Health Technician (PACT Medical Assistant)

US Department of Veterans Affairs; Asheville (NC); On-site; USD 43,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Charles George VA Medical Center Nursing Service seeks a Health Technician (Certified Medical Assistant) to join our Primary Care Clinics, delivering nursing care to Veterans in an outpatient setting. The CMA will assist with routine and complex nursing tasks, vital signs, immunization support, and patient education under guidance of the healthcare team.

Applicants must meet English proficiency requirements and possess CMA certification.

Qualifications

• Must have college-level coursework resulting in a CMA certificate or registration.
• Experience with outpatient clinical care and patient assessment is preferred.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients and healthcare team.

Responsibilities

• Provide basic and complex nursing care in an outpatient Primary Care setting.
• Perform tasks including vital signs, specimen collection, immunization support, and patient education.
• Ensure accurate documentation and adherence to VA guidelines and privacy standards.

Skills

Certified Medical Assistant

Medical terminology

VistA CPRS

Outpatient care

Education

CMA certification

Tools

VistA

CPRS

Job description

The Charles George VA Medical Center Nursing Service is seeking one (1) highly skilled, and experienced Health Technician (Certified Medical Assistant) to work in our Primary Care Clinics providing care to a variety of patients with varying diagnoses. The CMA will perform basic and complex nursing care to our Nation's Veterans in an outpatient setting. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/13/2026.

English Language Proficiency:

In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.

Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR):

ALL applicants must meet the IOR. An IOR is a basic requirement that must be met in order to qualify for the 0640 occupational series.

You may meet this by:

Specialized Experience: 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.

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS- 5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:
  • Knowledge of medical terminology for the human body, physical and emotional reactions, nursing care, and skill sufficient to provide and gather information in patient care/family conferences with the healthcare team. This knowledge is all needed to properly schedule test and procedures.
  • Knowledge of official VA forms or electronic equivalent required to complete tasks and provides adequate documentation.
  • Broad and comprehensive knowledge of VA eligibility requirements sufficient to advise medical staff and other support staff on issues out-patient hospital, nursing home care, dental, etc.
  • Thorough knowledge of regulations pertaining to the appropriate release of information from a patient's medical record.
  • Knowledge of the VistA and CPRS program or equivalent, for retrieval of reports, consults, and progress notes.
  • Knowledge and skill sufficient to change sterile and non-sterile dressings and to maintain the sterile conditions of medical supplies.
  • Knowledge and skill sufficient to take a variety of samples such as sputum, blood or urine samples. Pap smears, biopsy specimens etc.
  • Knowledge and skill sufficient to conduct simple tests such as vital signs, EKGs, Glucometer checks, and record and report results.
  • Knowledge to catheterize and suction patients: and other supporting tasks such as charting and pt/family education.
  • An understanding of the theory and principles which support his/her work and ability to use these theories and principles in performing tasks, i.e. elevated temperature, abnormal blood pressure, skin breakdown etc.
  • Knowledge of equipment terminology; familiarity with drug terminology; and supply terminology and skill sufficient to identify and use equipment, drugs, and supplies properly, and to communicate proper use.
  • An understanding of diseases and illnesses, and skill sufficient to teach patients. i.e. diabetic self-care, and to impress upon patients and the family members the necessity to continue the procedures.
  • Skill and knowledge in establishing therapeutic relationships with patients and in maintaining effective interpersonal relationships with other staff members.
  • Knowledge and skill in the use of computer equipment with a wide variety of software to produce letters, memorandums, and to prepare a variety of specific working documents and forms such as spreadsheet, database, word processing, desktop publishing, graphics, and other similar products.
  • Ability to communicate verbally and in writing with a variety of people from different backgrounds and different levels of understanding. This may include clerical, technical, administrative, and professional (medical and non-medical) people at all levels in the agency, patients, family members, and visitors.
  • Incumbent must of completed college level course of study resulting in certificate as a Certified or Registered Medical Assistant

Preferred Experience:

• 2 years of Outpatient Medical Assistance Experience
• Documented Proficient Immunization Experience/Practices
• Documented Patient Education

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/.