Clinical Laboratory Scientist - Blood Bank - EDRP Authorized

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:

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: A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED FOR VERIFICATION)
• Certification: Candidates must meet one of the certification options below.
  1. Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT.
  2. Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT.
  3. 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).
• Exception for Non-Certified:
  1. 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.
  2. 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).
  3. Non-Certified individuals may only provide care under the supervision of a certified CLS at or above the FPL.
  4. Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained.
  5. Temporary appointments of non-certified CLS may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment.
• 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).

• Grandfathering Provision: Employees in VHA in this occupation under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and certification where applicable. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements of this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply:
  1. Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
  2. If an assignment above the FPL requires an additional certification over and above the basic requirements, employees must meet the assignment-specific requirement before they can be promoted.
  3. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
  4. Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
  5. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain certification that meets all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

Grade Determinations : In addition to the basic requirements for employment, candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specified.

GS-07:

• Experience: None beyond the basic requirements.

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. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED FOR VERIFICATION)
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate in their resume 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.

GS-11:

• 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 (GS-09). 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. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED FOR VERIFICATION)
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate in their resume 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.
  • Ability to read, interpret, and apply complex written instructions.
  • Ability to communicate, consult, and interact with other members of the health care team, external relations, customer service, and patient education.

Preferred Experience:

1. Minimum 3-years of hands-on experience in high-complexity transfusion service.
2. Experience in tissue tracking and documentation using Excel and TrackCore.
3. Knowledge of AABB, FDA, and CAP regulatory requirements for transfusion services.
4. Prior experience training or mentoring new staff or students.
5. Experience with cryopreservation and handling of stem cells products.

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 .