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 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: Be a citizen of the United States

• English Language Proficiency: Medical Technologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005/72, Part II, Chapter 2, Section D, 5a

• Education and/or Experience Combination: In order to meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must possess: (1) 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.) (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) 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- (2) 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 (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) 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- (3) 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, (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) 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(2) or (3) 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

• Certification(Supplied if Applicable): Candidates must have either (1) or (2) below: Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT -OR- 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 temporarily appointed up to full performance level (GS-9)

• Failure to become certified within one (1) year from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0644 MT Series

• Applicants 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 MTs employed in VHA in this occupation on May 12, 2014 are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation

• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to the position, the following provisions apply: MTs that do not meet the basic requirements for education and certification may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions

• MTs 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

• MTs initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain certification that meets all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation

• If MTs who were retained in this occupation under this provision leave the occupation, the MT loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation

• GRADE DETERMINATIONS - The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates

• Grade Determinations for Medical Technologist GS-09: Experience: GS-09, must have one (1) year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07), which is directly related to the position to be filled

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

• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience 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 judgement to analyze and interpret laboratory results

• Ability to read, interpret, and apply complex written instructions

• GRADE DETERMINATIONS CONTINUED IN THE ADDTIONAL INFORMATION SECTION

Duties "The Medical Technologist work is performed in a variety of laboratory disciplines such as blood gases, chemistry (including endocrinology and toxicology), coagulation, hematology, immunology, serology, urinalysis and virology; participates in the sample collection and shipment of the Drug Free Workplace Program.
Such positions include requirements to monitor quality control systems and measures; collaborate in the diagnosis and treatment of patients; and provide education for laboratory and other healthcare professionals, and others in the medical center setting including the public.
The generalist medical technologist may work with other generalists on a regular basis through the above-mentioned areas.
Duties may include but are not limited to: Performs a broad range of laboratory procedures including all testing and tasks of the medical laboratory technologist occupation.
Recognizes deviation from expected results; analyzes and corrects problems using specific principles.
Evaluates and solves problems related to collection and processing of biological specimens for analysis taking into account physiologic processes and requirements.
Maintains and documents the optimal functioning of laboratory equipment uses, calibrates, identifies malfunctions . click apply for full job details