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Medical Support Assistant (Advanced)


Job Location:

Alexandria, VA - USA

Yearly Salary: USD 48877 - 48877
Posted: 6 October 2026 (4 days ago)
Application Deadline: 4 January 2027
Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Summary

This Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) position is in the Mental Health Department of the Alexandria VA Health Care System located in Alexandria/Pineville Louisiana.




Duties

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Mental Health Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) GSis under the supervision of the Supervisory Medical Administration Specialist Mental Health Mental Health and independently carries out a wide variety of difficult tasks involving atypical problems or complex situations and refers only extremely unique problems to their supervisor. The AMSA receives and adheres to guidance from management VA directives policies and procedures. Works independently carrying out assignments and handles unusual problems and deviations in the workplace using established policies instructions and accepted practices. Considerable reliance is placed upon the AMSAs knowledge of enrollment procedures eligibility customer service laws medical care applications Means Testing insurance verification. The AMSA based on knowledge of the overall functions and projects of the organization sets priorities and deadlines for the day-to-day workflow. The AMSA is responsible for clerk duties in a Mental Health setting. The duties of the Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) include but are not limited to:


Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave 13 days of sick leave 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth adoption or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment full time employees with a total family income below $144000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: Not Available

Functional Statement #: 00926-F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized


Requirements
Conditions of employment

    As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public 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 trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.
    Qualifications

    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.
    • English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English.
    • Experience: No experience required.
    • Education: High school diploma General Education Development equivalency certificate or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education.
    Documentation Requirements for Proof of High School Completion or higher

    If using post-high school education to substitute for experience at the GS-04 or GS-05 you must submit a copy of your unofficial or official college transcript with your application.

    If selected to meet the basic requirement of high school education or equivalent and prior to a firm job offer being extended applicants must provide one of the following as verification of the education requirement if not covered under the grandfathering provision:

    Copy of high school diploma OR high school transcript (unofficial or official) OR GED Certificate OR homeschooling completion OR proficiency certificate issued by a State or Territorial Board or Department of Education OR college transcript (official)
    • Licensure/Certification/Registration: None.
    May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

    Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment listed in above the following education and experience criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:
    KSAs must be clearly reflected in the resume under description of duties in order to be found qualified for this position/grade level).

    Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) GS-06:Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level. AND

    Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below in their resume:
    1. Ability to collaborate and communicate with a wide range of medical clinicians across multiple disciplines (e.g. medical doctors nurse practitioners physician assistants psychologists psychiatrists social workers clinical pharmacists and nursing staff) to accomplish team goal setting to ensure medical care to patients is met.
    2. Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines ensuring compliance with established processes policies and regulations.
    3. Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively electronically by phone in person and inwriting with internal and external customers. This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels as well as resolving patient concerns.
    4. Advanced knowledge of the technical health care process (including but not limited to scheduling across interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery and/or care in the community models and patient health care portals as it relates to access to care.
    5. Advanced knowledge of policies and procedures associated with interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery and/or care in the community operational activities that affect patient flow and patient support care administrative functions to include but not limited to appointment cycles outside patient referrals follow-up care overbooking provider availability etc.
    6. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians. *

    *Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit.**
    Preferred Experience:
    • Computer literate
    • Customer service
    The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06.

    Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing lifting carrying sitting stooping bending puling and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

    Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted heated and ventilated. However the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.
    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: of a school of practical or vocational nursing approved by the appropriate State agency and/or accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) at the time the program was completed by the applicant. Note: 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


    During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

    This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

    This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

    VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38 and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

    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 applicants 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.

    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.

    A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

    Review our benefits

    Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.


    Required Experience:

    Junior IC