Medical Technician

The Medical Technician performs phlebotomy and technical duties for the various sections of the medical center in support of the general sections of the medical and surgical care of patients in diagnostic functions to include blood-drawing procedures, assisting patients and specimen processing.

The core duties of this position include but are not limited to:

• Performs blood collection using a variety of phlebotomy techniques including vacutainer systems, syringe, and/or butterfly 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.
• Experience performing phlebotomy/blood draws on human patients.
• 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.
• Administers initial intervention in the event of an emergency.
• Observes and reports any physical or mental changes during patient blood draws.
• Prepares samples for testing to include labeling,
• 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, Monday - Friday, 7:00 AM - 3:30PM, Weekends and Holidays as needed.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Medical Technician/PD6501A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/09/2026.

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-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.

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. An IOR is a basic requirement that must be met in order to qualify for entry into this job series, and it is something that cannot be waived.

• 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: 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.

Advancement to positions up to GS-05 - candidates may be advanced without time restriction to positions up to GS-5 if the position to be filled is no more than two grades above the lowest grade the employee held within the preceding 52 weeks under his or her latest non-temporary competitive appointment. To qualify for a GS-05 position, the lowest possible grade held would be GS-03 (please provide SF-50).

In addition to the Individual Occupational Requirement, you must also meet the following specialized experience:

• SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-4 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as: Receives requests or instructions for venipuncture; delivers collected specimens to main lab for processing; explains venipuncture and/or urine collection process to patient; adheres to safety, infection control, and universal precautions at all times while drawing blood; collecting/transporting any bodily fluids or patient contact, includes such things as site preparation, removing tourniquets, wearing gloves, goggles, or protective gown/equipment and adhering special isolation precautions; establishes priorities for emergency orders; recognizes emergency situations and takes necessary actions; and orders and maintains supplies for phlebotomy work areas.

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

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 education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to 1 year of specialized experience.

Preferred Experience: The Best Qualified candidate will have 1 year Phlebotomy experience.

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/.

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/.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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
• Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
• 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 identification 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, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.