Histopathology Technologist

Full Job Description

The histopathology technologist ensures goals are met by prioritizing work, as necessary, or heavy workload, and by performing simultaneous tasks.

The incumbent will use professional skills in applying anatomic pathology principles, practices, concepts, and theories to perform new or difficult specialized testing methods, such as immunohistochemical, histochemical, and frozen section techniques, and grossing of uncomplicated specimens.

Basic Requirements: a. 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). b. 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-medical, medical lab technology, chemistry, immunology, physiology, anatomy.

c. 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. d. 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.

(2) 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. (3) Failure to Obtain Certification.

In all cases, non-board-certified histopathology technologists must meet one of the ASCP histotechnologist eligibility routes at the date of their appointment and must actively pursue certification from the date of their appointment.

At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the histopathology technologist with the written requirement to obtain certification, the date by which the certification must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline.

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.

(4) Loss of Certification.

Employees who fail to maintain the required certification must be removed from the histopathology technologist, GS-0601 occupation, which may result in termination of employment. Physical Requirements.

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. Histopathology Technologists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Grade Determinations: GRADE REQUIREMENTS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment listed above, the following experience criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. a.

Histopathology Technologist, GS-7 (1) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. (2) Assignment.

At this level, histopathology technologists serve in developmental positions practicing under close supervision of a supervisor, lab manager, or qualified individual who can verify technical experience.

b. Histopathology Technologist, GS-9 (1) 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.

(2) Assignment. At the full performance level, the histopathology technologist independently performs a full range of routine and specialized tests.

Utilize information technology systems to apply histopathology techniques and broad scientific principles from the fields of biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology.

The histopathology technologist acts as a technical resource, troubleshooting a variety of specialized lab tests, identifying suboptimal issues, and uses independent judgment and resources to resolve concerns.

The histopathology technologist ensures goals are met by prioritizing work, as necessary, in times of short staffing, or heavy workload, and by performing simultaneous tasks.

The histopathology technologist uses professional skills in applying anatomic pathology principles, practices, concepts, and theories to perform new or difficult specialized testing methods, such as immunohistochemical, histochemical, and frozen section techniques.

(3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of laboratory information technology systems and inter-connectivity.

(b) 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.

(c) Ability to identify and test suboptimal specimens and take corrective action to minimize or eliminate impact on a patient's sample.

(d) Ability to organize, coordinate, and prioritize simultaneous work assignments; both individual and team related.

(e) Skill in applying professional, anatomic pathology principles, practices, concepts, and theories in performing new or difficult specialized testing methods or techniques.

Preferred Experience: with gross examination and sectioning of surgical pathology specimens.

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-9.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-9. Major Duties:

- Maintains knowledge of and complies with federal and VA policies as well as accreditation agency regulations, including but not limited to OSHA, CAP, JCAHO and FDA.

- Assumes responsibility for surgical, cytology, and autopsy, hematopoietic specimens after they are received in the laboratory.

- Evaluates and solves problems related to collection, accessioning and processing of biological specimens for diagnostic evaluation, taking into account physiologic processes and requirement.

- Following appropriate training and certification, performs all elements of gross examination and sectioning of all types of surgical pathology specimens (that they are qualified to perform) and preparing specimens for analysis according to standard operating procedures.

- Performs technical preparation of both routine and special tissues, including but not limited to, needle and punch biopsies, bone marrow aspirations, tissues from autopsies, and bone.

-Prepares technically adequate slides of surgical, cytology, and autopsy specimens by processing, embedding tissue, cutting, staining and cover slipping.

- Recognizes origin and type of tissue and properly orients and cuts small or complex specimens, choosing appropriate section thickness.

- Examines slides under a microscope to ensure tissue preparation meets laboratory requirements.

- Provides technical guidance to ensure all tissues are properly oriented when embedding them, according to established procedure and type of specimen being prepared.

- Identifies problems in processing and staining procedures and makes necessary adjustments as needed for diagnostic purposes.

- Prepares all stains and chemical solutions with competent, practical knowledge of chemistry.

- Performs complex immunohistochemical stains and procedures, including but limited to, special pre-treatment procedures, antigen retrieval, enzymatic digestion, antibody diluting and titers, immunofluorescence, and enzyme immunohistochemistry.

Troubleshoots and corrects problems with these procedures and maintains records and QA, as required.

- Is responsible for preparation, labeling and storage of routine fixative solutions, special fixatives (decalcifying agents) and stains.

Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30 pm Monday-Friday Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized