
Health Technician
- Performs venipuncture according to written protocols to ensure proper collection, labeling, handling and delivery of blood specimens to the lab.
- Uses aseptic technique to obtain blood cultures and performing EKGs.
- Observes and monitors 1:1 situation while maintaining a safe environment and observing universal precautions.
- Cares for patients in isolation utilizing appropriate PPE.
- Transports patients to required destinations (including the morgue).
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
- You may be required to serve a probationary period
- 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 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)
Qualifications
Individual Occupational Requirements: Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled.
Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.
In addition, you may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
GS-6 Specialized Experience: Must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in the Federal Service that has given me the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform successfully the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: The incumbent performs ongoing patient care duties in an inpatient and/or outpatient clinical setting preparing a variety of technical (clinical) and administrative tasks in support of clinic operations, to include provide extensive ancillary/diagnostic support services to primary care providers such as the completion of vital signs including pain assessments, completion of clinical reminders, obtaining preliminary medical history, providing order entry for provider's signature, input of electronic progress notes at time of care, exit interview input, appointment scheduling, consultation/completion status input, arranges for hospital admission, reports tests results to clinician, provides educational instruction for patients/family.
GS-7 Specialized Experience: Must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-6) in the Federal Service that has given me the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform successfully the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: The incumbent performs ongoing patient care duties in an inpatient and/or outpatient clinical setting preparing a variety of technical (clinical) and administrative tasks in support of clinic operations, to include ordering and maintaining supplies for unit, transporting specimens and reusable medical equipment to specified location, stocking supplies in exam rooms, maintaining various unit logs and other related clerical duties associated with patient care and treatment, providing ongoing monitoring of vital signs, performing testing for blood glucose monitoring, arranging and passing medical instruments and materials to medical/nursing professional for a variety of tests and procedures. OR,
Education: Must have successfully completed one (1) full year of graduate education (or 18 semester hours) directly related to the position with a major that included courses directly related to the work of this position. Such graduate education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. OR,
Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and graduate education as described above, which meet the total qualification requirements for this grade level. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials.
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
- Clerical
- Clinical Data Collection/Documentation
- Diagnostic Medical Testing
- Patient Care
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 involves extended periods of bending, standing and walking. Generally, the work requires recurring physical exertion with assisting patients.
Work Environment: On a regular and recurring basis, employee is exposed to infection, exposure to communicable diseases and contagious diseases. The incumbent's assignment requires him/her to comply with special safety and health precautions by wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) according to universal precautions.
For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at .
Education
Note: There is no educational substitution at GS 06 grade level.
A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Unofficial transcript is accepted.
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
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 at .
- Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. .
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
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
- You may be required to serve a probationary period
- 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 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)
Qualifications
Individual Occupational Requirements: Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled.
Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.
In addition, you may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
GS-6 Specialized Experience: Must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in the Federal Service that has given me the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform successfully the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: The incumbent performs ongoing patient care duties in an inpatient and/or outpatient clinical setting preparing a variety of technical (clinical) and administrative tasks in support of clinic operations, to include provide extensive ancillary/diagnostic support services to primary care providers such as the completion of vital signs including pain assessments, completion of clinical reminders, obtaining preliminary medical history, providing order entry for provider's signature, input of electronic progress notes at time of care, exit interview input, appointment scheduling, consultation/completion status input, arranges for hospital admission, reports tests results to clinician, provides educational instruction for patients/family.
GS-7 Specialized Experience: Must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-6) in the Federal Service that has given me the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform successfully the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: The incumbent performs ongoing patient care duties in an inpatient and/or outpatient clinical setting preparing a variety of technical (clinical) and administrative tasks in support of clinic operations, to include ordering and maintaining supplies for unit, transporting specimens and reusable medical equipment to specified location, stocking supplies in exam rooms, maintaining various unit logs and other related clerical duties associated with patient care and treatment, providing ongoing monitoring of vital signs, performing testing for blood glucose monitoring, arranging and passing medical instruments and materials to medical/nursing professional for a variety of tests and procedures. OR,
Education: Must have successfully completed one (1) full year of graduate education (or 18 semester hours) directly related to the position with a major that included courses directly related to the work of this position. Such graduate education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. OR,
Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and graduate education as described above, which meet the total qualification requirements for this grade level. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials.
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
- Clerical
- Clinical Data Collection/Documentation
- Diagnostic Medical Testing
- Patient Care
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 involves extended periods of bending, standing and walking. Generally, the work requires recurring physical exertion with assisting patients.
Work Environment: On a regular and recurring basis, employee is exposed to infection, exposure to communicable diseases and contagious diseases. The incumbent's assignment requires him/her to comply with special safety and health precautions by wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) according to universal precautions.
For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at .
Education
Note: There is no educational substitution at GS 06 grade level.
A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Unofficial transcript is accepted.
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
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 at .