Qualifications

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
• Experience and Education
• (1) Experience
• One year of experience in a health care field that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work such as but not limited to a medical or clinical laboratory assistant (or technician) or health technician
• OR, (2) Education
• (a) Four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation such as biological science or chemistry
• or (b) Successful completion of two academic years of study above high school that included at least 24 semester hours in Chemistry and/or in appropriate fields of biological science and successful completion of a 12-month program of education and training in histopathology or cytotechnology
• OR, (3) Experience/Education Combination
• Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable
• Examples are listed below: (a) Six months of experience in the health care field and two years of education above high school that included at least six semester hours in health care related courses such as biological science, surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position
• or an associate's degree in a health care related field
• (b) Six months of experience in the health care field and successful completion of a course for health care technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or histopathology technicians given by the U.S. Armed Forces
• 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
• All Histopathology Technicians employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation
• (2) 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
• (3) If an employee who was retained (grandfathered) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• Grade Determinations: Histopathology Technician, GS-8 (Lead) (1) Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• (2) Assignment
• Lead Histopathology technicians at this level perform duties which consist of a significant scope, complexity and administrative independence
• The Lead provides direction to the daily operations and assumes responsibility for integrating and monitoring the standard adherence to methods and protocols to maintain continuous work flow and quality within the unit
• Duties include: prepare, direct, and approve work schedules and assign tasks for timely completion of duties
• ensure resources are in optimal working condition and address workflow needs
• calibrate, operate, and maintain instruments and equipment used in surgical pathology, immunohistochemistry, and special stains
• provides guidance and instruction to Histopathology Technicians on a broad range of specific tasks and job techniques
• monitors work in progress often performing spot checks to ensure protocols are being followed
• reviews completed work to ensure guidelines are met regarding work sequences, procedures, and methods
• provides on-the-job training to new employees
• provides cross-training to staff
• provides input to supervisor on performance and training needs of employees
• adjusts work assignments due to absences or changes in priorities
• resolves simple informal complaints of employees and patients, referring the more difficult problems to the supervisor
• recommends approval and/or disapproval of leave requests
• For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher- level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• (3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs
• (a) Ability to use independent judgment and apply comprehensive technical histopathology knowledge to solve complex problems concerning a broad range of tests, procedures, and protocols
• (b) Ability to perform procedural technical review and provide written and practical application training and instructions to laboratory personnel in all areas of histology
• (c) Ability to manage staffing requirements, plan and organize workload and priorities, and coordinate work in order to complete duties in an accurate and timely manner
• This includes the ability to follow-up on pending issues and demonstrating an understanding of the impact of incomplete work
• (d) Comprehensive knowledge of regulatory, licensing, and accrediting agency requirements that govern laboratory operations in order to insure that work practices, documentation, and reporting are consistent with all governing standards and regulations
• (e) Skill in communicating with individuals in order to obtain the desired effect, provide technical guidance and ensure compliance with established policies and regulations
• Preferred Experience: AS Degree with a Science-Related Background and demonstrated experience working in a clinical Histology lab, working with anatomic pathology laboratory specimens, performing embedding, microtomy and accessioning, gross dissection of Biopsies, and performing Special Stains and IHC Stains
• 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-08
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.