Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency
• CLSs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a
• 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.(d)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
• 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 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 (GS-07)
• OR Education
• Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or a directly related science
• In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate 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
• 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook and Directive 5019
• This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until July 28, 2025
• The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 2/11/2025 with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month
• Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.

Duties

• This CLS position is in Pathology & Laboratory services at the Providence VA Medical Center, located at the Providence, RI location
• It is a Full Time (40 hours/week) position
• Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Clinical Laboratory Specialist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Medical-Technologist-Career-Flyer.pdf The CLS demonstrates a clear progression of clinical knowledge and experience by performing testing procedures on a variety of biological specimens using manual or automated methods
• This includes routine testing, quality control, routine maintenance of instrumentation, and troubleshooting that applies innovative procedures and problem solving
• Duties include but not limited to: Performs a broad range of laboratory procedures including all testing and tasks of the medical laboratory technician occupation
• In addition, performs complex laboratory procedures
• recognizes deviation from expected results
• analyzes and corrects problems using scientific principles with immediate or general supervision
• Evaluates and solves problems related to collection and processing of biological specimens for analysis taking into account physiologic processes and requirements with immediate or general supervision
• Maintains and documents the optimal functioning of laboratory equipment
• Uses, calibrates, identifies malfunctions, repairs, and performs preventive maintenance of laboratory equipment
• Diagnoses deviations in test performance due to instrument malfunction with immediate or general supervision
• Performs and documents quality control and assurance activities and corrective actions related to test performance using statistical principles and theories of performance improvement with immediate or general supervision
• Adheres to practices and regulations governing biosafety and biosecurity in the workplace with immediate or general supervision
• Identifies discrepancies, solves problems, and presents solutions with immediate or general supervision
• Work Schedule: Full-time
• Monday-Friday 8a-430p with expected rotating weekends and holidays worked
• Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact visn1edrpsupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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: Not Authorized
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: F0815 / F08016 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
• Notifications: Due to a critical staffing shortage, 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement
• This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until July 30, 2025
• The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 2/13/2025 with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month
• Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled
• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action)
• The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)
• In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held
• This position is eligible for coverage by a Bargaining Unit, but is not currently represented This position is covered by a special rate
• Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.