Supervisory Histopathology Technologist

Summary

The incumbent supervises a large staff of nonsupervisory personnel – including at least one GS‑11 subordinate – in the performance of complex anatomic pathology testing in multiple specialties such as Mohs testing, cytology testing, immunohistochemistry, molecular testing, or electron microscopy. The supervisor performs the full range of supervisory duties for one or more sections of the anatomic pathology laboratory – including responsibility for assignment of work performed.

• 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 following requirements below:
  • (1) 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 (e.g., clinical biology, microbiology, physiology, pre‑medical, medical lab technology, chemistry, immunology, anatomy, etc.).
  • (2) 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).
  • (3) Successful completion of two years of progressively higher‑level graduate education – leading to a master’s degree or equivalent – with a major study in an academic field related to health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the position of histopathology technologist (e.g., clinical biology, microbiology, physiology, pre‑medical, medical lab technology, chemistry, immunology, anatomy, etc.).
• 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 – (1) Candidates must currently possess the Histotechnologist (HTL) certification given by the ASCP Board of Certification.
  (2) 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).
  (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.
• Loss of Certification – Employees who fail to maintain the required certification must be removed from the histopathology technologist – GS‑0601 occupation – which may result in termination of employment.
• Grandfathering Provision – All histopathology technologists employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series who perform the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held – including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.
  Employees who do not meet all the basic requirements are subject to reassignment, demotion, or restriction on promotion or supervisory assignment as specified in the standard.
• Grade Determinations – To qualify for GS‑12 you must have the following:
  Experience – Must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS‑11 grade level that is directly related to the position to be filled.
  Demonstrated Knowledge‑Skills‑Abilities (KSAs) – In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • (a) Knowledge of federal and state laws, regulations, and…