Clinical Laboratory Scientist

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.

• 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. A 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. A 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. A 7403 (f)
• 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
• 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 Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact ... - 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.