Clinical Laboratory Scientist - Microbiology Molecular (Part Time)

Description:

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.

Requirements:

To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. The VA HR Office staff can hire applicants who do not currently hold valid certification, but actively working towards their certification, at the entry level, GS-7.

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: A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.

Certification: Candidates must meet one of the certification options below for GS-9 and GS-11:

• (a)Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT.
• (b)Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT.

Exception for Non-Certified:

• 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 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.
• 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).
• Non-Certified individuals may only provide care under the supervision of a certified CLS at or above the FPL.
• Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained.
• Temporary appointments of non-certified CLS may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment

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.

Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-07.
Experience & Assignment. Candidates at this level must meet the criteria below:

• Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.
• Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-09.
Experience or Education. Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below:

• Experience. 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.

OR

• Education. Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or a directly related science.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities . In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of policies and procedures of clinical laboratory testing.
• Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance
• principles.
• Knowledge of laboratory equipment and routine maintenance.
• Ability to work as a team member and effectively complete
• assignments.
• Ability to read and interpret written instructions.
• Ability to accurately perform pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of testing.

Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-11.
(1) Experience or Education. Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below:

• Experience. 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

OR

• 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:

• Knowledge of professional clinical laboratory science principles, practices, concepts, and theories that support sound, independent work.
• Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement.
• Skill in informatics, laboratory data flow, and laboratory processes.
• Ability to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair instrumentation.
• Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit: https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/

The full performance level of this vacancy is 11, applicants may be selected at the GS 7, GS 9, or GS11.

Promotion potential: Candidates may be promoted to the next higher grade level when all regulatory requirements are met.

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. All other requirements must be met within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 04/28/2025 .

Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurrent standing to perform procedures and tests, walking between different areas within the laboratory and throughout the medical center. The work involves sitting at a microscope or computer, manual dexterity, visual acuity, color vision and the ability to sit and concentrate for long periods of time. Requires intermittent moderate lifting (15-44 pounds); light carrying (under 15 pounds); use of fingers; both hands required; intermittent but possibly prolonged stooping and kneeling; ability to read and comprehend ordinary type and computer screens; ability to hear (aid permitted) and work in an environment with constant noise; working closely with others; high cognitive function required to work in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities without loss of accuracy; emotional stability required to maintain self-control in difficult and stressful situations.