Summary

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

Health Profession Trainees (HPTs) pending completion of education and certification requirements may be referred pending completion. All applicants pending the completion of certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected at the GS-7 level. These requirements must be met within 2 years of appointment.

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
• English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• 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)
• Education
• A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university 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: 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 Eligible to take the certification examination
• You must submit a letter from ASCP BOC or AMT stating that you are eligible to take the certification examination
• NOTE: Possession of one of the following certifications automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed
• (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 (related to this position) by ASCP or AMT
• Certification
• 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 (related to this position) by ASCP or AMT
• 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 4 the routes below that makes them eligible to take the MLS certification exam through the ASCP BOC or the MLS certification exam through AMT Certification Agency
• #1: Education and Experience Education: 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 (for example - chemistry - biochemistry - biology - microbiology - immunology - etc.) AND Clinical Practice and Experience: Completion of a medical technology clinical practice program within the last 5 years
• Clinical practice programs completed after 1974 must be accredited by the 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 4-year program of study that culminated in a baccalaureate degree
• #2: Education - Certification - and Experience Education: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university including 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of biological science (with one course in microbiology) - 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry*) - and one course in mathematics AND Certification: Valid Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) certification by the ASCP BOC - ASCP BOR - or AMT - AND Experience: 1 year of post-MLT certification clinical laboratory experience within the last 3 years
• This experience must include performing moderate and/or high complexity testing (as categorized by the FDA) in a clinical laboratory
• Research laboratory experience does not fulfill this requirement #3: Education and Experience Education: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university including 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of biological science (with one course in microbiology) - 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry*) - and one course in mathematics AND Experience: 4 years of clinical laboratory experience within the last nine years performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood bank - chemistry - hematology - microbiology - immunology - and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience that matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory
• #4: Education - Military Training Education: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university with 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) in biology including one semester in microbiology and 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) in chemistry - which may be obtained within or in addition to - the bachelor's degree AND Military Education: Completion of a 50-week U.S. Military MLT training program (with official certificate verifying completion of training) within the last 10 years AND Experience: 1 year full-time clinical laboratory experience within the last 10 years
• This experience must include performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking - chemistry - hematology - microbiology - immunology - and urinalysis/body fluids (or categorical experience that matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory
• Research laboratory experience does not fulfill this requirement
• (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
• Qualification are continued in the Education Section of this announcement.

Duties

• VA Careers - Microbiology/Molecular Medical Technologist: https://youtube.com/embed/eSDGhIwZKdw Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) performs test procedures on a variety of biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual or automated techniques - which require a broad exercise of independent judgement and responsibility with minimal technical supervision
• The work performed may be in a variety of laboratory specialties such as chemistry - microbiology - immunology - hematology - and immunohematology
• The position is in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (PALMS) - West Texas VA Health Care System (WTVAHCS) - Big Spring - Texas
• The CLS: - Carries out day-to-day operations in the laboratory
• The CLS assesses a situation - considers the options - and formulates an appropriate course of action
• The CLS develops - performs - evaluates - interprets - correlates - and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results in line with regulatory requirements
• - Performs a broad range of laboratory procedures to include pre-analytic - analytic - and post-analytic processes
• In addition - performs phlebotomy procedures as well as advanced and complex laboratory procedures
• recognizes deviation from expected results - analyzes and corrects problems using scientific principles
• - Evaluates and solves problems related to collection and processing of biological specimens for analysis considering physiologic processes and requirements
• - Maintains and documents the optimal functioning of laboratory equipment
• Uses - calibrates - identifies malfunctions - repairs - and performs preventive maintenance of laboratory equipment
• Diagnoses deviations in test performance due to instrument malfunction
• - Performs and documents quality control and assurance activities and corrective actions related to test performance using statistical principles and theories of performance improvement
• - Adheres to practices and regulations governing biosafety and bio-security in the workplace
• - Identifies discrepancies - solves problems - and presents solutions
• - Correlates abnormal lab data with pathological states - determines the validity of test results - and the need for additional tests
• - Answers inquiries regarding test results - methodology - test specificity - test sensitivity - and specific factors - which influence test results
• Interprets results and suggests follow-up test selection or procedures
• - Evaluates and implements new techniques and procedures in the laboratory in terms of equipment - method comparison - and establishment of reference intervals using statistical methods and theoretical knowledge
• Interprets finding sand makes recommendations
• - Incorporates principles of educational methodology in the instruction and training of new employees and students and in the laboratory's in- service/continuing education program
• Duties are continued in the Additional Information section
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 12:30pm to 9:00 pm - One Saturday rotated shift 8 AM - 4:30 PM Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact the EDRP Coordinator at VISN17EDRP2@va.gov for questions/assistance
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 53419-F: GS-7 - 53420-F: GS-9 - 53421-F: GS-11 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized