Histopathology Technician (Advanced)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Fredericksburg (VA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

As crucial members of the Central Virginia VA Health Care System Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service, histopathology technicians possess the knowledge and skills to process anatomical tissue and cytological cell samples obtained from the Veteran by a clinician. Work can be performed at both the main facility in Richmond as well as the satellite department at Fredericksburg.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and

Qualifications

• One year of health care experience or education in biological sciences.
• Bachelor's degree with related courses or 24 semester hours in chemistry/biological science plus 12 months histopathology/cytotechnology training.

Responsibilities

• Process anatomical tissue and cytology samples obtained from Veterans.
• Provide technical oversight of laboratory quality control and inventory control.
• Operate anatomic pathology equipment and perform routine instrument troubleshooting.
• Apply professional knowledge to analyze results and support reporting.

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in related field

Histopathology/cytotechnology training

Job description

As crucial members of the Central Virginia VA Health Care System Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service, histopathology technicians possess the knowledge and skills to process anatomical tissue and cytological cell samples obtained from the Veteran by a clinician. Work can be performed at both the main facility in Richmond as well as the satellite department at Fredericksburg.

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.

Basic Requirements

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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
  • (a) 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
  • (b) 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:
  • (a) 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.
  • (b) 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 3 histopathology technicians given by the U.S. Armed Forces.

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 Technician, GS-7 (Advanced)

Experience

One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs.

• (a) Skill in applying professional, complex anatomic pathology principles, practices, concepts, and theories in performing new or difficult specialized testing methods or techniques.
• (b) 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.
• (c) Ability to validate methodologies, operate anatomic pathology laboratory equipment and perform complex instrument troubleshooting.
• (d) Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and evaluate laboratory results and resolve problems.

Preferred Experience

• 2 years cutting and embedding human tissue
• Immunohistochemical staining experience
• Certification eligible for HT

Reference

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

Physical Requirements

Light Lifting (under 15 pounds); Light Carrying (under 15 pounds); use of fingers; Both hands required for fine-manipulation and simple grasping; walking (up to 8 hours); standing (up to 8 hours); sitting (up to 8 hours); near vision correctable at 13\" to 16\"; both eyes required; depth perception; ability to distinguish shades of color.