Clarification from the agency

Open to current Department of Veteran Affairs employees and Federal employees who met the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee, veterans and all other applicants.

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Major Phlebotomist Duties:

• Performs venipunctures on outpatients & inpatients by correctly identifying patients.
• Adheres to safety, infection control, and universal precautions at all times while drawing blood.
• Must be proficient in the area of phlebotomy, being able to draw all but the most difficult patients and follows proper procedures for redrawing blood.
• Independently determines the need and initiates a Medical Emergency, Code Blue and/or Code Green for a violent patient.
• Observes and reports any physical or mental changes while patients are being drawn.
• Instruct patients in proper procedure for 24 hour urine collection.
• Prepares specimens and accessions clinical specimens for analysis in the clinical laboratory using the appropriate CERNER and/or VISTA options.
• Actively receives and accessions appropriate orders for laboratory testing.
• Recognizes emergency situations and takes necessary action.
• Establishes priorities for emergency orders.
• Notifies technologists of impending work.
• Receives specimens for testing into the laboratory.
• Verifies sample collection, patient identification, and sample transport requirements for all laboratory tests. Identifies unusual conditions and discrepancies, which may cause erroneous test results.
• Notifies technologists of any issues that may adversely affect analysis.
• Receives all specimens that are sent to commercial reference laboratories for testing.
• Knowledgeable about the specimen requirement for each reference laboratory test and the test ordering procedures for each of the reference laboratories. Verifies proper patient preparation, specimen collection, and specimen transport requirements for all reference laboratory tests.
• Identifies unusual conditions and discrepancies that may cause erroneous test results.
• Distributes specimens to laboratory section in which requested tests are performed.
• Operates centrifuges and other minor equipment within the laboratory for specimen processing and delivery to testing areas.
• Performs initial setup of testing procedures such as the inoculation of microbiology plates as specified by policy and training.
• Performs chain of custody drug collections as specified by training and procedural requirements.
• Maintains adequate supplies (tubes, needles, syringes, alcohol, labels, etc.) in the outpatient phlebotomy rooms, collection carts, and collection baskets.
• Maintains general appearance of AECCC by cleaning and by the storing of supplies.
• Stores, records and organizes general laboratory supplies and materials in an efficient manner.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Medical Technician - Phlebotomy/PD25579A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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 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, 03/25/2026.

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-04 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-03. 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 occupational series has an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) which is a minimum qualification requirement.

• 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
• Education and Training: Successful completion of (a) an associate-degree course of study of which the 2nd year of the 2 year program included successful completion of a training course of approximately a year's duration in a certified laboratory assistant school approved by a nationally recognized accrediting agency; (b) 1 year of study that included 6 semester hours in chemistry and/or the biological sciences, plus successful completion of the training course for GS-3; a full-time training course of a year's duration in a medical or laboratory assistant (or Technician) school; that included instruction in Chemistry, hematology, blood banking, microbiology (including serology) and in addition, included supervised laboratory practice incident to the diagnostic process and treatment of patients; (c) 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours of chemistry and /or biological science course work that must have been directly related to the specialization of the position to be filled.

In addition to meeting the above Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR), applicants must also meet the experience relevant to this position.

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

• General/Specialized Experience: GS-04: Six months of general experience and six months of specialized experience that equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. General Experience is any type of work that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of the position, or experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. Specialized experience Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Applicants who have the 1 year of appropriate specialized experience, as indicated in the table, are not required by this standard to have general experience, education above the high school level, or any additional specialized experience to meet the minimum qualification requirements. OR,
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successful completion of (a) an associate's degree course of study in which the second year of the 2 year program included successful completion of a training course of approximately a year's duration in a certified laboratory assistant school approved by a nationally recognized accrediting agency; (b) one year of study that included six semester hours in chemistry and/or the biological sciences, plus successful completion of a full-time training course of approximately a year's duration in a medical or clinical laboratory assistant (or technician) school that included instruction in chemistry, hematology, blood banking, and microbiology (including serology) and that, in addition, included supervised laboratory practice incident to the diagnostic process and the treatment of patients; or (c) two years of study that included at least twelve semester hours of chemistry and/or biological science course work that must have been directly related to the specialization of the position to be filled. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. Transcripts are required to be submitted if using education to qualify. OR,
• Combining Experience and Education: Having equivalent combinations of creditable specialized experience and education as described in one (1) and two (2) above to meet the total experience requirements for the Medical Technician position. Combination of successfully completed post high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements.

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.

Preferred Experience:

• 2-3 years of Phlebotomy experience in the last 5 years.
• Phlebotomy certification.
• BLS certification.

Physical Requirements: Must pass a pre-employment physical examination as required by VA Handbook 5019. This examination is administered by VA Occupational Health. The physical demands are primarily standing and walking, but also some bending, lifting and carrying of light items. The work requires above average agility and dexterity.

Work Environment: The work environment involves regular and recurrent exposure to moderate risks or discomforts typically associated with performing phlebotomy on patients, requiring special safety precautions.

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/.

How you will be evaluated

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

Area of consideration:

1. Permanent VA employees
2. CTAP eligible
3. All other Federal employees
4. Veterans
5. All other applicants

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

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.