Seeking a Meaningful Healthcare Career? Join the VA as a Health Technician in Albany, NY

If you are a detail-oriented healthcare professional looking to serve those who served our nation, an exceptional opportunity awaits you in Upstate New York. The Department of Veterans Affairs, through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), is actively recruiting for a full-time Health Technician (GS-06) to join the Clinical Laboratory team at the Samuel S Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, New York.

This position offers a fulfilling path within federal service, robust government benefits, a stable work schedule, and the opportunity to make a tangible difference in Veteran health outcomes. Below is a detailed overview of the role, qualifications, salary structure, application guidelines, and hiring process.

About the Agency: Veterans Health Administration

The Veterans Health Administration is America's largest integrated healthcare system, providing comprehensive medical care to millions of Veterans across the United States. Driven by President Lincoln's enduring promise "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan," the VHA is built upon compassion, clinical excellence, and innovation.

At the Samuel S Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, staff members work collaboratively to provide state-of-the-art diagnostic, clinical, and preventative services. As part of the clinical laboratory, Health Technicians play a vital foundational role in patient diagnosis, pre-employment workforce readiness, and overall healthcare operations.

Primary Responsibilities & Key Duties

The Health Technician serves as a core point of contact in the Central Accessioning area of the clinical laboratory, managing specimen processing, patient assistance, and pre-employment screening routines. Working closely with Human Resources, medical staff, and laboratory technologists, key responsibilities include:

Urine Drug Screen (UDS) Program Management: Scheduling and conducting pre-employment urine drug collections for new VA employees; maintaining, sanitizing, and stocking the drug screen collection cart; keeping secure patient records.
Regulatory Compliance & SOP Maintenance: Staying informed on national Drug-Free Workplace Program updates and assisting with annual revisions to local UDS Standard Operating Procedures.
Specimen Processing & Distribution: Receiving, inspecting, labeling, and routing biological specimens to appropriate analytical departments while resolving identification discrepancies.
Chain-of-Custody Integrity: Enforcing strict protocols to guarantee specimen accuracy, chain-of-custody documentation, and safe transport to reference laboratories.
Health System Data Entry: Utilizing federal healthcare IT platforms like VistA and CPRS to enter, verify, and validate lab orders and add-on test requests.
Urgent Care Prioritization: Swiftly identifying STAT specimens, alerting laboratory technologists, and expediting processing during emergency situations.
Safety & Infection Control: Adhering strictly to universal precautions, infection control policies, and biohazard containment procedures.

Qualification Requirements

To qualify for the GS-06 grade level, candidates must demonstrate appropriate experience, specialized education, or a combination of both prior to the closing date.

Qualification Paths Comparison

Qualification Method	Minimum Criteria Required
Option A: Specialized Experience	1 year of GS-05 level experience performing laboratory specimen receiving, labeling, accessioning, specimen collection, and infection control protocols.
Option B: Graduate Education	6 months of graduate-level education directly related to medical technology, laboratory science, or healthcare administration.
Option C: Combination	Equivalent combination of specialized experience and directly related graduate education totaling 100% of the requirement.

General Federal Mandates

Citizenship: Must be a United States Citizen.
Background Clearance: Subject to suitability determination and background investigation.
Drug Testing: Mandatory pre-employment urinalysis screening.
Vaccination: Mandatory participation in the annual seasonal influenza vaccination program.
Selective Service: Registration required for eligible males born after Dec 31, 1959.
Identification: Valid REAL ID compliant state driver's license or ID card required by May 7, 2025.

Salary & Work Schedule Overview

Pay Grade: General Schedule GS-06
Annual Salary Range: $46,848 to $60,902 per year
Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Position Location: Samuel S Stratton VA Medical Center, Albany, NY
Telework/Remote: Not authorized (On-site facility role)
Hiring Authority: Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.205)

Federal Employee Benefits

Working for the Department of Veterans Affairs provides an industry-leading benefits package tailored to long-term financial security and work-life harmony:

Healthcare Coverage: Access to top-tier health, dental, and vision insurance options under FEHB and FEDVIP.
Retirement Plans: Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) pension combined with a 401(k)-style Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) offering up to 5% agency matching.
Paid Time Off: Earn 13 to 26 days of annual leave per year (based on tenure), 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
Family Care: Up to 12 weeks of Paid Parental Leave under FEPLA for eligible birth or placement of a child.
Life & Disability: Group life insurance options (FEGLI) and long-term care insurance coverage.

Critical Resume & Application Guidelines

Applying for federal jobs requires precision. Follow these essential tips to avoid disqualification during initial screening:

The Two-Page Resume Mandate

Federal agencies now enforce a strict two-page limit on resumes. Resumes exceeding two pages will be automatically disqualified.

Formatting: Use a single PDF document with 0.5-inch margins.
Typography: Select clear sans-serif fonts such as Lato, Calibri, or Arial (14pt for headings, 10pt for body text).
Required Details: Clearly state job titles, start and end dates (Month/Year), and exact weekly hours worked (e.g., 40 hours/week) for all work history items.
Targeted Accomplishments: Align your resume bullets with accessioning, chain-of-custody, CPRS/VistA utilization, and laboratory safety.

USA Hire Assessment

Upon submitting your application, you will receive an invitation link to take the online USA Hire Assessment. This test evaluates core competencies such as Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Teamwork, and Stress Tolerance. Set aside up to 3 hours in a distraction-free environment to complete the test.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is Direct-Hire Authority?

Direct-Hire Authority allows the VA to fill vacancies rapidly when there is a severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need. While traditional Veterans' Preference points do not apply under Direct Hire, qualified veterans receive full consideration.

Q: Is this position eligible for remote work or telework?

No. Due to the hands-on nature of laboratory accessioning, specimen collection, and patient interaction, this role requires physical presence at the Albany facility.

Q: Can I substitute college coursework for specialized experience?

Yes. Successful completion of six months of directly related graduate-level education can be substituted for experience, or combined with relevant experience.

Q: What happens after I submit my application?

Once the job announcement closes, applications and assessment scores are evaluated. Qualified candidates are referred to hiring managers on a certificate of eligibility, and top applicants will be contacted directly for interviews.

The Health Technician position at the Samuel S Stratton VA Medical Center is an outstanding opportunity to launch or advance a public service career in healthcare. By combining steady compensation, premier federal benefits, and meaningful daily involvement in Veteran care, this role offers exceptional professional reward.

Ensure your resume is updated to the two-page requirement, gather your transcripts, and complete your application before the closing deadline to step forward in your federal career!

Why This Health Technician Job Matters

Make a meaningful impact on Veteran care as a Health Technician with the Veterans Health Administration in Albany, NY, supporting vital clinical laboratory and drug testing operations.

Health Technician Job Overview

The Veterans Health Administration is seeking a dedicated Health Technician to join the Clinical Laboratory team at the Samuel S Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, New York. In this pivotal role, you will manage central accessioning duties, coordinate pre-employment drug screening collections, handle specimen transport, and maintain strict chain-of-custody standards. This position is filled under Direct-Hire Authority and offers a competitive salary range of $46,848 to $60,902 per year along with comprehensive federal benefits.

Requirements for Health Technician

United States Citizenship is required.
Must undergo a pre-employment background/security investigation.
Must pass a pre-employment drug screening (urinalysis).
Must participate in the annual seasonal influenza vaccination program.
Selective Service registration is mandatory for males born after December 31, 1959.
Must present REAL ID compliant state-issued identification or driver's license by May 7, 2025.
Must successfully complete a one-year federal probationary period.
Must complete the online USA Hire Competency-Based Assessment and meet or exceed the qualifying cut score.
Application resume must adhere strictly to the federal 2-page length limit.

Preferred Qualifications for Health Technician

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in clinical laboratory specimen receiving, labeling, processing, and distribution.
Demonstrated expertise in maintaining specimen integrity and strict chain-of-custody documentation.
Knowledge of federal Drug-Free Workplace Program regulations and experience updating standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Completion of six months of graduate-level education directly related to medical laboratory science or a closely aligned field.
Familiarity with hospital information systems such as VistA or CPRS.

Federal Benefits & Perks

✓Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance plans (FEHB/FEDVIP)
✓Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) pension plan
✓Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with agency automatic and matching contributions up to 5%
✓Generous paid annual leave, sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays per year
✓Stable Monday through Friday day-shift work schedule
✓Paid parental leave under the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act

💡 How to Apply Health Technician Job & Insider Tips

Application Steps for Health Technician Job

Review the full announcement and verify that your background meets the GS-06 qualification criteria.
Prepare a resume that does NOT exceed two pages in length, adhering to 0.5-inch margins and sans-serif typography.
Gather supporting documents such as college transcripts (if substituting education), DD-214/SF-50 (if applicable), and Schedule A letters.
Log into USAJOBS, click 'Apply Online', upload your 2-page resume and required attachments, and complete the preliminary questionnaire.
Submit your complete package prior to 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the closing date.
Check your email and USAJOBS application status tracker for the USA Hire Assessment link.
Complete the online USA Hire Assessment within the allotted timeframe (set aside up to 3 hours).

💡 General Tips

Strict Resume Length Rule: Resumes over two pages will result in automatic disqualification due to federal Merit Hiring Plan compliance.
Format Smartly: Save your resume as a single PDF with 0.5-inch margins using clean sans-serif fonts such as Lato, Calibri, or Arial.
Document Work Hours: Explicitly state start/end dates (month/year) and weekly hours worked (e.g., 40 hours/week) for every work experience entry.
Prepare for Assessment: Set aside uninterrupted time in a quiet location to complete the mandatory USA Hire online assessment.
Align Language: Use precise terminology matching laboratory accessioning, specimen chain-of-custody, and infection control in your experience bullets.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the pay grade and salary for this Health Technician position?

This position is set at the General Schedule GS-06 level with an annual salary range of $46,848 to $60,902 per year.

Where is the physical work location?

The duty station is located on-site at the Samuel S Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, New York. Telework or remote work is not available.

Does traditional Veterans' Preference apply to this job opening?

Because this position is being recruited under Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.205), standard Veterans' Preference competitive rules do not apply, though qualified veterans receive full consideration.

What is the strict resume page limit for this application?

Applicants must submit a resume that is two pages or fewer. Any application with a resume exceeding two pages will be deemed ineligible.

Are vaccinations required for this role?

Yes. All Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel must participate in the annual seasonal influenza vaccination program or obtain an approved medical or religious exemption.