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
• Education
• A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
• Certification
• 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
• 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
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403 (f)
• Grade Determinations: Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-12, Assignments
• Experience
• 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) is required for for all GS-12 assignments
• Examples of experience are: carries out the day-to-day operations in the laboratory, develops, performs, evaluates, interprets, correlates, and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results in line with current laboratory regulatory requirements, conducts quality control and routine maintenance of instrumentation and troubleshooting and correlates abnormal lab data with pathological states, determines the validity of test results
• In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Laboratory Information Manager), GS-12
• Knowledge of concepts, principles, and methodology of clinical laboratory technology in relation to laboratory information systems
• Knowledge of laboratory operations and their relationship to the organization
• Knowledge of laboratory computer systems sufficient to implement various laboratory associated packages and sustain operation of the laboratory system
• Knowledge of compliance and regulatory requirements for laboratory functions
• Ability to adapt, implement and integrate the use of software to specific laboratory applications and processes, including the use of office automation software
• Ability to independently plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member, and effectively complete assignments
• Preferred Experience: None 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 is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.