- Position Title
- Clinical Laboratory Scientist
- Agency
- Veterans Health Administration
- Announcement Number
- CBSU-12706547-25-JRS Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Wednesday, March 5, 2025 to Tuesday, September 30, 2025
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
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).
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in the Clinical Laboratory Scientist - GS-644 7/9/11 position with the Veterans Health Administration. Please select the appropriate answer to each of the following questions based on your current level of education and/or experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
1.
English Language Proficiency.
Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j : No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English.
Are you proficient in spoken and written English?
Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j : No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English.
Are you proficient in spoken and written English?
2.
Education.
A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
Do you posses the basic education requirement?
A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
Do you posses the basic education requirement?
3.
Certification.
Candidates must meet one (1) of the certification options below.
Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT.
Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT.
Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT.
NOTE:
1-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).
2-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 the routes 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 two (2) years or be converted to a new temporary appointment
Candidates must meet one (1) of the certification options below.
Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT.
Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT.
Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT.
NOTE:
1-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).
2-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 the routes 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 two (2) years or be converted to a new temporary appointment
GRADE REQUIREMENTS
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
4.
Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-07 (Entry Level)
Do you meet the basic requirements (listed above) for this position?
Do you meet the basic requirements (listed above) for this position?
5.
Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-09.
Experience or Education. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must also meet one of the criteria below
(1) year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-07) OR
(2)have a Master's degree or two academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or a directly related science.
Please select the appropriate answer based on your level of education and/or experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position.
Experience or Education. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must also meet one of the criteria below
(1) year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-07) OR
(2)have a Master's degree or two academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or a directly related science.
Please select the appropriate answer based on your level of education and/or experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position.
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
6.
GS 9 In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
Knowledge of policies and procedures of clinical laboratory testing.
Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance principles.
Knowledge of laboratory equipment and routine maintenance.
Ability to work as a team member and effectively complete assignments.
Ability to read and interpret written instructions.
Ability to accurately perform pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of testing.
Do you possess all of these KSAs?
Knowledge of policies and procedures of clinical laboratory testing.
Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance principles.
Knowledge of laboratory equipment and routine maintenance.
Ability to work as a team member and effectively complete assignments.
Ability to read and interpret written instructions.
Ability to accurately perform pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of testing.
Do you possess all of these KSAs?
7.
Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-11.
Experience or Education. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must also have
(1) One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09)
OR
(2)have three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related science.
Experience or Education. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must also have
(1) One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09)
OR
(2)have three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related science.
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
8.
GS 11 In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
Knowledge of professional clinical laboratory science principles, practices, concepts, and theories that support sound, independent work.
Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement.
Skill in informatics, laboratory data flow, and laboratory processes.
Ability to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair instrumentation.
Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results.
Ability to read, interpret, and apply complex written instructions.
Ability to communicate, consult, and interact with other members of the health care team, external relations, customer service, and patient education.
Do you possess all of these KSAs?
Knowledge of professional clinical laboratory science principles, practices, concepts, and theories that support sound, independent work.
Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement.
Skill in informatics, laboratory data flow, and laboratory processes.
Ability to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair instrumentation.
Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results.
Ability to read, interpret, and apply complex written instructions.
Ability to communicate, consult, and interact with other members of the health care team, external relations, customer service, and patient education.
Do you possess all of these KSAs?
REMINDERS
Resume Reminder
Your resume must include the following information for each job listed:
Job Title
Grade/Step/Salary
(Duties (be as detailed as possible)
Month and Year, start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
Full-time or Part-time status (include hours worked per week)
In addition, to ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties and responsibilities you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy.
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. Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate and verify your qualifications. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.
SF-50 Reminder
If you are a current federal employee, or a former employee with reinstatement rights, you MUST submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 or your separation/resignation SF-50. This SF-50 needs to show your current or last grade, step, wage, and title. A promotion, General wage adjudication, Step- progression or a separation SF-50 are the preferred SF-50's. Your federal employment status cannot be verified without this document and you will be disqualified for not meeting the area of consideration if you do not provide the documentation. Please do not submit a bonus or award SF-50.
Transcripts Reminder
If you are basing your qualifications on education (or a combination of education and experience) you must submit a copy of your transcripts (official or unofficial) with your application. Be sure your name, name of the school attended, dates attended, classes taken with grades listed and credits awarded, name of degree conferred, (if applicable) is stated on the transcript.
Licensure Reminder
Please include a copy of your current unexpired licensure.
Certification Reminder
Please include a copy of your current active/unexpired certification.
Please be sure to submit all required documentation before the closing date of the announcement.