Summary

The incumbent serves in the Specimen Collection/Processing/Send-out Section of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service. The Medical Technician provides phlebotomy support for both inpatients and outpatients at the VA Central CA HealthCare System - Fresno - CA. The incumbent will perform point-of-care testing - phlebotomy - accession specimens - and perform other procedures necessary to ensure appropriate specimen receipt - handling - and processing to ensure accurate - reliable laboratory results.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 06/09/2026. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Time-In-Grade Requirement: Does not apply
• 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-4 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 of phlebotomy
• 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 major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects appropriate to the position to be filled
• 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 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
• You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Clerical Infection Control Specimen Collection Technical Competence 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: Physical demands may involve minimal lifting - standing - foot travel - bending - or sitting
• The incumbent must have the digital dexterity and adequate vision to perform safe venipuncture procedures
• Lifting will not exceed a weight of 10 pounds
• The incumbent must fully utilize all safety practice and equipment provided by the medical center - and in compliance with local and accrediting agency requirements
• 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/.

Duties

• Specimen Collection The majority of the incumbent's day will be spent performing routine venipuncture specimen collections from inpatient - outpatients - and ambulatory inpatients
• Will be required to proficiently collect these blood samples with a minimal number of failures - patient bruising - or required re-sticks - and ensure that samples are submitted to the clinical laboratory with the least possible delay
• Processing and Supporting Tasks May also be required to receive and sort specimens - check request slips for proper information - log in specimen - and deliver specimens to various laboratory sections
• May also be assigned to technical support tasks that include - but are not limited to: Preparation of samples for testing in the various clinical laboratory sections - such as labeling - centrifugation - decanting - aliquotting - etc
• Distribution - storage and delivery of supplies and other materials used for the purpose of phlebotomy services
• Cleaning and restocking the blood collection room and areas where collection trays and equipment are stored
• Receiving phlebotomy requests utilizing both manual and computerized logging methods
• Recollection of patient specimens when determined by the medical technologists to be inadequate or insufficient to meet the test requirements
• Collection of additional samples as required for the purpose of performing additional requested testing
• Incumbent will observe all laboratory safety and infection control practices in accordance with the procedures established by national - regional - and facility policies
• Blood sample collection must be performed in the manner described by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) as well as the written guidelines of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service Procedures (PLMS)
• Assignment of day-to-day duties will be at the discretion of the Supervisor Clinical Laboratory Scientist - who will make such assignments based on the current and existing needs of PLMS and the VA Central CA HealthCare System
• Work Schedule: Shifts Monday - Friday - 8:00a.m.-4:30p.m. - 10:00a.m.-6:30p.m
• Employees are required to rotate weekends and holidays
• Work schedules are subject to change based on operational needs
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Medical Technician (Phlebotomist)/PD00367A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required