Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Anchorage, Alaska

Salary Range: $71381 - $128450 Per Year

Job Summary: 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. Program 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.

Major Duties:

• Schedule and prioritize laboratory testing to meet provider demands as well as to accommodate urgent testing requests. Evaluate requested procedures to determine the suitability of specimen for analysis, requesting new patient specimens as necessary if the original is determined unsatisfactory. Prepare reagents and primary reagent reference materials. Select, perform, evaluate, and monitor the performance of non-routine and specialized test procedures using manual and/or instrumental techniques in accordance with established protocols. Calibrate, standardize, adjust, and maintain single and multi-channel laboratory analyzers. Perform quality control procedures on equipment, reagents, and products, and maintain proper records for quality control reports. Evaluate and recommend new tests to be incorporated into the laboratory testing menu. Confer with the Chief of Laboratory and pathologist to determine requirements for non-standard tests. Determine the validity of test results and the variations/dilutions required to acquire a satisfactory test result determination. Instruct providers, nursing staff and others in laboratory specimen requirements for specific laboratory tests. Work as a senior member of the laboratory testing team, assessing test result in relation to patient medical condition. Practice laboratory safety to reduce contamination and infection to patients, staff, and self. Maintain records and files of tests performed on patients. This includes patient logbooks, requisition and editing of patient test results. Properly identify patient specimen using two patient identifier requirements to ensure that mistaken identity of patient tests does not occur, and that the patient specimen and the request are identical. When collecting biological samples, the CLS must ask each patient to verbally confirm full name, DOB and/or social security number. Responsible for the inventory and stocking of all laboratory supplies and reagents. Operate highly sophisticated computer controlled multi-channel analyzers. Perform basic troubleshooting of laboratory analyzers including interacting with vendor technical staff in person or by telephone. Utilize computers for look up, accession, testing and verifying results in the Laboratory Information System. Consult with clinicians or review patient clinical history in the electronic medical record. Compare test results from other sections of the lab (Surgical Pathology, Chemistry, Hematology and Microbiology) to support observations. Refer cases to consulting Pathologists for critical review as appropriate. Use critical judgment in the evaluation of test discrepancies, taking appropriate action as detailed in test protocols. Interact with Reference Laboratories to schedule testing and transport of difficult-to-obtain samples (e.g. body fluids) to ensure timely sample delivery and appropriate testing. May also require direct interaction with clinical staff and patients to facilitate off-site testing (e.g. semen analysis, platelet function tests, etc.) Utilize critical judgment in subjective test areas and recognizes when changes or abnormalities may be critical to patient outcome. Correlate abnormal lab data with pathologic states, determine the validity of test results, and the need for additional tests. Responsible for maintaining the work area in a clean environment appropriate for the assigned section. Conduct training and instruction for new employees and students. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 0830-1700 Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 50447-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Qualifications: To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. BASIC REQUIREMENTS Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). Education. A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university. Certification. Candidates must meet one 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: 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). Exception for Non-Certified. 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 identified below that makes them eligible to take the MLS certification exam through the ASCP BOC or the MLS certification exam through AMT Certification Agency: 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 (for example, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, immunology, etc.) AND Completion of a medical technology clinical practice program within the last 5 years. Clinical practice programs completed after 1974 must be accredited by the 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 4-year program of study that culminated in a baccalaureate degree. A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university including 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry*), and one course in mathematics AND 1 year of post-MLT certification clinical laboratory experience within the last 3 years. This experience must include performing moderate and/or high complexity testing (as categorized by the FDA) in a clinical laboratory. Research laboratory experience does not fulfill this requirement. A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university including 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry*), and one course in mathematics AND 4 years of clinical laboratory experience within the last nine years performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood bank, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience that matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory. A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university with 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) in biology including one semester in microbiology and 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) in chemistry, which may be obtained within or in addition to, the bachelor's degree AND Completion of a 50-week U.S. Military MLT training program (with official certificate verifying completion of training) within the last 10 years AND 1 year full-time clinical laboratory experience within the last 10 years. This experience must include performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, and urinalysis/body fluids (or categorical experience that matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory. Research laboratory experience does not fulfill this requirement. 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). Non-Certified individuals may only provide care under the supervision of a certified CLS at or above the FPL. Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained. Temporary appointments of non-certified CLS may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment Failure to Obtain Certification. In all cases, CLSs must actively work to meet requirements for certification starting from the date of their placement into the occupation. At the time of appointment, the Human Resources (HR) Office staff, in collaboration with the supervisor, will provide the employee with the written requirements for certification, including the time by which the certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline. Failure to obtain certification during this time period may result in separation from employment. Loss of Credential. If an employee fails to maintain the required certification, management officials, in collaboration with HR Office staff, must immediately remove the employee from duties and responsibilities associated with this occupation. This may also result in separation from employment Grandfathering Provision. Employees in VHA in this occupation under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and certification where applicable. GRADE DETERMINATIONS Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-07 Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-09 Experience or Education. Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below: Experience. 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade. OR Education. Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or a directly related science. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of policies and procedures of clinical laboratory testing. (b) Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance principles. (c) Knowledge of laboratory equipment and routine maintenance. (d) Ability to work as a team member and effectively complete assignments. (e) Ability to read and interpret written instructions. (f) Ability to accurately perform pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of testing. Qualifications continued in Education Section...

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 01/26/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12860172. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2026-01-26