Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Summary The Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) position is with the Oklahoma City VA Health Care System, Pathology and Laboratory Service. CLSs perform complex diagnostic testing across multiple specialties, ensure quality control, and support patient care. As CLSs progress, they gain autonomy, advance clinical skills, and may take on specialized laboratory responsibilities. Responsibilities Total Rewards - Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Performs a broad range of laboratory procedures, including routine, advanced, and complex testing across all clinical laboratory specialties. Accurately conducts pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of testing on various specimen types. Recognizes deviations from expected results; uses scientific principles to analyze and resolve problems. Evaluates and troubleshoots issues related to specimen collection, processing, and physiologic integrity. Maintains, calibrates, troubleshoots, repairs, and performs preventive maintenance on laboratory equipment; documents instrument performance and repairs minor malfunctions. Diagnoses and corrects deviations in test performance due to instrument or procedural errors. Performs and documents quality control and assurance activities; initiates corrective action as needed, using statistical and performance improvement methods. Evaluates, implements, and recommends new techniques and procedures; establishes reference intervals; interprets findings. Interprets and reports laboratory results; assists with test selection and follow-up procedures; answers inquiries on test specificity, sensitivity, and factors influencing results. Correlates laboratory data with clinical information; performs additional tests to clarify abnormal results and ensures timely reporting of critical values. Reviews, edits, and verifies laboratory data in the laboratory information system to ensure accuracy. Provides courteous and effective communication as part of a healthcare team; delivers excellent customer service to providers, patients, and others. Instructs and trains new staff, students, and lower graded employees; assists with in-service and continuing education programs. Organizes work, sets priorities, and ensures deadlines are met for efficient laboratory workflow. Maintains an appropriate inventory of supplies and reagents; notifies leadership when levels are low or expired. Ensures compliance with biosafety, biosecurity, OSHA, HIPAA, VHA, and local regulatory and safety policies. Maintains professional credentials and participates in regulatory compliance activities. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday through Friday, 3:30 PM to midnight, with weekend rotation. Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). 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). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. 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. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. 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 #: 635-60601-A, 635-60602-A, 635-60603-A Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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 - To qualify for the position, all applicants must meet the following criteria: Citizenship Must be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). Education Must hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university. Certification - Candidates must meet one of the following certification options: Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT. Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT. Exception for Non-Certified Applicants: Applicants who aren't yet certified can be hired by VA and work toward certification if they are eligible to take the MLS certification exam through ASCP BOC or AMT (as defined in Appendix A). Non-certified applicants who meet all other requirements can receive a temporary appointment as a CLS under 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2). They must be supervised by a certified CLS at or above the full performance level (FPL). Non-certified individuals can only be hired at the entry level (GS-7) and can't be promoted or converted to a different appointment until they are certified. Temporary appointments for non-certified CLS cannot last more than two years and cannot be renewed or converted to a new temporary position. Foreign Education To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational requirements if they meet either of the following: (1) Foreign transcripts are evaluated by an acceptable evaluation agency, and the degree is found to be equivalent to a NAACLS-approved U.S. clinical laboratory science degree program. OR (2) The applicant submits a letter from ASCP BOC or AMT stating the individual is eligible to take the certification examination. NOTE: Possession of a certification identified above automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed. English Language Proficiency Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). GRADE DETERMINATIONS - In addition to basic requirements for employment, candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at the grade levels specified. 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 (KSAs): In addition to the experience or education above, candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of policies and procedures of clinical laboratory testing. Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance principles. Knowledge of laboratory equipment and routine maintenance. Ability to work as a team member and effectively complete assignments. Ability to read and interpret written instructions. Ability to accurately perform pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of testing. Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-11 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 level. OR Education: 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education, or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, in medical technology or a directly related science. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience or education above, candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of professional clinical laboratory science principles, practices, concepts, and theories to support sound, independent work. Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement. Skill in informatics, laboratory data flow, and laboratory processes. Ability to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair instrumentation. Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results. Ability to read, interpret, and apply complex written instructions. Ability to communicate, consult, and interact with other members of the health care team, external relations, customer service, and patient education. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: The person in this role must be able to safely lift up to 20 lbs., pull, push, reach above the shoulder, use their fingers and both hands, walk and stand for up to 4 hours, kneel, bend repeatedly, and use both arms and legs. They must have good vision in both eyes (including depth perception and ability to distinguish colors and shades), and hearing (with hearing aids if needed). The position also requires clear thinking, emotional stability, and the ability to read regular print without difficulty. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: Additional Information Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.