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Medical Technician

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System

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.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/09/2026 to 04/23/2026
Salary
$40,736 - $52,957 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 5
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Biloxi, MS
1 vacancy
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-12916257-26-BP
Control number
864526600

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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  • 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

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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, 04/23/2026.


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.

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 Mississippi Gulf Coast is a great place to live and work! You'll find picturesque, white-sand beaches lining the Gulf of Mexico, exciting, fun-filled outdoor activities to include boating, fishing and championship golf courses, taste-tantalizing cuisine, plentiful shopping, and must-see cultural attractions. Mississippi's Gulf Coast also features unlimited stakes gaming, top-name entertainment, and spectacular stage shows you won't want to miss. With a unique combination of attractions that will please everyone, Mississippi's Gulf Coast is undoubtedly "the" place to live and work!

Agency contact information

Brittne Pence
Phone
7138257943
Email
Brittne.Pence@va.gov
Address
Biloxi VA Medical Center
400 Veterans Avenue
Biloxi, MS 39531
US

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http://www.va.gov/jobs

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