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
• English Language Proficiency: Cytotechnologists must be proficient in spoken and written English
• See 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• Education: Individuals must have successfully completed a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university and successfully completed a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs accredited cytotechnology program
• Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization approved by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs
• Certification: Candidates must currently possess the Cytotechnologist (CT) (ASCP) or Specialist in Cytotechnology (SCT) (ASCP) certification given by the ASCP Board of Certification
• 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)
• Grade Determinations: Cytotechnologist GS-11 Experience: The candidate must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the journey level (GS-9) that is directly related to the position to be filled
• Assignments
• For all assignments above the journey level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• At the advanced level, the cytotechnologist independently performs and monitors processes such as smear preparation, slide fixation, cell block preparation, monolayer filtration processing, and staining
• If a discrepancy is identified with these processes, the cytotechnologist will troubleshoot and take corrective action
• The cytotechnologist may act as a technical resource in writing and establishing new processes or procedures
• The cytotechnologist performs a full range of specialized tasks, including collecting, compiling, and analyzing data according to the laboratory quality management program
• The cytotechnologist uses these laboratory data to implement any needed quality improvement initiatives
• The incumbent will research, test, validate, and implement new procedures and equipment And Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (all must be fully demonstrated in your resume): Advanced assignments may also include one or more of the tasks identified below
• When these duties are required, the Advanced Cytotechnologist must also demonstrate the corresponding advanced KSAs as identified by the corresponding asterisk(s) below in KSAs 4-8
• These KSAs are: **Electron Microscopy (KSA 4)
• ***Safety Coordination (KSA 5)
• ****Laboratory Education (KSAs 6-8)
• Ability to independently determine specimen adequacy using complex specialized testing methods or techniques during Endoscopic Ultrasound, Endobronchial Ultrasound, and other Fine Needle Aspiration procedures
• Knowledge of pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical processes to establish and monitor the overall laboratory quality management and quality control program, and initiate corrective action as needed
• Skill in collecting, compiling, and analyzing data for quality assurance, statistics, trends and reports, and implementing quality improvement initiatives
• iv
• Skill in researching, testing, validating, and implementing new procedures and equipment
• **Ability to perform ultrathin microtomy and operate an electron microscope
• Knowledge of microanatomy sufficient to note ultrastructural and microchemical findings
• ***Ability to convey knowledge of safety regulations and guidelines such as CAP, JC, and OSHA, and to ensure staff compliance with safety requirements, including continuing education and employee orientation
• ****Knowledge and skill to plan and administer an ongoing continuing education program for the laboratory to meet accreditation standards
• ****Knowledge and skill to plan and administer an ongoing continuing education program for the laboratory to meet accreditation standards *****Skill to maintain and troubleshoot computers and laboratory system instrumentation
• Preferred Experience: Minimum 5 years of Cytology Experience Minimum 2 years Non-Gyn Experience Minimum 2 years FNA Procedure Experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position
• May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing
• May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.