Qualifications

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:

• 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. 7407(a)
• Education: A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
• Certification: Candidates must meet one of the certification options below
• Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT
• Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Loss of Credential
• If an employee fails to maintain the required certification, management officials, in collaboration with HR Office staff, must immediately remove the employee from duties and responsibilities associated with this occupation
• This may also result in separation from employment
• If a CLS currently has, or ever had, their CLS certification revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status, HR Office staff must appoint them according to the provisions in VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section B, paragraph 16
• 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: Clinical Laboratory Scientist, 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Assignment
• This is considered FPL for a CLS
• A CLS at this level independently carries out the 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, microbiology, immunology, hematology, and immunohematology
• Testing procedures are performed on a variety of biological specimens and/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
• The CLS correlates abnormal lab data with pathological states, determines the validity of test results, and the need for additional tests
• Specific targeted laboratory responsibilities or projects may include laboratory safety officer, analyzer specialist, primary operator on new test systems, quality control specialist, supply control, and/or coordinator for the laboratory competency assessment or proficiency/survey program
• This assignment may include limited duties in areas such as lab information management and ancillary testing
• These tasks require a broad exercise of independent judgment and responsibility, including organizing and setting priorities with minimal technical supervision
• The CLS assesses a situation, considers the options, and formulates an appropriate course of action
• This assignment includes monitoring quality control systems and measures, collaborating in the diagnosis and treatment of patients, and providing education for laboratory health care professionals and the public in a professional, courteous, and effective manner
• Preferred Experience: This position is for the Microbiology Laboratory
• Microbiology experience is preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403 (f).