Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Open to all U.S. Citizens. All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Due to provisions of 38 U.S.C. 7412, Annual Determination of Staffing Shortages, Veterans' Preference DOES NOT apply.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Perform a wide range of laboratory tests (waived, moderate, and complex) on blood, urine, and body fluids in areas such as Chemistry, Hematology, Coagulation, Blood Bank, Microbiology, Serology, and Urinalysis.
• Operate and maintain laboratory instruments; troubleshoot issues and perform preventive maintenance.
• Conduct quality control and proficiency testing; ensure compliance with accrediting agency standards.
• Collect and process specimens using standard phlebotomy techniques; maintain specimen integrity.
• Enter and verify test results in the patient medical record; report critical values promptly.
• Train and assist new staff, students, and other personnel in laboratory procedures.
• Maintain inventory, stock supplies, and keep work areas clean and safe.
• Follow all safety, infection control, and regulatory guidelines (CAP, JC, FDA, AABB).
• Participate in process improvement and stay current with continuing education requirements.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Work Schedule: 1500 - 2330 rotating weekends/holidays
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Functional Statement #:92182

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

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. Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
Education: Candidates must meet the applicable educational requirements for certification.
Certification. (1) Candidates must currently possess one of the appropriate certifications as an MLT granted by the following organizations.(a)

American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP)

• ASCP, Board of Certification.

OR

• ASCP, Board of Registry.

(b) American Medical Technologists.

OR

(c) American Association of Bioanalysts.

Exception. Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification may receive a temporary appointment up to the full performance level not to exceed two years as a graduate MLT under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2) without the option to extend.

English Language Proficiency. MLT candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized 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).

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for appointment in paragraph 3, VA HR staff must use the following criteria to determine the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.

(1) Medical Laboratory Technician, GS-05.(a) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. None.(c) Assignment. This is an entry-level developmental MLT position.

MLTs will typically receive guidance from experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision. MLTs at this level perform testing in one or more of the following areas: Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) waived testing, phlebotomy, hematology, immunohematology, clinical chemistry, immunology, toxicology, urinalysis, referral laboratory, microbiology and specimen processing. MLTs recognize data with life-threatening (critical) implications and understand the importance of immediately bringing the data to the attention of the patient's physician and/or nursing staff.

(2) Medical Laboratory Technician, GS-06.

(a) Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level.

(b) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of clinical laboratory principles, methods, and procedures across multiple areas (Chemistry, Hematology, Microbiology, Blood Bank, Urinalysis).
• Knowledge of regulatory and accrediting requirements (CAP, Joint Commission, FDA, AABB) and laboratory safety/infection control practices.
• Knowledge of quality assurance, proficiency testing, and laboratory information systems (LIS).
• Skill in performing waived, moderate, and complex diagnostic tests accurately.
• Skill in troubleshooting and maintaining laboratory instruments and analyzers.
• Skill in applying new scientific and technical developments to laboratory testing.
• Skill in conducting quality control and preventive maintenance procedures.
• Skill in training and mentoring staff and students in laboratory techniques and safety compliance.
• Ability to work independently and manage complex laboratory processes.
• Ability to interpret and apply detailed written instructions, SOPs, and regulatory guidelines.
• Ability to identify and correct testing problems and instrument malfunctions.
• Ability to ensure compliance with safety and accreditation standards.
• Ability to correlate test results with patient data and report critical findings promptly.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and enter data into LIS.

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-07.

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 lbs); As needed - Straight pulling, pushing, walking, standing, repeated bending, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required; both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; ability to see and distinguish depth perception, basic colors, and shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted). In addition, the ability to deal with constant noise, work around machinery with moving parts, work closely with others or alone and work protracted or irregular hours.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Transcript

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• CV/Clinical Resume
• Other (2)
• Other (3)
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Next steps