Clarification from the agency

Announcement is open to Federal Employees and the Public. Federal Employees must provide SF50 to receive applicable eligibility. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

This position is in the Core Laboratory and Phlebotomy Sections of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Program, reporting to the Supervisory Medical Technician.

Description of assigned duties:

The Medical Laboratory Technician major areas of responsibility are: Accession and receipt of laboratory specimens into the laboratory information computer system; collect blood by venipuncture; ascertain correct specimen labeling, processing and distribution; answers questions relative to patient specimen; instructs and assists patients; specimen processing and performance of point of care testing such as urine drug testing, and fingerstick glucose testing; loading specimens on the analyzers; clerical functions such as answering the phone or calling lab test results to providers; entering results received from reference laboratories, additional duties as assigned.

The technician also has the responsibility of handling patient/provider referral of incoming calls, customer service to veterans, visitors, and staff and laboratory specimen referral support. The medical laboratory technician performs technical and non-technical duties in accordance with the VA/CAP/TJC/FDA/AABB regulatory agencies.

The Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center (CMCVAMC) is a tertiary healthcare system that provides acute, intermediate, and long-term care 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week and on holidays. The medical laboratory technician is required to work regular and irregular hours of duty on a regular recurrent basis. The work requires five (5) days/week, eight (8) hours/day and includes rotating weekends and holidays.

Scope of practice:

The medical laboratory technician accessions samples and receives requests for testing into the laboratory computer information system by automated and manual methods.

The medical laboratory technician places orders into the laboratory information system for samples which arrive on manual requisitions ensuring the correct test is ordered.

The medical laboratory technician ensures that samples are collected correctly in the correct tubes with the correct anticoagulants, labeled correctly, at the correct temperature, and specimen integrity is maintained.

The medical laboratory technician processes samples prior to testing by centrifuging, aliquoting, storing samples properly, separates and delivers samples to the correct section for testing. The medical laboratory technician recognizes the specimen priority and alerts the testing section upon delivery.

The medical laboratory technician instructs and provides guidance to patients, families, and other healthcare workers on how to collect and store specimens for multiple tests including but not limited to random urine tests, 24-hour urine tests, stool tests, respiratory tests, and cultures.
The medical laboratory technician receives these samples and ensures they are collected properly according to the instructions provided.

The medical laboratory technician receives all specimens that are sent to commercial reference laboratories for testing. The medical laboratory technician must be knowledgeable about the specimen requirements for each reference lab and the test ordering procedures for each of the reference laboratories. He/she verifies patient preparation, specimen collection and specimen transport requirements are met prior to sending samples to the reference lab. The medical laboratory technician identifies unusual conditions and discrepancies which may affect lab testing and cause erroneous results. He/she makes sound decisions independently and takes appropriate action to correct and solve problems pertaining to reference lab tests. The medical laboratory technician investigates unusual tests requests by contacting the reference laboratory or reviewing the online test directory prior to collection and provides guidance to the patient or healthcare workers prior to the collection of an unusual sample. He/she processes, packages, and stores the samples until they are transported to the reference laboratory. The medical laboratory technician must be knowledgeable to package samples, so they meet the federal guidelines for shipping of diagnostic specimens and biohazardous material. On occasion the medical laboratory technician must weigh or measure a sample that is sent for testing.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 6:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., rotating every 3rd weekend. Will also be required to work 2 major and one minor holidays.
Compressed/Flexible:Not available
Telework: Not available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

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:

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

Education: Candidates must meet the applicable educational requirements for certification.

Certification: Candidates must currently possess one of the appropriate certifications as Phlebotomist or MLT granted by the following organizations.

• American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) -
  • ASCP, Board of Certification. OR
  • ASCP, Board of Registry.
• American Medical Technologists.
• 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. For grade levels above full performance level, the candidate must be certified in accordance with paragraph above.

Grandfathering Provision: All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties described in this qualification standard on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure/trademark/registration/certification. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements of this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

• Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and include the full performance (journey) level, or changed to a lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
• Employees in an occupation requiring a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before being promoted to those higher grade levels.
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of this qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of this standard.
• Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meets all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credential as a condition of employment

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).

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for Medical Laboratory Technician, the following criteria are used to determine the appropriate grade assignment of candidates:

Medical Laboratory Technician, GS-06:

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

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

• Knowledge of MLT principles, practices, concepts and theories for sound independent work.
• Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures to manage reagents and supply inventories using document control systems.
• Ability to maintain, troubleshoot and repair instrumentation.
• Ability to work as a team member in a laboratory setting to effectively complete assignments.
• Ability to use technical judgment to interpret laboratory results.
• Ability to apply complex written laboratory instructions.
• Ability to consult with other members of the health care team, patients and external customers.

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-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-6.

Physical Requirements: Must be able to perform moderate lifting up to 20 lbs., straight pulling, pushing, reaching above the shoulder, use of fingers and both hands, walking, standing for up to 4 hours, kneeling, repeated bending, use of both arms and legs. Specific visual requirements include use of both eyes, depth perception, ability to distinguish colors and shades of colors, hearing (aids permitted), clear, high cognitive function and emotional stability; ability to read ordinary type without strain.

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:

• Resume

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
• Other (1)
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):

• Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
• An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade
• Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
  • Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
  • Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
  • SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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