Summary The medical technician in this position works in the following major sections of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service(P&LMS), STAT., and routine test on blood, urine, and other fluids covering areas of Chemistry, Immunology, Urinalysis, Hematology, Coagulator, and Toxicology. The P&LMS provides service to veterans and their providers. Responsibilities Performs blood collection using a variety of phlebotomy techniques including vacutainer systems, syringe, butterfly, and/or capillary finger sticks Collects blood specimens, using correct container and order of draw Identifies inpatients and outpatients for whom laboratory tests have been ordered, and prints labels for appropriate blood samples Understands and utilizes information resource technology (i.e. computers, printers, label printers, copy machines, phones, fax machines, various computer information packages, etc.) Interacts with patients, visitors, staff, students and volunteers in a courteous, helpful, tactful, cooperative, respectful and compassionate manner Responds positively and in a timely manner to customer requests for service or information Observes and reports any physical or mental changes during patient blood draws Prepares samples for testing to include labeling, centrifugation, decanting and aliquoting, etc Sterilizes and autoclaves contaminated material according to safety policies Cleans glassware and other reusable items following established policies and procedures Work Schedule: Monday- Friday, 8 hour shift within 5:00am-5:00pm determined by service; Subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Medical Technician/PD03112A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): 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. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 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. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period 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 probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/23/2026. Individual Occupational Requirement: Applicants who meet the Individual Occupational Requirements described below are fully qualified for the specified entry grade and must also meet the specialized experience and/or education requirements. Select the one statement that best describes your experience, education, or combination thereof, that demonstrates you possess the basic requirements to perform this job. To qualify you must possess one of the following: Specialized Experience:(a) Technical medical laboratory support work such as performing laboratory tests and examinations (chemical, microbiologic, hematologic and blood banking) and preparing reports of findings or (b) technical support work in a closely related field, e.g., biological laboratory technician work, that required application of the methods and techniques for the position to be filled. OR Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects appropriate to the position to be filled. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Possess one year of experience performing venipuncture. Communicating with patients about questions regarding testing. Labeling specimens correctly according to regulatory standards. . OR, Education:4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation (transcripts required). OR Combination of Specialized Experience and Education: Combination of specialized experience as described above and education as described above which totals in excess of 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree (transcripts required).[To calculate: determine your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the year of specialized experience required at the GS-5 level. Then determine your education as a percentage of the education that meets the requirements for GS-5. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Specimen Collection Computer Skills Customer Service Patient Care Quality Assurance Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurrent standing, bending, lifting of some heavy containers, trips to wards for specimen collection, handling of uncooperative patients occasionally, and walking a lot between several Sections of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service. May require reaching and bending to obtain supplies and operation of instruments. Occasionally lifts 20-40-pound containers of liquid reagent. The work involves exposure to hazards such as chemicals, infectious materials, sharp instruments, broken glass, and electrical appliances. Noise such as instrument operation and ringing telephones and buzzers is considerable. Is daily exposed to hazards such as infectious materials, chemicals and electrical appliances. The technician must use proactive clothing and gear, such as gloves, facemasks, eye protectors, and biological safety hoods. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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/. 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. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. 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.
