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: Must be US Citizen. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language: Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Education and/or Experience Combination - you must have ONE of the following combos to qualify: 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.). You must attach transcripts. 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. You must attach transcripts. 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, You must attach transcripts. 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, You must attach transcripts. 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. OR 4) 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 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: (You MUST attach copy of Certification) 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). Exception for GS-7 and GS-9: 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 (GS-9), the candidate must be certified in accordance with paragraph 2d(1) above. 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. Grade Determinations: GS-7 (Entry Level): None beyond the basic requirements. Employees at this level serve in an entry level MT career development position practicing under close supervision of an MT at or above the full performance level. To qualify for GS-9 level (full performance level), in addition to one of the following above, applicants meet one of the following: Experience. Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7) which is directly related to this position. OR Education. Must have master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or directly related field. Must attach transcripts. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for GS-9 level. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs on their resume and during interview process: 1. Comprehensive knowledge of professional MT principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work. 2. Comprehensive knowledge of laboratory quality control and assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement in order to manage reagent and supply inventories and document control systems. 3. Knowledge of laboratory equipment and ability to maintain, troubleshoot and repair instrumentation. 4. Ability to plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member and effectively complete assignments. 5. Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results. 6. Ability to read, interpret and apply complex written instructions. 7. Skilled in informatics, laboratory data flow and the understanding of laboratory processes. 8. Ability to communicate, consult and interact with other members of the healthcare team, external relations, customer service and patient education. **Preferred experience: Blood Bank and Microbiology experience. This must be listed on your resume. However, applicants won't be screened out who don't possess this experience. 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. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005, PART II, APPENDIX G24, dated 5/12/14 ["The Medical Technologist position is located in the Pathology and Laboratory department at the Wilmington VA Medical Center. In this announcement, applicant could be selected for GS-7 entry level or GS-9 Medical Technologist. GS-7 will receive more supervision and training from experienced staff. In the health care community, MTs are generally referred to as \"medical laboratory scientists (MLS) or clinical laboratory scientists (CLS). The generalist medical technologist rotates with other generalists on a regular basis through the above-mentioned areas. He/She also works off-hour shifts, weekends, and holidays as needed. The duties and responsibilities of the GS-9 Medical Technologist - Generalist includes but are not limited to the following duties and tasks: a. Carries out the day-to-day operations in the laboratory. Performs a broad range of laboratory procedures including all testing and tasks of the medical laboratory technician occupation. Selects, performs, evaluates, and monitors the performance of test procedures using manual and/or instrumental techniques in accordance with established protocols. In addition, performs advanced and complex laboratory procedures; recognizes deviation from expected results; analyzes and corrects problems using scientific principles.\nb. Evaluates and solves problems related to collection and processing of biological specimens for analysis taking into account physiologic processes and requirements.\nc. 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.\nd. Performs and documents quality control and assurance activities and corrective actions related to test performance using statistical principles and theories of performance improvement.\ne. Adheres to practices and regulations governing biosafety and biosecurity in the workplace.\nf. Identifies discrepancies, solves problems, and presents solutions.\ng. Answers inquiries regarding test results, methodology, test specificity, test sensitivity, and specific factors, which influence test results. Interprets results and suggests follow-up test selection or procedures.\nh. Evaluates the validity of test data in relation to the test system and accepted assay procedures. Correlates quantitative data with patient data (i.e., history, medications) to verify results. Performs additional tests to clarify or confirm abnormal patient results.\ni. Responsible for the generation of laboratory results from the work area into the laboratory information system (LIS) and for editing and verification of the results recorded into the LIS. Recognizes critical tests and critical values that require immediate attention by the physician and reports them directly. Fully documents communication of critical tests and critical results in the LIS. Telework eligible: Not available\nCompressed/flexible schedule: Not available\nLocation: 1601 Kirkwood Hwy, Wilmington, DE 19805\nWork Schedule: Monday to Friday 3pm -11pm, with rotating night shift weekends of 11pm-7am\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required\nRecruitment/Relocation Incentives: Not Authorized"]