Supervisory Histopathology Technologist

Summary

The Histopathology Technician supervises a large staff of nonsupervisory personnel in the performance of complex anatomic pathology testing in multiple specialties - such as Mohs testing, cytology testing, immunohistochemistry, molecular testing, or electron microscopy. The supervisor performs the full range of supervisory duties for one or more sections of the anatomic pathology laboratory.

• United States Citizenship
  :
  Candidates must be a United States citizen
  (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a))
• English Language Proficiency
  :
  Histopathology Technologists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Experience
  :
  Must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS‑11 grade level which is directly related to the position to be filled
• Demonstrated Knowledge – Skills – and Abilities
  :
  In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • (a) Knowledge of Federal and state laws, regulations, and accrediting/regulatory requirements to develop plans and procedures for the laboratory
  • (b) Skill in communicating with individuals to obtain the desired effect, ensuring compliance with established policies, regulations, and procedures
  • (c) Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties including assignment of work, performance evaluations, staff selection, recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions
  • (d) Knowledge of laboratory quality management procedures and principles sufficient to establish and monitor a laboratory quality management program and/or educate and train the laboratory staff
  • (e) Demonstrated leadership and managerial skills including interpersonal relations and conflict resolution for dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers
  • (f) Ability to plan, organize, set short- and/or long‑term goals, and conduct studies on technical and administrative problems including fiscal matters, budget execution, personnel shortages, organizational structure, and new technology
• Education
  :
  Individuals must meet one of the following:
  • (1) Successful completion of a full four‑year course of study from an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor’s or higher degree in a field related to health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of a histopathology technologist.
  • (2) Baccalaureate degree with 30 semester hours of biology and chemistry (must include credit hours in both).
  • (3) Successful completion of two years of progressively higher‑level graduate education leading to a master’s degree or equivalent with major in health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the position of histopathology technologist.
  • 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 deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs.
• Certification
  :
  • (1) Candidates must currently possess the histotechnologist (HTL) certification given by the ASCP Board of Certification.
  • (2) ASCP requires completion of one of the following for a candidate to be considered "board eligible" to take the certification exam: (a) Successful completion of a histotechician or histotechnology program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS) OR (b) One year of full‑time experience in fixation, embedding, microtomy, processing, and staining in a histopathology laboratory.
• Grandfathering Provision
  :
  All histopathology technologists employed in VHA who perform the duties described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the 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 met the qualifications applicable to…