HISTOPATHOLOGY TECHNICIAN (ADV

Full Job Description

This position serves as the point of contact or technical expert and advisor to laboratory and professional medical staff in the specialty of histopathology.

Independently performs both routine and complex histological procedures.

Primary function includes performing difficult and complex tasks on surgical, autopsied, hematopoietic and cytological specimens.

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 (1) 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, (2) 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, (3) 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 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).

c. Certification. None d. Grandfathering Provision.

All Histopathology Technicians employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held.

For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation.

(2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the 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 the standard.

(3) If an employee who was retained (grandfathered) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

e. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 501 Grade Determinations: Histopathology Technician, GS-7 (Advanced) (1) Experience.

One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. (2) Assignment.

Histopathology technicians at this level generally have a higher level of responsibility for technical oversight, and are expected to carry out assigned tasks of considerable difficulty independently.

The incumbent will have the responsibility of performing difficult specialized histological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical procedures, as well as developing, modifying, or adapting new staining methods or techniques, improving existing methods as necessary for routine histotechnology procedures.

The technician will be responsible for troubleshooting issues with instruments and resolving problems.

For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

(3) 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.

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-06. Major Duties:

This position serves as the point of contact or technical expert and advisor to laboratory and professional medical staff in the specialty of histopathology.

Independently performs both routine and complex histological procedures.

Primary function includes performing difficult and complex tasks on surgical, autopsied, hematopoietic and cytological specimens; utilizing specialized techniques for the examination and handling of tissue, cell buttons, bones, marrows and needle biopsies; and preparing technically adequate slides of tissue sections by processing tissue blocks, embedding tissue, cutting, staining and cover slipping.

Additionally, the incumbent operates computerized laboratory equipment to fix, dehydrate and infiltrate with wax tissue specimens to be preserved for study by Pathologists.

The Incumbent works closely with all staff members performing the details that are essential to the orderly and efficient accomplishment of the unit's goals.

Incumbent assists the pathologist in the performance of post-mortem examinations (autopsies) by identifying and preparing the body for autopsy, making the initial cavity incisions, dissecting and removing tissues, weighing and recording tissue weights and sizes, sectioning and preserving tissue for microscopic examination, obtaining specimens for microbiologic cultures, closing the incisions and preparing the body for the mortuary.

Histopathology technicians at this level generally have a higher level of responsibility for technical oversight, and are expected to carry out assigned tasks of considerable difficulty independently.

The incumbent will have the responsibility of performing difficult specialized histological, histochemical, and immune histochemical procedures, as well as developing, modifying, or adapting new staining methods or techniques, improving existing methods as necessary for routine histotechnology procedures.

The technician will be responsible for troubleshooting issues with instruments and resolving problems.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 5:00am - 1:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #:09373-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized