Medical Technician-Phlebotomist
What you'd do
The Medical Technician in the Specimen Collection and Processing section of the laboratory. He/she collects specimens, receives, and processes specimens, and packs specimens for shipment for VANCHCS and reference laboratory testing. Also performs duties in the Clinical Laboratory involving tests and examinations using the techniques of medical laboratory practice. The use of computers, laboratory equipment and instrumentation are required.
Major duties
This is the full performance level of the position and serves as a Medical Technician in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service, at the Veterans Affairs Northern California Health Care System (VANCHCS). The VA Northern California Health Care System is a Level 1a facility and ranks among a complex system in the VA serving the VA Sierra Pacific Network (VISN 21). The VANCHCS offers a full range of comprehensive health care services including Dentistry, Geriatrics and Extended Care, Imaging, Medicine Services, Mental Health Services, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service, Primary Care, Radiation Oncology, Rehabilitation Services, Specialty Services, and Surgery. The VANCHCS offers several special medical programs to include Centers of Specialized Expertise, Home Health Services, Homeless Veteran Services, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Services, Pharmacy Specialized Services, Rurality, Spinal Cord Injury, Telehealth, and Women's Health Centers. The VANCHCS operates eleven community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) covering seven county areas. These outpatient clinics are in Chico, Fairfield, Mare Island, Martinez, McClellan, Oakland, Redding, Sacramento, Auburn, and Yreka. Duties include, but are not limited to the following: Phlebotomy Duties Drawing blood from outpatients for requested laboratory tests. Adhere to safety, infection control, and universal precautions at all times while drawing blood. Performing the following special drawing procedures. Must know first aid procedures for the care of patients who become sick, arrest, or faint while having blood drawn. Accessioning and Processing Duties Receives all requests for testing into the laboratory. He/she will verify the accuracy and completeness of the request. Identifies unusual conditions and discrepancies which may cause erroneous test results. makes sound decisions independently and takes appropriate action to correct and solve problems. Selects, performs, evaluates, and monitors the performance of test procedures using manual and/or automated techniques in accordance with established SOPs. Recognizes indicators of malfunction and evaluates validity of data. Equipment Maintenance: Maintain laboratory facilities and equipment and controls supplies. Ensure that a sufficient supply of reagents, consumables, and equipment are available at all times by ordering an adequate supply from commercial sources or preparing a variety of specialized solutions or reagents. Uses independent judgment in adjusting either the procedure or the mechanical device used in the operation to produce good quality control. Performs preventive maintenance on laboratory equipment such as centrifuges, refrigerators, and freezers. Maintains files of computer printed order entry forms and results of testing, per policy. Work Schedule: M - F 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Telework: This position is NOT authorized for telework. Virtual: This is NOT a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Medical Technician-Phlebotomist/PD03136A
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/15/2026. 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. 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. Special Placement Factor: Must have have experience performing phlebotomy/blood draws on human patients. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: 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: (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. Additional specialized experience should include experience performing a variety of relatively standardized tests, examinations, and determinations. The procedures and techniques are well-established but involve many meticulous sequential steps to complete a test; and following written procedures which give carefully detailed instructions on each step of the assigned test and examinations. OR, Education Substitution: 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. (Transcripts must be submitted at time of application.). OR, Combination of Specialized Experience and Education: Equivalent combinations of post-high school education and specialized experience, as described above. Note: only 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 l year of specialized experience. (Transcripts must be submitted at time of application.) 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. Physical Requirements: The work requires extensive and recurring physical exertion such as standing (Or long periods of time, bending, standing, lifting (less than 40 pounds), walking, stooping, and stretching. 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/.
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