This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Learn more 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 and/or Experience Combination (1) A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in medical laboratory science, medical technology, clinical laboratory science or in a related science (e.g., laboratory sciences such as chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, immunology, etc.). AND completion of a medical technology clinical practice program. Clinical practice programs completed after 1974 must have been accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP, formerly CAHEA), or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). The professional curriculum may have consisted of a post-baccalaureate certificate program or be integrated into a four-year program of study that culminated in a baccalaureate degree. OR, (2) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry) and one course in mathematics, AND two years of post-certification clinical laboratory experience (e.g., blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, clinical microscopy, etc.) within the last ten years as a certified Medical Laboratory Technician by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP-BOC), American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Registry (ASCP-BOR) or American Medical Technologists (AMT). This experience must include performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory. OR (3) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry) and one course in mathematics, AND five years of clinical laboratory experience within the last ten years performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory. Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational and/or experience requirements if the degree is found to be equivalent to degree programs recognized by the NAACLS or clinical laboratory experience as described in paragraph 2b(2) or (3) above. This finding may be based on either of the following: (1) A letter from a college or university with a baccalaureate program recognized by the NAACLS stating that the individual's foreign degree has been evaluated and been found to be equivalent to its bachelor of medical technology degree. (2) A letter from ASCP-BOC or AMT stating that the individual is eligible for the certification examination. Certification. Candidates must have either (1) or (2) below: (1) Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. (2) For positions up to the full performance level, candidates must currently possess the categorical or specialist technologist level certification from the certification agencies listed above, such as, but not limited to, chemistry (C/SC), hematology (H/SH), microbiology (M/SM), molecular biology (MB/SMB) and blood bank (BB/SBB). Technologists with categorical or specialist certifications may only perform duties within the area of the laboratory specific to their categorical certification (e. g., an individual with a chemistry (C) certification can only perform duties in chemistry). (3) Exception. 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 medical technologist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). This appointment may not be extended. For grade levels above the full performance level, the candidate must be certified in accordance with paragraph 2d(1) above. (4) Failure to Obtain Certification. In all cases, MTs must actively pursue meeting prerequisites for certification from the date of their appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the MT 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 become certified within one year from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0644 MT series. Failure to obtain certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. 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). All MTs 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, including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to the position, the following provisions apply: (1) MTs that do not meet the basic requirements for education and certification may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) MTs 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) MTs initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain certification that meets all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (4) If MTs who were retained in this occupation under this provision leave the occupation, the MT loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. -CONTINUED IN EDUCATION SECTION- ["This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be April 5, 2022, and applicants will be referred on an 'as needed' basis. Your application will remain on file for 60 days from the date of submission. For further consideration thereafter, you must re-apply. NOTE: Announcement will remain open until no longer needed but no later than May 23, 2022. The work performed is in the clinical microbiology lab and includes bacteriology and molecular microbiology. Such positions include requirements to monitor quality control systems and measures; collaborate in the diagnosis and treatment of patients; and provide education for laboratory and other healthcare professionals, and others in the medical center setting including the public. Duties include, but are not limited to: Performs a broad range of laboratory procedures including all testing and tasks of the medical laboratory technician occupation. Performs complex laboratory procedures. Recognizes deviation from expected results. Analyzes and corrects problems using scientific principles with immediate or general supervision. Evaluates and solves problems related to collection and processing of biological specimens for analysis considering physiologic processes and requirements with immediate or general supervision. Knowledgeable in medical laboratory microbiology with a specialized awareness of the pathognomy and pathogenesis of microbiological disease states, what particular organisms cause certain diseases, in what manner, and how to recover or discover the presence or absence of isolates through a wide variety of testing methodologies. Knowledgeable in microbiology plate reading for both aerobic and anaerobic cultures. During identification testing, the incumbent is fully knowledgeable regarding appearance of \"Bio Level III\", (highly infective) agents and what special and critical steps are required to ensure containment, safety, and notification of management. Knowledgeable in antimicrobial susceptibility testing for both aerobic and anaerobic cultures. Performance of antibiotic sensitivity requires a fully knowledgeable on all classes of antibiotics tested, the spectrum of efficacy of specific drugs within each class, what antibiotics are suitable or inappropriate for organism type and where dangerously misleading results are possible if certain bug/ drug combinations are reported. Maintains and documents the optimal functioning of laboratory equipment. Uses, calibrates, identifies malfunctions, repairs, and performs preventive maintenance of laboratory equipment. Diagnoses deviations in test performance due to instrument malfunction with immediate or general supervision. Performs and documents quality control and assurance activities and corrective actions related to test performance using statistical principles and theories of performance improvement with immediate or general supervision. Adheres to practices and regulations governing biosafety and biosecurity in the workplace with immediate or general supervision. Incumbent uses only approved Biohazard level II or as needed, level III safety protocols in the performance of tasks. Throughout processing and subsequent testing, incumbent is able to accurately label materials and subcultures; and correctly and legibly record all data associated with the pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases in order to guarantee the report generated belongs to patient's sample. Identifies discrepancies, solves problems, and presents solutions with immediate or general supervision. Assists in the training of lower grade new employees and students. Answers inquiries regarding test results, methodology, test specificity, test sensitivity, and specific factors, which influence test results with immediate or general supervision. in collaboration with senior technologists interprets results and suggests follow-up test selection or procedures. Communicates effectively and courteously while working as a healthcare team member. Provides excellent service as defined by the customer (healthcare providers, patients, and others). Gives direction and guidance, using underlying principles of laboratory testing. Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday, WILL include weekends or holidays.\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nPosition Title/Functional Statement #:Medical Technologist (Microbiology)/PD000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized\nEDRP Authorized: Contact Cora Prichard, cora.prichard@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]