- Position Title
- Clinical Laboratory Scientist
- Agency
- Veterans Health Administration
- Announcement Number
- CBST-12706265-25-AB Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Thursday, March 6, 2025 to Tuesday, September 30, 2025
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1.
Do you claim Veterans’ Preference?
2.
Are you currently employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs?
This includes: Career/Career Conditional or Excepted Service (i.e. Canteen, Hybrid, Title 38, etc. and meets interchange agreement requirements). This does not include temporary, term or temporary intermittent.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met (if applicable) and include your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. Competitive or Excepted). Please be aware that award SF-50's do not always include this pertinent information.
This includes: Career/Career Conditional or Excepted Service (i.e. Canteen, Hybrid, Title 38, etc. and meets interchange agreement requirements). This does not include temporary, term or temporary intermittent.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met (if applicable) and include your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. Competitive or Excepted). Please be aware that award SF-50's do not always include this pertinent information.
3.
Are you an employee of the facility indicated for this position?
This includes: Career/Career Conditional or Excepted Service (i.e. Canteen, Hybrid, Title 38, etc. and meets interchange agreement requirements). This does not include temporary, term or temporary intermittent.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met (if applicable) and include your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. Competitive or Excepted). Please be aware that award SF-50's do not always include this pertinent information.
This includes: Career/Career Conditional or Excepted Service (i.e. Canteen, Hybrid, Title 38, etc. and meets interchange agreement requirements). This does not include temporary, term or temporary intermittent.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met (if applicable) and include your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. Competitive or Excepted). Please be aware that award SF-50's do not always include this pertinent information.
4.
Are you a current permanent Federal employee from an agency other than Department of Veterans Affairs?
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form.
5.
Are you a Veterans Health Administration employee?
This includes: Career/Career Conditional or Excepted Service (i.e. Canteen, Hybrid, Title 38, etc. and meets interchange agreement requirements). This does not include temporary, term or temporary intermittent.
This includes: Career/Career Conditional or Excepted Service (i.e. Canteen, Hybrid, Title 38, etc. and meets interchange agreement requirements). This does not include temporary, term or temporary intermittent.
Preferences
1.
Which of the following items describes your current or recent (within the last five years) political appointee service?
If you responded yes to any of the items below, you will need to include a SF-50 specifying your prior service.
If you responded yes to any of the items below, you will need to include a SF-50 specifying your prior service.
Your resume must be submitted in English and include the following information for each job listed:
- Job title Duties (be as detailed as possible)
- Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
- Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)
- Series and Grade, if applicable, for all Federal positions you have held
- Please be aware that your answers will be verified against information provided on your resume. Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all of the questions by addressing your work experience in detail.
By submitting your application, you are certifying, to the best of your knowledge and belief, all the information submitted by you with your application for employment is true, complete, and made in good faith, and that you have truthfully and accurately represented your work experience, knowledge, skills, abilities and education (degrees, accomplishments, etc.). The information you provide as part of your application may be investigated. You are also certifying, and acknowledging, that misrepresenting your experience or education, or providing false or fraudulent information in, or with your application, may affect your eligibility for appointment and/or continued employment. False or fraudulent statements may be punishable by fine or imprisonment (18 U.S.C. 1001).
2.
I authorize my application information being shared with hiring managers for similar positions. I understand this option may not result in further consideration for additional positions nor will it impact my application for this announcement.
Assessment 1
To qualify for this position, you must meet the Basic Requirements as well as any additional grade-level qualification requirements. NOTE: Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification may be given a temporary appointment up to the full performance level not to exceed one year as a graduate Clinical Laboratory Scientist. Grandfathering Provision. A Clinical Laboratory Scientist employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (12/03/2024) who did not meet all the basic requirements in this standard may not be promoted beyond the full performance level (GS-0644-11) or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions until meeting the full qualification requirements.
Please indicate Yes or No for the following questions:
Please indicate Yes or No for the following questions:
1.
Are you proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d)?
2.
Do you possess a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university?
2a.
Please provide the following information regarding the academic institution from which you received your bachelor’s degree or higher. Otherwise, indicate N/A.
Name of Institution
City and State
Degree
Major/Program
Month and Year conferred
Name of Institution
City and State
Degree
Major/Program
Month and Year conferred
3.
Do you possess one of the following certificates?
(a) Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT.
(b) Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT.
(c) Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT.
NOTE: Categorical and specialist certifications are not acceptable for CLS Generalist positions or lab sections unrelated to the categorical or specialist certification held. Categorical or specialist certifications are acceptable for higher-graded positions within the relevant lab section or one of the non-section specific assignments (including, Ancillary Testing Coordinator, Education Coordinator, Laboratory Information Manager, Quality Manager, Laboratory Manager, Regional Technical Specialist, National Quality and Compliance Agent, Regional Program Manager, Regional Director, Laboratory Director, or National Quality and Compliance Officer).
Exception for Non-Certified. (a) Applicants who do not currently hold valid certification may be hired by VA and actively work toward their certification if they meet one of 4 the routes identified in Appendix A (VA Handbook Part II Appendix G24) that makes them eligible to take the MLS certification exam through the ASCP BOC or the MLS certification exam through AMT Certification Agency. (b) Non-Certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure may be given a temporary appointment CLS under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2). (c) Non-Certified individuals may only provide care under the supervision of a certified CLS at or above the FPL. (d) Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained. (e) Temporary appointments of non-certified CLS may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment.
(a) Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT.
(b) Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT.
(c) Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT.
NOTE: Categorical and specialist certifications are not acceptable for CLS Generalist positions or lab sections unrelated to the categorical or specialist certification held. Categorical or specialist certifications are acceptable for higher-graded positions within the relevant lab section or one of the non-section specific assignments (including, Ancillary Testing Coordinator, Education Coordinator, Laboratory Information Manager, Quality Manager, Laboratory Manager, Regional Technical Specialist, National Quality and Compliance Agent, Regional Program Manager, Regional Director, Laboratory Director, or National Quality and Compliance Officer).
Exception for Non-Certified. (a) Applicants who do not currently hold valid certification may be hired by VA and actively work toward their certification if they meet one of 4 the routes identified in Appendix A (VA Handbook Part II Appendix G24) that makes them eligible to take the MLS certification exam through the ASCP BOC or the MLS certification exam through AMT Certification Agency. (b) Non-Certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure may be given a temporary appointment CLS under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2). (c) Non-Certified individuals may only provide care under the supervision of a certified CLS at or above the FPL. (d) Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained. (e) Temporary appointments of non-certified CLS may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment.
3a.
Please provide your certification information. If you are not certified and do not expect to become certified within a year indicate N/A. Otherwise, indicate N/A.
Type of Certification(s) and numbers
Month and Year Certified/Expected Certification Date
Accrediting Body
Type of Certification(s) and numbers
Month and Year Certified/Expected Certification Date
Accrediting Body
Grade Level Requirements - Please select the appropriate answer to each of the following questions based on your background and experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. When answering the questionnaire, remember that your experience and education are subject to verification by investigation.
4.
GS-07 Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Entry Level Developmental) - Do you meet the basic requirements for this position?
5.
GS-09 Clinical Laboratory Scientist:
Experience or Education. Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below:
(a) Experience. 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
OR
(b) Education. Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or a directly related science.
In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):
(a)Knowledge of policies and procedures of clinical laboratory testing.
(b)Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance principles.
(c)Knowledge of laboratory equipment and routine maintenance.
(d)Ability to work as a team member and effectively complete assignments.
(e)Ability to read and interpret written instructions.
(f)Ability to accurately perform pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of testing.
Please select the following answer that best describes your level of experience, education, or combination of experience/education.
Experience or Education. Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below:
(a) Experience. 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
OR
(b) Education. Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or a directly related science.
In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):
(a)Knowledge of policies and procedures of clinical laboratory testing.
(b)Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance principles.
(c)Knowledge of laboratory equipment and routine maintenance.
(d)Ability to work as a team member and effectively complete assignments.
(e)Ability to read and interpret written instructions.
(f)Ability to accurately perform pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of testing.
Please select the following answer that best describes your level of experience, education, or combination of experience/education.
5a.
If you selected B, provide the following information regarding the academic institution from which you received your master's degree or completed 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education. Otherwise indicate "N/A".
Name of Institution
City and State
Degree
Major/Program
Month and Year conferred
Name of Institution
City and State
Degree
Major/Program
Month and Year conferred
6.
GS-11 Clinical Laboratory Scientist:
Experience or Education. Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below:
(a) Experience. 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
OR
(b) Education. Must have 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related science.
In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):
(a)Knowledge of professional clinical laboratory science principles, practices, concepts, and theories that support sound, independent work.
(b)Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement.
(c)Skill in informatics, laboratory data flow, and laboratory processes.
(d)Ability to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair instrumentation.
(e)Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results.
(f)Ability to read, interpret, and apply complex written instructions.
(g)Ability to communicate, consult, and interact with other members of the health care team, external relations, customer service, and patient education.
Please select the following answer that best describes your level of experience or education.
Experience or Education. Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below:
(a) Experience. 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
OR
(b) Education. Must have 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related science.
In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):
(a)Knowledge of professional clinical laboratory science principles, practices, concepts, and theories that support sound, independent work.
(b)Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement.
(c)Skill in informatics, laboratory data flow, and laboratory processes.
(d)Ability to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair instrumentation.
(e)Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results.
(f)Ability to read, interpret, and apply complex written instructions.
(g)Ability to communicate, consult, and interact with other members of the health care team, external relations, customer service, and patient education.
Please select the following answer that best describes your level of experience or education.
6a.
If you selected B, provide the following information regarding the academic institution from which you received your Ph. D or equivalent doctoral degree or completed 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education. Otherwise indicate "N/A".
Name of Institution
City and State
Degree
Major/Program
Month and Year conferred
Name of Institution
City and State
Degree
Major/Program
Month and Year conferred