Government and Policy, Healthcare, Other, Healthcare, Practitioner and Technician
Job Description
Histopathology Technician (Advanced)
Qualifications
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
Experience
One year of experience in a health care field that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work such as but not limited to a medical or clinical laboratory assistant (or technician) or health technician
OR, Education (a) Four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation such as biological science or chemistry
OR, (b) Successful completion of two academic years of study above high school that included at least 24 semester hours in Chemistry and/or in appropriate fields of biological science and successful completion of a 12-month program of education and training in histopathology or cytotechnology
OR, Experience/Education Combination
Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable
Examples are listed below:(a) Six months of experience in the health care field and two years of education above high school that included at least six semester hours in health care related courses such as biological science, surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position
or an associate's degree in a health care related field.(b) Six months of experience in the health care field and successful completion of a course for health care technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or histopathology technicians given by the U.S. Armed Forces
Certification
None English Language Proficiency
Histopathology Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English
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)
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC
WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE
One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
(2) Assignment
Histopathology technicians at this level generally have a higher level of responsibility for technical oversight, and are expected to carry out assigned tasks of considerable difficulty independently
The incumbent will have the responsibility of performing difficult specialized histological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical procedures, as well as developing, modifying, or adapting new staining methods or techniques, improving existing methods as necessary for routine histotechnology procedures
The technician will be responsible for troubleshooting issues with instruments and resolving problems
For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
(3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs
(a) Skill in applying professional, complex anatomic pathology principles, practices, concepts, and theories in performing new or difficult specialized testing methods or techniques
(b) Ability to provide technical oversight of laboratory quality control and assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement exhibiting competence in managing reagent and supply inventories and document control systems
(c) Ability to validate methodologies, operate anatomic pathology laboratory equipment and perform complex instrument troubleshooting
(d) Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and evaluate laboratory results and resolve problems
References: VHA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G55 Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurrent standing, walking, bending, reaching, and moderate lifting to perform tasks and procedures with instruments and other equipment
It also requires specific physical characteristics, abilities, and dexterity needed to perform intricate analytical and technical procedures
The employee may be required to spend long periods of time before a computer screen and using a keyboard
The employee must have normal color vision
Work Environment: The work environment includes risk of exposure, discomfort, and/or irritation associated with regular and recurrent use of hazards such as infectious materials, hazardous, toxic, and carcinogenic reagents (e.g
formaldehyde) and sharp objects (e.g
scalpel blades and microtome knives)
The incumbent must use appropriate PPEs, (protective clothing, gloves, face masks, safety goggles, mechanical pipetting devices and biologic safety hoods) as indicated by established safety procedure
The applicant is required to read and follow guidelines stated in P&LMS and medical center safety manuals.
