Health Technician (OA)

DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory qualification and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Major Duties Include:

• Performs direct patient care including personal hygiene physical comfort nutrition elimination prevention of skin breakdown safety etc.
• Receives and directs patients answers routine inquiries and makes referrals.
• Receives and responds to a number of unclear inquires form patients concerning a variety of medical personnel and administrative matters.
• Maintains stock of supplies and sterility of instruments.
• Performs or assists Triage staff with diagnostic procedures including EKGs venipunctures and alcohol breathalyzer used to diagnose medical conditions.
• Assists in the performance of or independently performs procedures such as insertion of urinary catheters and intravenous catheters.
• Performs patient care procedures such as collection of specimens applying dressings and adjusting supportive equipment.
• Performs duties in accordance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and applicable laws and policies.
• Instructs patients in crutch walker and or cane use and ensures correct fitting of equipment.
• Performs duties involving customer service and or public liaison.
• Performs duties in accordance to applicable safety precautions and infection control.
• Operate emergency department equipment such as Telemetry and automated external defibrillator (AED).
• Provides general clerical/administrative support coordination work for the Triage area.
• Collects and organizes statistical data for reports.
• Performs patient charting using standard medical terminology entering information regarding care rendered condition and progress.

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
• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers 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)

• 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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement 02/12/2026.

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Must meet Individual Occupational Requirements: Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists speech pathologists medical officers and optometrists. Therefore technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge methods and techniques of the position to be filled. 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-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-06 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge skills and abilities (KSAs) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Work as a member of an interdisciplinary team to provide care to patients. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: experience working as an advanced EMT or a paramedic.

• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successful completion of 1 year of graduate education (18 semester hours) directly related to work of this position. 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.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

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.

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: 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:

Additional information

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.