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Medical Technician

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center

Summary

This position is in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), South Central VA Health Care Network (VISN 16), Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) in Houston, Texas, under Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (PLMS) in Inpatient and/or Outpatient Specimen Acquisition. A Medical Technician (phlebotomist) performs a variety of clinical and administrative functions.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/07/2026 to 04/10/2026
Salary
$41,989 - $54,589 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 4
Location
6 vacancies in the following location:
Houston, TX
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-12917831-26-DL
Control number
864045400

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.

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Duties

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Major Duties:

  • Draws blood from patients for requested laboratory tests. This includes special drawing techniques and assuring proper tubes are used and the correct amount of blood is drawn. Verifies patient as the individual denoted on the request and labels all tubes with the patient's name, social security number, date and time to insure proper identification.
  • Performs glucose Tolerance Tests and other specialized blood collections as indicated. Incumbent has direct patient contact and must treat all patients with the utmost courtesy and respect.
  • Performs all types of specimen collection in a courteous manner. Provides for patient comfort.
  • Adheres to safety, infection control, and universal precautions at all times while drawing specimen samples. This includes such things as removing tourniquets and wearing gloves. Must be proficient in the area of phlebotomy, being able to work with even the most difficult patients and follows proper procedures for redrawing blood. In addition, must develop the essential speed required to complete the blood drawing duties.
  • Instructs patients in proper sterile midstream urine collections, 24-hour urine collection and the collection of specimens for culture and sensitivity, ova parasites and occult bloods.
  • Assists in teaching laboratory and CBOC personnel theoretical and practical aspects of phlebotomy, a variety of specimen collections, and urine/blood specimen requirements.
  • Must be able to respond to, report and assist in emergency situations. Must know first aid procedures for the care of patients who become sick or faint while having blood drawn. Observes and reports any physical or mental changes while patients are being drawn.
  • Performs and exhibits knowledge and skills specific to the adult and geriatric patient. Provides care based on psychosocial, educational, safety and related criteria, appropriate to the age of patients served.
  • Uses the VA computer system when processing specimens. Samples are accepted into the computer for testing, or the order removed from the computer if samples are not collected. Protects the security of the computer system and maintains patient confidentiality.
  • Maintains accurate and orderly operational and quality control logs, records and worksheets where required according to established department protocol.
  • Assures that phlebotomy tray is adequately replenished as required.
  • Performs other specialized accessioning procedures as directed in Hematology, Special Hematology, Chemistry, Special Chemistry, Blood Bank (blood gases) and in Microbiology (blood cultures).
  • Assists with maintaining a neat and clean work area.
  • Assists with heavy workload. Willingly helps other Medical Technician (phlebotomist) who need assistance.

Work Schedule: Various schedules from Monday to Friday 3:30 pm-12:00 am/ 04:00 am to 1230 pm/ 12:00 am- 08:00 am Alternating Holidays & Weekends and from Monday to Friday 07:00 am- 3:30 pm. Tour of Duty will be based on position selected, subject to change based on the needs of the facility.
Telework: Not authorized for telework.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Medical Technician/PD04163A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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.
  • 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, 04/10/2026.

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

  • Individuals Occupational Requirements: 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.
  • 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: For GS-4: 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 as described in (a) above for GS-3; or (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 specialized experience directly related to this position. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

Specialized Experience: You must have 6 months of specialized experience and 6 months of general experience equivalent to at described below. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:
  • Provides patient care which is appropriate to the cognitive, emotional and chronological maturation needs of the adult and/or geriatric patient. The incumbent must demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served in his or her assigned service areas.
  • Performs blood collection using a variety of phlebotomy techniques including vacutainer system, syringe, butterfly or capillary finger sticks with minimal number of failures, patient bruising or required repeat collection, ensuring samples are submitted to the clinical laboratory with least possible delay.
  • The duties require knowledge of the basic principles of biological science to assess the quality of samples collected, readings and measurements taken, tests executed, observations made, work completed, samples collected, etc., and to understand and relate the significance of the results to the higher objectives of clinical laboratory testing.
  • Skill in venipuncture and correct preparation of specimens necessary to obtain the required quantities of specimens needed for the variety of laboratory examinations performed.
  • Processes all specimens according to strict guidelines to assure specimen integrity.
  • Patient care tasks require recognizing differences in patients and adjusting their care accordingly.
Note: Completion of appropriate training such as in-service training programs, training acquired while serving in the Armed Forces, and government-sponsored developmental training programs will be allowed credit on a month-for-month basis. This experience must be supported by your resume to be creditable.
OR,
Education
: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed 2 years above high school with courses related to the occupation. Note: 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. One year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business or technical school. (Transcripts Required).
OR,
Combination: Possess equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements at the GS-4 level. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)


You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
Communication
Computer Skills
Compliance inspection
Diagnostic Medical Testing
Clinical Data Collection Documentation

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 extensive and recurring physical exertion such as standing for long periods of
time, stooping, pushing, pulling, reaching, walking, bending, lifting of light/moderate objects (<20 lbs.) and stretching. The work requires manual dexterity and a large degree of concentration.

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

Applicants may substitute education for the required experience at this grade level.

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.

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.

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.

Veterans Health Administration

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?

The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center serves as the primary health care provider for more than 151,000 Veterans in southeast Texas. Houston exudes a cosmopolitan and down-home vibe together that lets the residents of the country's fourth-largest city and third-largest county (Harris) know that there's no place quite like Houston. The city attracts visitors and transplants with a wonderful mix of world class arts, booming business, pro sports and award-winning cuisine.

Agency contact information

Dannlys Logan
Phone
(315)396-8392
Email
Dannlys.Logan@va.gov
Address
Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center
2002 Holcombe Boulevard
Houston, TX 77030
US

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