Histopathology Technologist

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, TX seeks a Histopathology Technologist to perform routine and complex histology, special stains, frozen sections, and immunohistochemistry. The role requires HTL certification and may involve board-eligible candidates for temporary assignments.

Applicants must meet VA qualification standards, with potential grandfathering provisions. Duties include specimen processing and maintaining quality control in a laboratory setting within the Pathology &

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship required for consideration.
• English language proficiency required.
• HTL certification by ASCP required; board eligibility may be considered for temporary appointments.
• Education/certification may be grandfathered per VA standards.
• GS-09 requires one year of creditable experience at GS-07 level.

Responsibilities

• Performs routine to highly complex histological testing including routine Histology, special stains, frozen sections, immunohistochemistry, and direct immunofluorescence.
• Maintains quality control and adheres to safety and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborates with pathology staff to ensure accurate specimen processing and reporting.

Skills

Histopathology techniques

Laboratory information systems

Specimen processing

Organization and prioritization

Education

HTL certification (ASCP)

NAACLS-accredited histotechnician program

One year histopathology lab experience

Tools

Histology instruments handling

Laboratory information systems (LIS)

Job description

This position is located in the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service Line at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) in Houston, Texas. The Histopathology Technologist performs a variety of routine to highly complex histological testing, including routine Histology, special stains, frozen sections, immunohistochemistry, & direct immunofluorescence.

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: Candidates must be a United States citizen. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).)
• English Language Proficiency: Histopathology Technologists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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).

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. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to the position, the following provisions apply:

(1) Histopathology technologists who do not meet the basic requirements for education 4 and certification may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in a supervisory or managerial position.

(2) Histopathology technologists who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or receive a new appointment on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.

(3) Histopathology technologists initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain education and/or certification that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

(4) If histopathology technologists, who are grandfathered under this provision, leave the occupation then those employees lose grandfathered protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the histopathology technologist occupation in this series.

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:

1. (a) Successful completion of a histotechnician or histotechnology program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS);
2. (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. You must provide an unexpired copy of your certification through ASCP to receive credit.

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. This exception only applies at the entry level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level, the candidate must have HTL certification. Temporary appointments of non-board-certified histopathology technologists may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment. Failure to obtain board certification by the prescribed date will result in removal from the histopathology technologist, GS-0601 occupational series and may result in termination of employment.

GRADE DETERMINATION

In addition to meeting the above Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Grade Determination criteria below:

Histopathology Technologist, GS-07

(a) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.

Histopathology Technologist, GS-09

(a) Experience. Must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled. You must demonstrate work experience through job tasks and list hours worked per week in resume to receive credit.

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the experience for this grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs in their resume:

1. Knowledge of laboratory information technology systems and inter-connectivity.
2. Knowledge of histopathology techniques, chemistry, anatomy and physiology principles, theories, concepts, and methodologies sufficient to process specimens, and the ability to perform a full range of routine specialized tests.
3. Ability to identify and test suboptimal specimens and take corrective action to minimize or eliminate impact on a patient's sample.
4. Ability to organize, coordinate, and prioritize simultaneous work assignments; both individual and team related.
5. Skill in applying professional, anatomic pathology principles, practices, concepts, and theories in performing new or difficult specialized testing methods or techniques.

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-09. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07 to GS-09.

Physical Requirements

Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment

Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that require normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.