Histopathology Technician (Advanced)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Amarillo (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Amarillo, TX is seeking a Histopathology Technician (Advanced), GS-7, to perform difficult histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical procedures and to develop or adapt staining methods.

The role includes troubleshooting instruments, maintaining quality control, and handling specimens from surgical and autopsy cases. Qualified candidates will have the required education or experience, English proficiency, and citizenship.

Qualifications

• Citizen of the United States.
• English language proficiency.
• Education/Experience: see requirements in basic section.

Responsibilities

• Perform difficult histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical procedures.
• Develop, modify or adapt staining methods or techniques.
• Troubleshoot instrument issues and ensure quality control.
• Prepare slides and cover slips for surgical, cytology, and autopsy specimens.

Skills

Histology techniques

Immunohistochemistry

Quality control

Laboratory instrumentation

Education

Bachelor's degree relevant field

Two years of study in chemistry/biology + histopathology training

Job description

The Histopathology Technician (Advanced) will have the responsibility of performing difficult histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical procedures, as well as developing, modifying, or adapting new staining methods or techniques, improving existing methods as necessary for routine histotechnology procedures. The technician will be responsible for troubleshooting issues with instruments and resolving problems. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/31/2026.

Basic Requirements

• Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.)
• Experience and Education
  • Experience. One year of experience in a health care field that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work such as but not limited to a medical or clinical laboratory assistant (or technician) or health technician. OR,
  • Education
    • Four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation such as biological science or chemistry; or
    • Successful completion of two academic years of study above high school that included at least 24 semester hours in Chemistry and/or in appropriate fields of biological science and successful completion of a 12-month program of education and training in histopathology or cytotechnology. OR,
  • Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. Examples are listed below:
    • Six months of experience in the health care field and two years of education above high school that included at least six semester hours in health care related courses such as biological science, surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position; or an associate's degree in a health care related field.
    • Six months of experience in the health care field and successful completion of a course for health care technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or histopathology technicians given by the U.S. Armed Forces.
• Certification. None
• English Language Proficiency. Histopathology Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5.a., this part.

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).

Histopathology Technician, GS-7 (Advanced)

Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6). Experience includes carrying out the day-to-day operations in the laboratory with minimal technical supervision. This includes routine and complex histopathological and cytopathological procedures, quality control and assurance procedures, operation and routine maintenance of instrumentation, troubleshooting, and principles of performance improvement. The incumbent utilizes specialized techniques for handling cell blocks, frozen sections, bone marrows, autopsies, and fine-needle biopsies. The technician prepares technically adequate slides of surgical, cytology, and autopsy specimens by processing, embedding tissue, cutting, staining (including immunohistochemistry), and coverslipping.

Assignment. Histopathology technicians at this level generally have a higher level of responsibility for technical oversight and are expected to carry out assigned tasks of considerable difficulty independently. The incumbent will have the responsibility of performing difficult specialized histological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical procedures, as well as developing, modifying, or adapting new staining methods or techniques, improving existing methods as necessary for routine histotechnology procedures. The technician will be responsible for troubleshooting issues with instruments and resolving problems. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs.

• Skill in applying professional, complex anatomic pathology principles, practices, concepts, and theories in performing new or difficult specialized testing methods or techniques.
• Ability to provide technical oversight of laboratory quality control and assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement exhibiting competence in managing reagent and supply inventories and document control systems.
• Ability to validate methodologies, operate anatomic pathology laboratory equipment and perform complex instrument troubleshooting.
• Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and evaluate laboratory results and resolve problems.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience in microtomy and embedding techniques
• Knowledge of staining procedures
• Familiarity with anatomic pathology equipment
• Understanding of quality control and assurance
• Experience in laboratory safety procedures

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7.

Physical Requirements:

Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination.