CLS at or above the FPL (Full Performance Level). Non-certified individuals are only appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted or converted until certification is obtained. Temporary appointments for non-certified CLSs cannot be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment. d. Grandfathering Provision 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). e. Foreign Education Education completed outside the U.S. must be evaluated by a private organization specializing in evaluating foreign credentials and found equivalent to a conventional U.S. program. Foreign graduates meet education requirements if: Their transcripts are evaluated by an acceptable agency and found equivalent to a NAACLS-approved U.S. clinical laboratory science program, OR They submit a letter from ASCP BOC or AMT stating they are eligible for the certification exam.

Note:

If you already have one of the certifications listed above, your foreign education is automatically considered creditable-no further proof is needed. g. English Language Proficiency You must be proficient in both spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f).

GRADE DETERMINATIONS

- In addition to the basic requirements, you must also meet the following criteria for the specified grade levels: a. Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-07

Experience:

None beyond the basic requirements.

Assignment:

This is an entry-level CLS position. You will receive guidance from more experienced staff and require daily direct supervision. b. Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-09

Experience or Education:

Must have one of the following: 1 year of relevant experience equivalent to the next lower grade, OR A Master's degree or 2 academic years of higher-level graduate education in medical technology or a directly related science. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): Must demonstrate: Knowledge of clinical laboratory testing policies and procedures. Knowledge of laboratory quality control and assurance principles. Knowledge of lab equipment and routine maintenance. Ability to work as a team member and complete assignments effectively. Ability to read and interpret written instructions. Ability to accurately perform all phases of laboratory testing (pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical). c. Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-11

Experience or Education:

Must have one of the following: 1 year of relevant experience equivalent to the next lower grade, OR 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education, or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, in medical technology or a directly related science. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): Must demonstrate: Knowledge of clinical laboratory science principles, practices, concepts, and theories for independent work. Knowledge of quality control, assurance procedures, and performance improvement principles. Skill in informatics, data flow, and laboratory processes. Ability to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair instrumentation. Ability to independently analyze and interpret lab results. Ability to understand and apply complex written instructions. Ability to communicate, consult, and interact with health care teams, customers, and patients.

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-07 to GS-11.

Physical Requirements:

Must be able to perform moderate lifting up to 20 lbs., straight pulling, pushing, reaching above the shoulder, use of fingers and both hands, walking, standing for up to 4 hours, kneeling, repeated bending, use of both arms and legs. Specific visual requirements include use of both eyes, depth perception, ability to distinguish colors and shades of colors, hearing (aids permitted), clear, high cognitive function and emotional stability; ability to read ordinary type without strain.