Summary We are recruiting for (1)one Histopathology Technologist in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at Bronx VA Medical Center, Bronx NY. The histopathology technologist independently performs a full range of routine and specialized tests. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Responsibilities Duties include but are not limited to: Prepares Blocks and Slides Prepares and processes surgically removed tissue, autopsy tissue and body fluids such as sputum, spinal fluid, bronchial washings and brushings, percutaneous lung aspirates, chest, abdominal cavity and joint fluids, cervical-vaginal smears, and urine and bladder washings for their ultimate slide preparations, staining and microscopic diagnosis by the pathologist. Performs fixation, the stabilization of protein, on tissue and body fluids to penetrate the tissue and kill it quickly to preserve the tissue elements, particularly the nuclei, in the condition in which they are at the moment the fixing agent acts on them and to harden them so they will not be altered by the various processing procedures. Processes tissue through dehydration in graded alcohols, clearing in various solvents and impregnating or infiltrating in a liquid paraffin-like solution. Orients and embeds tissue into paraffin blocks. Performs decalcification on ossified tissue and bone marrow biopsies recognizing the correct degree of decalcification. Carefully processes preparations to preserve and maintain the delicate microscopic architecture of the tissue; avoiding damage by over-decalcification while ensuring adequate decalcification to allow for proper cutting of the sections. Prepares Non gynecological cytology specimens by Thin Prep technique and prepares spinal fluids by cyto-centrifugation technique. As needed, prepares cell blocks from pleural and other body fluids, and cuts all cell blocks, prepares slides, and stains them for cytology screening. Maintains Reports, Records and Materials Accessions all surgically removed tissue specimens, autopsy specimens and body fluids to preclude the possibility of a mix-up or loss of tissue as it is processed. Numbers and files paraffin embedded tissue blocks, slides, and gross specimens for permanent reference and each week prepares gross tissue for disposal. Helps maintain the workload recording system by keeping an accurate record of all work performed in the histology laboratory, including the number of blocks cut, the number of slides prepared, and the number of slides stained. Maintains records of equipment maintenance. Prepares special slides for other hospitals and pathologists, as well as for pathology conferences with various hospital affiliates. Prepares slides upon request for various studies. Prepares monthly quality assurance reports for pathology noting any discrepancies that may have occurred between the surgery operation logbook and the histology accession logbook etc. Provides Assistance and Instructions Assists the resident pathologists as necessary while they gross surgical tissue specimens by preparing cassettes and answering questions as they arise. Instructs doctors and nursing personnel, as necessary, in the proper techniques of collection and preparation of the material desired. Makes available specimens for examination by staff physicians, residents and medical students. Ensures clinical personnel has proper containers and solutions available for specimen collection and transport. Assists radiologists and other clinical physicians by preparing slide smears from percutaneous needle aspirates. Returns needle aspirate to lab, accessions specimen, prepares cell blocks from needle aspirates. Assists Renal Fellow and/or physicians with renal biopsies. Returns fresh tissue to the lab, accessions specimen, separates tissue into three parts, process one part for H&E stain, and send out other parts for electron-microscopy and immuno-fluorescent studies. Maintains Equipment and Supplies Maintains all histology equipment such as cryostats, refrigerators, freezers, and temperature-controlled ovens, paraffin baths and water baths. tissue embedding centers, tissue processors, automated stainers, knife sharpeners, centrifuges, microtomes and fume hoods through cleaning, lubricating, calibrating, defrosting, and maintaining constant temperatures to assure optimum working condition. Reports all malfunctions as they occur so that prompt repair can be performed by the biomedical engineering service. The rotary and freezing microtomes, as well as the automatic tissue processor, are precision instruments and require care to keep them in proper working condition to ensure optimal performance. The incumbent must have knowledge of the mechanical nature of these machines to keep them in working order. Maintains a running inventory of all reagents and supplies required for day-to-day operations. The incumbent may be assigned other duties of a related nature. Work Schedule: M - F, 8am - 4:30pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 11723F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination or health assessment. 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 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. Education. Individuals must meet one of the requirements below: Successful completion of a full four-year course of study from an accredited college or university, leading to a bachelor's or higher degree, that included a major study in an academic field related to health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of a histopathology technologist, such as, but not limited to clinical biology, microbiology, physiology, pre-medical, medical lab technology, chemistry, immunology, physiology, anatomy; OR Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university with a combination of 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of biology and chemistry (must include credit hours in both); OR Successful completion of two years of progressively higher level graduate education, leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree, with a major study in an academic field related to health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the position of histopathology technologist, such as clinical biology, microbiology, physiology, pre-medical, medical lab technology, chemistry, immunology, physiology, anatomy. 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 histotechnologist (HTL) certification given by the ASCP Board of Certification. The 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 histotechnician or histotechnology program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS); (b) One year of full time experience in all of the following: fixation, embedding, microtomy, processing, and staining in a histopathology (clinical, veterinary, industry, or research) laboratory. Exception for Non-Board Certified. Non-board-certified candidates designated by ASCP as "board eligible," who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements, may be given a temporary appointment under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of certification for a period not to exceed two years for a histopathology technologist working under the direct oversight of a supervisor, lab manger, or qualified individual who can verify technical experience. This exception only applies at the entry level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level, the candidate must have HTL certification. Temporary appointments of non-board-certified histopathology technologists may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment. Failure to Obtain Certification. In all cases, non-board-certified histopathology technologists must meet one of the ASCP histotechnologist eligibility routes at the date of their appointment and must actively pursue certification from the date of their appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the histopathology technologist with the written requirement to obtain certification, the date by which the certification must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline. Failure to obtain board certification by the prescribed date will result in removal from the histopathology technologist, GS-0601 occupational series and may result in termination of employment. Loss of Certification. Employees who fail to maintain the required certification must be removed from the histopathology technologist, GS-0601 occupation, which may result in termination of employment. 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). Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. Histopathology Technologists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). GRADE REQUIREMENTS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment listed above, the following experience criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Creditable Experience. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs), and other characteristics, also referred to as core competencies; be associated with the scope of histopathology technologist practice; be directly related to the position being filled; and may be paid or non-paid employment. Grade Determinations: Histopathology Technologist, GS-9 Experience. Must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled Assignment. At the full performance level, the histopathology technologist independently performs a full range of routine and specialized tests. Utilize information technology systems to apply histopathology techniques and broad scientific principles from the fields of biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology. The histopathology technologist acts as a technical resource, troubleshooting a variety of specialized lab tests, identifying suboptimal issues, and uses independent judgment and resources to resolve concerns. The histopathology technologist ensures goals are met by prioritizing work, as necessary, in times of short staffing, or heavy workload, and by performing simultaneous tasks. The histopathology technologist uses professional skills in applying anatomic pathology principles, practices, concepts, and theories to perform new or difficult specialized testing methods, such as immunohistochemical, histochemical, and frozen section techniques. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of laboratory information technology systems and inter-connectivity. Knowledge of histopathology techniques, chemistry, anatomy and physiology principles, theories, concepts, and methodologies sufficient to process specimens, and the ability to perform a full range of routine specialized tests. Ability to identify and test suboptimal specimens and take corrective action to minimize or eliminate impact on a patient's sample. Ability to organize, coordinate, and prioritize simultaneous work assignments; both individual and team related. Skill in applying professional, anatomic pathology principles, practices, concepts, and theories in performing new or difficult specialized testing methods or techniques. Preferred Experience: A strong understanding of all aspects of histopathology, including tissue processing, microtomy ( embedding and sectioning), special staining, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and operating automated staining systems, complex laboratory equipment, and digital pathology tools. 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-9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-9. Physical Requirements: The work involves regular and recurring physical exertion, such as standing for long periods of time, use of microscopes, some lifting loading and unloading reagent packs, sitting at desk, counter, or bench top with operations of the computer terminals, telephones, and various workstations associated with the respective instrumentations in use. 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-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. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or 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.
