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Health Technician

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Atlanta VA Health Care System, Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The employee works under the supervision of a Physical Therapist (PT) and/or Occupational Therapist (OT) to provide services that promote the prevention, remediation, and rehabilitation of acute and chronic physical dysfunction. Health Tech participates with the PT/OT in planning and implementing complex treatment program and applies therapy procedures to patients under the general supervision of PT-OT.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
07/09/2025 to 07/18/2025
Salary
$42,651 to - $61,805 per year

For GS-5 Salary range $42,651 to $55,441. For GS-6 Salary Range $47,544 to $61,805

Pay scale & grade
GS 5 - 6
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Atlanta, GA
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
6
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CBTB-12759539-25-AT
Control number
840346100

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Duties

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Duties include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Knowledge of basic procedures, medical records, medical terminology, and knowledge of Physical Therapy(PT) and Occupational Therapy(OT) data collection, knowledge of basic prosthetics.
  • Knowledge of issues related to patient safety and skill in their application to endure that patient and staff are not subjected to unnecessary risk during their treatment.
  • Responsible for technical and administrative aspects of the assignments.
  • The Health Technician is responsible for determining the methods to perform assigned duties.
  • The Health Technician consults with PT/ OT for technical advice.
  • Positions patients as appropriate and cleans work area (soiled linen and equipment) following treatment session.
  • Prepares patients for wound management evaluation and/or treatment using proper techniques of safe transport, infection control, positioning and draping, and procedures appropriate supplies and equipment.
  • Adjust, instructs and issues assistive devices for ambulation and assist in instruction of patient in proper use, care and safety of same.
  • Assists in measuring and adjusting wheelchairs and instructs patients in proper use, care, and safety of same.
  • Performs nontechnical maintenance of equipment to prevent malfunction and maintains treatment area in a safe, orderly manner.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm (Subject to change based on agency needs)
Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD10753A and PD10752A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • You may be required to serve a probationary/trial 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 (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)

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/18/2025.

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. For a GS - 06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS 05. 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.

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

GS-05:

  • Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS - 04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to; prepare and clean up treatment area, position patients as appropriate, assist with fitting/issuing/instructing in proper use of basic prosthetic, orthotic, and supportive devices. Knowledge of basic procedures, medical records, medical terminology, and knowledge of Physical Therapy (PT) and Occupational Therapy (OT) data collection, knowledge of basic prosthetics.
OR,
  • Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, with a major of study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position. NOTE: Transcripts must be provided.
OR,

Combination:
Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours.

GS-06:
  • Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS - 05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to; prepare and clean up treatment area, position patients as appropriate, assist with fitting/issuing/instructing in proper use of basic prosthetic, orthotic, and supportive devices. Knowledge of basic procedures, medical records, medical terminology, and knowledge of Physical Therapy (PT) and Occupational Therapy (OT) data collection, knowledge of basic prosthetics.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Infection Control
  • Medical Information
  • 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: Requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals, record boxes, equipment, or assisting patients.

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.

  • There is no educational substitution for the GS-06 level.
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


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.

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.

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