Medical Technologist

Summary 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. 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.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• 1

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3.g

• 2

• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C

• 7403(f)

• 3

• Education and/or Experience Combination: (a) A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in medical laboratory science, medical technology, clinical laboratory science or in a related science (e.g., laboratory sciences such as chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, immunology, etc.)

• AND completion of a medical technology clinical practice program

• Clinical practice programs completed after 1974 must have been accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP, formerly CAHEA), or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)

• The professional curriculum may have consisted of a post-baccalaureate certificate program or be integrated into a four-year program of study that culminated in a baccalaureate degree

• OR (b) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry) and one course in mathematics, AND two years of post-certification clinical laboratory experience (e.g., blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, clinical microscopy, etc.) within the last ten years as a certified Medical Laboratory Technician by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP-BOC), American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Registry (ASCP-BOR) or American Medical Technologists (AMT)

• This experience must include performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory

• OR (c) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry) and one course in mathematics, AND five years of clinical laboratory experience within the last ten years performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory

• Foreign Graduates

• Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational and/or experience requirements if the degree is found to be equivalent to degree programs recognized by the NAACLS or clinical laboratory experience as described in paragraph 2b or above

• This finding may be based on either of the following:(1) A letter from a college or university with a baccalaureate program recognized by the NAACLS stating that the individual's foreign degree has been evaluated and been found to be equivalent to its bachelor of medical technology degree.(2) A letter from ASCP-BOC or AMT stating that the individual is eligible for the certification examination

• 3

• Certification: Candidates must have either (1) or (2) below: (1) Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT

• OR (2) For positions up to the full performance level, candidates must currently possess the categorical or specialist technologist level certification from the certification agencies listed above, such as, but not limited to, chemistry (C/SC), hematology (H/SH), microbiology (M/SM), molecular biology (MB/SMB) and blood bank (BB/SBB)

• Technologists with categorical or specialist certifications may only perform duties within the area of the laboratory specific to their categorical certification (e

• g., an individual with a chemistry (C) certification can only perform duties in chemistry)

• Exception

• Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification may be given a temporary appointment up to the full performance level not to exceed one year as a graduate medical technologist under the authority of 38 U.S.C

• 7405(c)(2)(B)

• This appointment may not be extended

• GRADE DETERMINATION Medical Technologist GS-7 (a) Experience

• None beyond the basic requirements

• (b) Assignments

• Employees at this level serve in an entry level Medical Technologist career development position practicing under close supervision of an MT at or above the full performance level

• Medical Technologist GS-9 (a) Experience

• Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled

• OR, (b) Education

• Must have Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or directly related field

• (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Comprehensive knowledge of professional MT principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work

• Comprehensive knowledge of laboratory quality control and assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement in order to manage reagent and supply inventories and document control systems

• Knowledge of laboratory equipment and ability to maintain, troubleshoot and repair instrumentation

• Ability to plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member and effectively complete assignments

• Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results

• Ability to read, interpret and apply complex written instructions

• Skilled in informatics, laboratory data flow and the understanding of laboratory processes

• Ability to communicate, consult and interact with other members of the healthcare team, external relations, customer service and patient education

• Preferred Experience: Experience with the ability to communicate, consults, and interacts with other members of the healthcare team, external relations, customer service, and patient education

• References: VA Handbook 5005/72, Part II Appendix G24, Medical Technologist Qualification Standard dated May 12, 2014

• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9

• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-9

• Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting over 45 pounds; Moderate carrying of 15-44 pounds; Straight pulling (2 hours); Both hands are required and the use of fingers; Reaching above shoulder; Walking (2 hours); Standing (4 hours); Crawling (1 hour); Kneeling (1 hour); Pushing (2 hours); Repeated bending (4 hours); Both legs are required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Both eyes are required; Depth perception; Fair vision and pass color blindness test; Work around dust, electrical energy; Ability to hear; Works around constant noise; Working closely with others; Works around machinery and moving parts; Utilize stair ladders with rails.

Duties "If you ARE a current, permanent VA employee or Federal employee from another agency, you should apply under CBST 24-TH Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Medical-Technologist-Career-Flyer.pdf This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2024 or until all positions are filled.
The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be February 28, 2024, with subsequent application reviews every 2 weeks until vacancies are filled or when the Services has the need for recruitment.
This Announcement will be used to fill multiple vacancies within multiple Services identified during the interview.
TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION, YOU MUST SUBMIT A COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGE, OR YOU WILL RECEIVE AN ELECTRONIC NOTICE THAT YOU ARE RATED INELIGIBLE.
SEE QUALIFICATIONS SECTION AND REQUIRED DOCUMENTS SECTION FOR DETAILS.
KSAs MUST BE DEMONSTRATED IN YOUR RESUME.
PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE ANNOUNCEMENT AND REFER BACK TO IT OFTEN WHEN WRITING YOUR RESUME.
Medical Technologist performs work in a variety of laboratory disciplines, such as chemistry & hematology.
There are few positions open for multiple tours within the laboratory.
The duties of the Medical Technologist include but are not limited to: Performs a broad range of laboratory procedures including all testing and tasks of the medical laboratory technician occupation.
Evaluates and solves problems related to collection and processing of biological specimens for analysis taking into account physiologic processes and requirements click apply for full job details