Health Technician - Phlebotomist (Specimen Collection and Processing)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; New Orleans (LA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

US Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Health Technician in the New Orleans area to perform phlebotomy, specimen collection, processing, and storage, including packaging for reference laboratories and chain-of-custody documentation.

The role supports outpatient phlebotomy operations, validates patient identity, and manages the patient flow. Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree with related coursework or equivalent experience; a phlebotomy certification is preferred.

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation.
• Education may substitute for experience; four-year degree with related coursework.
• Transcripts required for education qualification.
• Combination of education and experience allowed; transcripts required.

Responsibilities

• Intake patients and validate identity; manage outpatient phlebotomy queue.
• Perform phlebotomy, specimen collection, processing, storage, and packaging for transport to reference labs.
• Accession specimens and document chain-of-custody for drug collections.
• Provide customer service and assist with order status and patient intake.

Skills

Specimen accessioning

Packaging specimens

Quality control

Customer service

Chain-of-custody urine drug collection

Blood draws

Education

Bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours related to position

Phlebotomy certification (preferred)

Job description

The services provided by the Health Technician consist primarily of phlebotomy, specimen collection, specimen processing, preparation and storage of specimens, packaging and manifesting specimens for transport to send-out reference laboratories, accessioning samples, performing Chain of Custody Employee Drug Collection (EDC), and performing waived testing. As well as intakes patients, validates patient identity, confirms order status, and manages the patient queue in outpatient phlebotomy. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/22/2026.

Individual Occupational Requirement:

Applicants who meet the Individual Occupational Requirements described below are fully qualified for the specified entry grade and must also meet the specialized experience and/or education requirements.

OR,

Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above):

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.

OR,

Education and Training

For GS-5: 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 directly related to the position.

In addition to meeting the above Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR), applicants must also meet the experience and/or directly related education relevant to this position.

For a GS- 05 position

Candidates may be advanced without time restriction to position is up to GS-5 if the position to be filled is no more than two grades above the lowest grade the employee held within the preceding 52 weeks under his or her latest non-temporary competitive appointment.

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:

• Experience accessioning specimens and processing blood and other specimens for analysis.
• Manifesting and Packaging Specimens for shipment to reference laboratories
• Performing and documenting Quality Control and instrument maintenance.
• Provides customer service or managing queues in a high-volume setting.
• Familiarity with chain-of-custody urine drug collections.
• Performs blood draws in either a hospital (inpatient) or clinic (outpatient) environment drawing blood from the arm or hand.

OR,

Education:

Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have .Successfully completed four (4) year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. Note: Transcripts are required.

OR,

Combination:

Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an Equivalent combination of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the second year or 60 semester hours) and specialized experience which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include courses directly related to the work of the position. Note: Transcripts are required.

Preferred Experience:

• Phlebotomy certification

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: 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/