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Medical Technician

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Gulf Coast Veterans Healthcare Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Medical Technician in this position works in the following major sections of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS), STAT, and collecting routine test on blood, urine, and other fluids covering areas of Chemistry, Immunology, Urinalysis, Hematology, Coagulator, and Toxicology. The P&LMS provides services to veterans and their providers.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
11/07/2025 to 11/24/2025
Salary
$40,332 to - $52,426 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 5
Locations
2 vacancies in the following locations:
Pensacola, FL
Biloxi, MS
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CBST-12830278-26-LPL
Control number
849773200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This vacancy is open to current permanent VA Nationwide employees, CTAP/ICTAP eligibles, and other Status Eligible Applicants. See hiring paths for more information. *This job announcement has been extended through November 24, 2025*

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Duties

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  • 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
  • Collects urine specimens and cultures in a manner that preserves the integrity of sample
  • Processes emergency specimens and routine specimens in a timely manner
  • Follows proper protocol for specialty blood draws
  • Evaluates the suitability of specimens
  • Prepares electronic requisitions for samples to be sent to the reference laboratories
  • Uses a computer to retrieve laboratory test information
  • Performs computerized accessioning of patient specimens
  • 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.)
  • Provides education to patients for proper collection techniques of urine, stool, or other fluid collections
  • 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
  • Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately
  • Identifies patients and ensure proper sample procurement and specimen labeling
  • Assesses patient condition before, during, and after procedures
  • 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
  • Adheres to all universal precautions, infection control, and safety regulations associated with phlebotomy
  • Collects specimens using proper patient identification and specimen labeling
  • Maintains operational and quality control logs, records, and worksheets
  • Identifies unusual test results or discrepancies/conditions that can lead to erroneous results
Work Schedule: Full-Time 5:00AM - 1:30PM; 6:00AM - 2:30PM; 7:00AM - 3:30pm; 7:30AM - 4:00PM; 8:00AM - 4:30PM - Tour of Duty subject to change based upon facility needs. Tour of duty to be determined by supervisor.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Medical Technician/PD03112A

Requirements

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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
  • 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 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 1-year probationary 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, 11/24/2025.

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-05 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-04. 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.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

This position includes an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR).

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.

The IOR for this position is:

Specialized Experience:

  • Technical medical laboratory support work such as performing laboratory tests and examinations (chemical, microbiologic, hematologic and blood banking) and preparing reports of findings, or
  • 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

Education and Training: 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.

In addition to meeting the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) above, applicants must also meet the experience and/or directly related education relevant to this position.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

Specialized Experience: To qualify at the GS-05 grade level, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 level or higher and/or meet educational requirements or a combination of specialized experience and education. If education is used to meet specialized experience requirements, then such education must include courses directly related to the work of the position.

Specialized Experience:
  • Experience in medical laboratory with support work such as loading laboratory samples (chemical, hematologic and urinalysis) and preparing shipping manifests/parcels.
  • Experience working 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.
  • Experience in a medical laboratory with support in the research and adherence to clinical laboratory sample collection, handling, and storage for stability and testing.
  • Experience performing phlebotomy and blood draws on human patients
OR

Education:
Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation, if required (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).[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:
  • Computer Skills
  • Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)
  • Patient Care
  • Quality Assurance
  • Specimen Collection


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.

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 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.

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.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:
1st Area of Consideration: Current permanent Gulf Coast Veterans Health Administration employees including satellites and CTAP eligibles;
2nd Area of Consideration: Current permanent Veterans Health Administration employees;
3rd Area of Consideration: Current permanent VA Nationwide employees;
4th Area of Consideration: All other Status applicants.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

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