Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Evaluates the suitability of the specimen for analysis requesting new specimen if determined to be unusable. Prepares specimens for analysis ensuring that the physiologic state of the specimen properties is maintained.
• Selects performs evaluates and monitors the performance of test procedures using manual and/or instrumental techniques in accordance with established protocols. Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunction; locates and implements corrections.
• Conducts quality control procedures on equipment reagents and products and maintains proper records for quality control reports.
• Calibrates standardizes adjusts and maintains instruments. Verifies correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks and monitoring. Identifies the cause of common problems and makes simple repairs.
• Evaluates the validity of data in relation to the test system and accepted assay procedures. Correlates quantitative data with patient data (i.e. history medications) to verify results. Performs additional tests to clarify or confirm abnormal patient results. Recognizes abnormal
  results that require immediate attention by the physician and reports them directly.
• Responsible for the generation of laboratory results from the work area into the laboratory computer system and for the editing and verification of the results recorded into the computer system.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.
• Loss of Credential. If an employee fails to maintain the required certification management officials in collaboration with HR Office staff must immediately remove the employee from duties and responsibilities associated with this occupation. This may also result in separation from employment.

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

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.
• Education. A bachelors 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.).
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C.7403(f).
• Certification. Candidates must meet one of the certification options below.
  1. Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT.
  2. Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT.
  3. Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT.

• Employees may be reassigned promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
• If an assignment above the FPL requires an additional certification over and above the basic requirements employees must meet the assignment-specific requirement before they can be promoted.
• 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.
• Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
• Employees 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.

1. Creditable Experience. To be creditable the experience must have required the use of knowledge skills and abilities associated with current CLS practices. The experience satisfying this requirement may be paid or non-paid employment as a CLS in the health care field. Research laboratory experience does not fulfill this requirement.
2. Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience is creditable according to its relationship to a full-time workweek. For example an individual employed 20 hours per week or on a half-time basis would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service.
3. Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to CLS experience at the next lower grade level of the position being filled. For all assignments above the full performance level (FPL) the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope administrative independence complexity and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

• 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.