Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Summary

NOTE:

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information - refer to Required Documents below. This position is located at the Rapid City VA Clinic and is a part of the Black Hills VA Healthcare System. The incumbent serves as a generalist in Clinical Laboratory Science with responsibility for performing procedures in the areas of Specimen Collection - Chemistry - Hematology/Coagulation - Urinalysis - Immunohematology - and Microbiology.

• Citizenship
• Citizen of the United States
• Education:
  
  A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
• Certification:
  Candidates must meet one of the certification options below
• (a)
  Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT
• (b)
  Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT
• (c)
  Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT
• NOTE:
  
  Categorical and specialist certifications are not acceptable for CLS Generalist positions or lab sections unrelated to the categorical or specialist certification held
• Categorical or specialist certifications are acceptable for higher-graded positions within the relevant lab section or one of the non-section specific assignments (including - Ancillary Testing Coordinator - Education Coordinator - Laboratory Information Manager - Quality Manager - Laboratory Manager - Regional Technical Specialist - National Quality and Compliance Agent - Regional Program Manager - Regional Director - Laboratory Director - or National Quality and Compliance Officer)
• Exception for Non-Certified
• (a) Applicants who do not currently hold valid certification may be hired by VA and actively work toward their certification if they meet one of the routes identified in Appendix A that makes them eligible to take the MLS certification exam through the ASCP BOC or the MLS certification exam through AMT Certification Agency
• (b) Non-Certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure may be given a temporary appointment CLS under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)
• (c) Non-Certified individuals may only provide care under the supervision of a certified CLS at or above the FPL
• (d) Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained
• (e) Temporary appointments of non-certified CLS may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment
• Foreign
  
  Education:
  
  To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
• Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational requirements if they meet either of the following: (1)
  Foreign transcripts are evaluated by an acceptable evaluation agency - and the degree is found to be equivalent to a NAACLS-approved U.S. clinical laboratory science degree program
• OR (2)
  The applicant submits a letter from ASCP BOC or AMT stating the individual is eligible to take the certification examination
• NOTE:
  
  Possession of a certification identified above automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed
• Grade Determinations:
  Clinical Laboratory Scientist - GS-07
• (1) Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Clinical Laboratory Scientist - GS-09
• (1) Experience or Education
• Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below: (a) Experience
• 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• OR (b) Education
• Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or a directly related science
• (2) Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of policies and procedures of clinical laboratory testing
• (b) Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance principles
• (c) Knowledge of laboratory equipment and routine maintenance
• (d) Ability to work as a…