Lead Histopathology Technologist

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is seeking a Histopathology Technologist at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

This GS-11 position supports the Pathology and Laboratory Services section and requires meeting education, certification, and citizenship requirements. Applicants may be eligible under the VA Grandfathering Provision and must demonstrate knowledge of histopathology techniques, instrumentation, and professional pathology principles.

Qualifications

• US citizenship required for this VA position.
• Education must meet one of the specified paths for histopathology technologist.
• ASCP histotechnologist (HTL) certification required or eligible per grandfathering provisions.

Skills

Histology instrumentation knowledge

Histopathology techniques

Clinical pathology principles

Quality control and corrective action

Workload balancing

Education

Bachelor's degree in health sciences or related field

30+ semester hours biology and chemistry (including both) or 4-year program

Graduate study with clinical practicum (Ph.D. option)

Job description

This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration '(VHA), Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio under the Pathology and Laboratory Services. 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

• 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).
• Education. Individuals must meet one of the 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, such as, but not limited to clinical biology, microbiology, physiology, pre-medical, medical lab technology, chemistry, immunology, physiology, anatomy; OR,
  • (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); OR,
  • (3) Successful completion of two years of progressively higher level graduate education, leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree, with a major study in an academic field related to health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the position of histopathology technologist, such as clinical biology, microbiology, physiology, pre
• 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. 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); OR,
  • (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.

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

• (a) One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled;
• (b) Three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education that included a clinical practicum;
• (c) A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in histopathology technology, or a directly related field that included a clinical practicum.

In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs:

• (a) Knowledge of the operation and maintenance of the instrumentation necessary to prepare specimens for diagnosis.
• (b) Knowledge of histopathology techniques, chemistry, anatomy and physiology principles, theories, concepts, and methodologies sufficient to process specimens and perform a full range of routine and specialized tests.
• (c) Skill in applying professional, complex anatomic pathology principles, practices, concepts, and theories in performing new or difficult specialized testing methods or techniques.
• (d) Ability to identify and test suboptimal specimens and take corrective action to minimize or eliminate the impact on patient's sample.
• (e) Ability to monitor and make work assignments, balance workload, and ensure duties are completed in an accurate and timely manner. This includes the ability to follow-up on pending issues and demonstrate an understanding of the impact of incomplete work.

Reference:

https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.

Physical Requirements:

The work is performed in the anatomic pathology section of the laboratory within the Cleveland VAMC. Specimens are considered potentially hazardous, and biohazard precautions must be followed. Use of toxic or caustic materials during procedures may be required. Personal protective equipment must be used. Safety regulations are followed as appropriate for each procedure and/or potential safety hazards must be reported to the Supervisory Histology Technologist and/or facility Safety Officer for investigation and follow-up. The work requires regular physical exertion that consists of mainly long periods of sitting, standing, handling of supplies and equipment, and bending/lifting of items up to 25lbs. In addition, manual skills are required to be able to perform delicate procedures.