Summary

This Histopathology Technician position is located within the Pathology & Laboratory service at the VA Providence Healthcare System. The position is part-time at 20 hours per week

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
• Histopathology Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5.a. - this part
• Experience and Education 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 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 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: 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
• 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
• 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 GS-07: Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-06)
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in applying professional - complex anatomic pathology principles - practices - concepts - and theories in performing new or difficult specialized testing methods or techniques
• 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
• Ability to validate methodologies - operate anatomic pathology laboratory equipment and perform complex instrument troubleshooting
• Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and evaluate laboratory results and resolve problems
• Preferred Experience: 1-3 years experience as a Histology Technician performing duties including but not limited to the following
• Verifying the accuracy and completeness of the request and proper collection - labeling and transport requirements
• Preparing specimens and tissue form for the gross examination - processing surgical - cytology - and autopsy tissue specimens
• Preparing paraffin blocks - complex steps of fixation - dehydration - clearing - infiltration - embedding - microtomy - staining and cover slipping
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The work involves regular and recurring risks and discomforts associated with working in a clinic
• This work requires physical exertion that consists of mainly long periods of standing and some bending and lifting as required for the handling of supplies and equipment
• In addition - manual skills are required to be able to perform delicate procedures.

Duties

• The purpose of this position is to independently oversee and maintain all aspects of the Pathology section of the Laboratory
• This position serves as the technical expert and advisor to laboratory and professional medical staff in the specialty of histopathology
• Independently performs both routine and complex histological procedures
• Primary function includes performing difficult and complex tasks on surgical - autopsied - hematopoietic and cytological specimens
• utilizing specialized techniques for the examination and handling of tissue - cell buttons - bones - marrows and needle biopsies
• and preparing technically adequate slides of tissue sections by processing tissue blocks - embedding tissue - cutting - staining and cover slipping
• Duties include - but not limited to: Accessions and labels specimens using two full patient identifiers
• Prepares specimen(s) and tissue examination form for gross examination by the pathologist in the computer
• o Using principles of histotechnology - processes surgical - cytology and autopsy tissue specimens which are often delicate and difficult to handle through the required - complex steps of fixation - dehydration - clearing - infiltration - embedding - microtomy - staining and cover slipping
• Recognizes improperly processed tissue and under­ decalcified tissue and is able to take corrective action
• Sections paraffin blocks of tissue and mounts paraffin sections on slides
• Sections are cut at proper thickness (2-10 microns) according to tissue type or as required for special staining procedures Sections contain a minimal - unavoidable number of artifacts
• Prepares cytological specimens for transportation to testing site
• Specimens include but are not limited to fine needle aspiration biopsies for immediate diagnosis from the clinics - respiratory samples - urine - cerebrospinal fluid - body fluids - among others
• Responsible for knowing appropriate fixation techniques for any special studies that may be appropriate
• Covers slides choosing the right kind of mounting medium depending on the kind of stain
• The labeled slides are checked for accuracy and legibility and distributed to the pathologist for examination and diagnosis
• Both the slides and paraffin blocks are stored as per regulatory guidelines
• Operates equipment such as microscopes - microtomes - tissue processor - cryostat - embedding center and strainers
• Calibrates - performs preventive maintenance and records required function checks
• Reports needed repairs to Biomedical engineer
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday
• Part-time 1st Shift
• rotating as needed
• Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
• Telework: Not Authorized
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: F1290 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
• Notifications: Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 - (Notice of Personnel Action)
• The SF-50 must identify the position title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)
• In some cases - more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held
• This position is a LIUNA Bargaining Unit position
• This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay
• Narrative responses to the knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment
• This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until 10/2/2025
• The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 4/17/2025 - with subsequent cut-off dates bi-weekly
• Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.