Medical Laboratory Technician

Summary

This position is is an entry level developmental Medical Laboratory Technician position. MLTs are expected to receive guidance from staff members & require frequent and direct supervision. This position falls within Primary Care Clinics and Rural CBOCS Pathology and Laboratory at the VA Health Care System. Primary function of this position is to obtain blood specimens by venipuncture from properly identified patients for laboratory testing - & provide properly prepared specimens for testing.

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.

• 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: MLT candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Education:
  
  Candidates must meet the applicable educational requirements for certification
• Certification:
  Candidates must currently possess one of the appropriate certifications as an MLT granted by the following organizations
• American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) i ASCP - Board of Certification
• ASCP - Board of Registry
• American Medical Technologists
• OR American Association of Bioanalysts
• Exception:
  Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification may receive a temporary appointment up to the full performance level not to exceed two years as a graduate MLT under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2) without the option to extend
• 3 For grade levels above full performance level - the candidate must be certified in accordance with paragraph 4.c.(1) above
• Foreign
  
  Education:
  
  Graduates of foreign MLT programs are considered to meet the basic education requirements if they have a current certification as described in subparagraph 4.c
• 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 individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties described in this qualification standard on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held - including positive education and licensure/trademark/registration/certification
• 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 it - the following provisions apply:
  Employees may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level - or changed to a lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• Employees in an occupation requiring a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before being promoted to those higher grade levels
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of this 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 this standard
• Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and 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 additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meets all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credential as a condition of employment
• Grade Determinations: GS-05:
  
  Experience:
  
  None beyond the basic requirements
• Assignment:
  This is…