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Posted: January 29, 2026 (5 days ago)

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Health Technician

Veterans Health Administration

Department of Veterans Affairs

Fresh

Salary

$40,736 - $52,957

per year

Closes

February 4, 2026

GS-5 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $33,878 - $44,042

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience. Bachelor's degree.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job is for a health technician in the podiatry department at a VA medical center in Tomah, Wisconsin, where you'll help maintain supplies, operate equipment, and support treatment teams by assisting with patient care tasks like collecting information and changing dressings.

It's a good fit for someone with entry-level experience in healthcare support roles or relevant education, who enjoys hands-on work in a medical setting serving veterans.

The position is at the GS-05 level, ideal for those building a career in patient care without needing advanced medical training.

Key Requirements

  • One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-04, such as collecting patient information, handling specimens, changing dressings, and organizing supplies
  • OR a bachelor's degree with courses related to healthcare or the occupation
  • OR a combination of qualifying education and experience that totals 100% of the requirements
  • Current federal employees must meet time-in-grade: 52 weeks at GS-04 within the past year, proven by SF-50 forms
  • Submit transcripts if qualifying based on education
  • Detail all relevant experience (paid, unpaid, or volunteer) in resume, including part-time work adjusted for full-time equivalent
  • U.S. citizenship required for VA positions

Full Job Description

This position is located in the Podiatry Department of the VA Medical Center in Tomah, WI.

The primary purpose of this position is to maintain and/or assemble supplies, operate equipment and assist treatment teams.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/04/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

For a GS-05 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-04. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service.

An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement.

In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-05 grade level: Specialize Experience: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-04 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) 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: collecting patient information, collect, label and transport patient specimen, change dressings, and maintain and organize supply and equipment rooms.

OR Education: 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation, for the experience required for the GS-05 level.

OR Combination of Education and Experience: An equivalent combination of specialized experience and education as described that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position.

Transcripts required, and experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit.

To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned).

Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-05.

For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e.

50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. 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.

Physical Requirements: This work involves long periods of moving about the work unit.

The work requires regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, and repositioning patients or similar activities.

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/.

Major Duties:

Duties include but not limited too: Assisting other medical personnel in the diagnosis or treatment of patient illnesses or medical conditions. Scheduling appointments.

Answering and directing phone calls and assisting visitors to the office. Maintaining files and documenting patient records. Using a computer to perform support duties.

Setting up patient examination rooms. Taking and recording vital signs. Interviewing patients to obtain medical/personal history. Adhering to infection control procedures.

Assisting with minor medical procedures (changing dressings, applying bandages and splits, etc.). Instructing patients on home care procedures. Observing patients for changes in condition.

De-escalating disruptive patients. Performing blood glucose testing. Collecting and labeling specimens. Providing training to new personnel. Performing related duties as required.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 7:30am to 4:00pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD09110A

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Posted on USAJOBS: 1/29/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/30/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: CAZP-12869987-26-LL