Histopathology Technologist

Summary

The incumbent services as a Histopathology Technologist within the Surgical Pathology Section of the Anatomic Pathology Department at the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers Jr.

- VA Medical Center - Memphis - Tennessee and provides research and clinical diagnostic support pertaining to the use of specialized histopathology diagnostic techniques - principally histochemistry - immunohistochemistry and enzyme cytochemistry.

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:
  Histopathology Technologists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Education:
  
  Individuals must meet one of the requirements below:
  Successful completion of a full four-year course of study from an accredited college or university - leading to a bachelor's or higher degree - that included a major study in an academic field related to health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of a histopathology technologist - such as - but not limited to clinical biology - microbiology - physiology - pre‑medical - medical lab technology - chemistry - immunology - physiology - anatomy
• OR - Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university with a combination of 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of biology and chemistry (must include credit hours in both)
• OR - Successful completion of two years of progressively higher level graduate education - leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree - with a major study in an academic field related to health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the position of histopathology technologist - such as clinical biology - microbiology - physiology - pre‑medical - medical lab technology - chemistry - immunology - physiology - anatomy
• (Transcript Required) Foreign Education
• To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization approved by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials - and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs
• Certification:
  Candidates must currently possess the histotechnologist (HTL) certification given by the ASCP Board of Certification
• The ASCP requires completion of one of the following for a candidate to be considered board eligible to take the certification exam: (a) Successful completion of a histotechnician or histotechnology program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS); OR - (b) One year of full time experience in all of the following: fixation - embedding - microtomy - processing - and staining in a histopathology (clinical - veterinary - industry - or research) laboratory
• (Certification Required) Exception for Non-Board Certified
• Non-board‑certified candidates designated by ASCP as board eligible who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B)
• The appointing official may waive the requirement of certification for a period not to exceed two years for a histopathology technologist working under the direct oversight of a supervisor - lab manager - or qualified individual who can verify technical experience
• 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:
  Histopathology Technologist GS‑9 (Full Performance Level) Experience
• Must have One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level - which is directly related to the position to be filled
• This experience may include but is not limited to
• responsibility of performing difficult specialized histological…