Health Technician (Paramedic) Job in Prisons - Nationwide

Vacancy No. BOP-N-2025-0025 Department Justice, Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System
Salary $63,148.00 to $101,860.00 Grade 09 to 09
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 4/16/2025 Close Date 9/30/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Prisons - Nationwide


Summary

Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.

Duties

Position located in the Health Services Department at a Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) correctional facility.

Primarily responsible for providing emergency assessment and medical care to inmate patients.

First responder at the scene of sudden illness or emergency and sometimes encounters situations which may be life threatening.

Determines, upon consultation with a medical provider (physician/physician assistant/nurse practitioner), the most appropriate method of transportation to the local hospital.

Prioritizes treatments for patients having multiple problems and employs a variety of established medical emergency procedures, techniques, methods and equipment, including the performance of emergency triage.

Along with all other correctional institution employees, incumbent is charged with responsibility for maintaining security of the institution. The staff correctional responsibilities precede all others required by this position and are performed on a regular and recurring basis.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is Required.
  • See Special Conditions of Employment Section.
  • Selective Service Requirement: http://www.sss.gov

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1)this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified category using established category rating criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: Click Here

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified category using established category rating criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at: Click Here

Qualifications

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements.

Basic Requirements:

Specialized Experience (for positions at GL-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.

AND

In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements, applicants must have the following:

Education:

Two full years of graduate education or a master’s degree. Graduate level education must be directly related to the work of the position.

OR

Experience:

You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level in the federal service. To be creditable, this experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular qualifications to perform successfully the duties of the position, and must typically be filled.

Some examples of this qualifying experience are:

  • Experience in obtaining patient vital signs and performing venipuncture and initiating intravenous (IV) and/or intraosseous (IO) therapy.
  • Experience using various types of medical emergency equipment such as electrocardiogram (EKG), telemetry/defibrillator, suction, etc.
  • Experience determining the basic causes and medical implications of closed and open soft tissue wounds and stabilizing patients as established by protocols.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience:

Combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience. This graduate level education courses must be directly related to the work of the position. This experience must have equipped you with the particular qualifications set to perform the major duties of this position as described above.

AND

Selective Placement Factor:

Applicants applying for this position MUST also possess the following Selective Factor. In the event you do not possess the Selective Factor, you will be found ineligible for the position.

Applicant must satisfy at least one of the following conditions:

  • Applicant maintains a current, active, and unrestricted certification as a National Registry Paramedic (NRP);

OR

  • Applicant maintains a current, active state Paramedic license in the state of the position being applied for.

NOTE: ALL applicants MUST upload proof of a NRP certification or Paramedic license at the time they apply.

If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as the number of hours worked per week) spent in activities.

**Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.**

Education

See Qualifications Section for education requirements, if applicable.

ONLY if education is a requirement/substitution for specialized experience, applicant MUST upload legible transcripts as verification of educational requirement. Transcripts MUST be uploaded and electronically linked from USAJOBS at the time you apply and MUST include identifying information to include School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, Click Here.

Foreign Education: For information regarding foreign education requirements, please see Foreign Diploma and Credit Recognition at the U.S. Department of Education website: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.

If you are selected for this position and qualified based on education (i.e. basic education requirement and/or substitution of education), you will be required to provide an OFFICIAL transcript prior to your first day on duty.

Additional information

AGE REQUIREMENTS:

In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3307, a maximum entry age of 36 has been established for initial appointment to a position in a Bureau of Prisons institution. In special situations, a waiver may be requested up to age 39 at locations where there is a shortage of applicants under 37. If you are above the maximum entry age and have prior federal law enforcement coverage, you MUST submit an SF-50 to verify prior coverage.

Qualified Preference Eligible Veterans may be exempt from meeting the maximum age.  Refer to the Required Documents Section for the appropriate documentation to submit to validate veteran eligibility.

LENGTH OF ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants will remain on the inventory until the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

NOTE: This announcement is posted on a yearly cycle. The announcement will EXPIRE on the listed closing date at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. In order to receive consideration for the next cycle, applicants MUST reapply to the new vacancy announcement.

SALARY RANGE:  The salary range for this announcement reflects Rest of US GL-09/01 @ $63,148 to highest GL-09/10 San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA @ $101,860.  See current pay scales for locality area for which you are applying at www.opm.gov and search pay tables.

Special Conditions of Employment Section:

Appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a pre-employment and panel interview, urinalysis, physical, and background investigation.  All applicants are subject to and must satisfactorily pass all screening requirements in relation to National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and credit check.

All applicants not currently working in an institution will be required to complete a qualification inquiry regarding convictions of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence in order to be authorized to carry a firearm.

The Core Value Assessment (CVA) is an in-person assessment that must be facilitated at a Bureau of Prisons Human Resource Servicing office. On the day of the scheduled interview, a CVA will be administered. The applicant assessment must be completed within a 70-minute time period and a passing score of 68 must be obtained.  Further employment consideration will not be extended if the applicant fails to complete the examination or fails to achieve a passing score.  

Note: The Core Value Assessment will not be administered to current BOP employees.

Successful completion of the "Introduction to Correctional Techniques," three-week training course at Glynco, Georgia is required.

Additional selections may be made if vacancies occur within the life of the certificate.

Benefits

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.

ADDITIONAL SALARY INFORMATION:

Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) authorized at: 

  • FDC Honolulu, HI - 8.64% 
  • MDC Guaynabo, PR - 2.49% 

To contact a recruiter for further information, please Click Here.

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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your application will be evaluated and rated under DOJ's Category Rating and Selection Procedures. Based upon your self-reported responses to the assessment questions during the application process, your application will be placed into one of three categories: Best Qualified, Highly Qualified, or Qualified. Applications will be reviewed from the top quality category. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed in this announcement. If you are found qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to the responses you provided on the online assessment questionnaire.

NOTE: Candidates within the top quality category and who are eligible for veterans preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference eligibles.

If you are entitled to veterans preference, you should indicate the type of veterans preference you are claiming on your resume. Although veterans preference points are not assigned under the category rating procedures described under "How You Will Be Evaluated", veterans preference eligibles are listed ahead of non-veterans within each category for which they are qualified.

In addition, qualified veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more are placed at the top of the highest qualified category as defined by category rating procedures.

What Competencies/Knowledge, Skills and Abilities are Required for this Position?

The following Competencies/Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's) are required:

  • Ability to communicate and deal effectively with physicians, superiors, peers and others (including patients).
  • Ability to use emergency medical equipment such as electrocardiogram, telemetry/defibrillator, suction, etc).
  • Skill in making patient assessments, selecting and initiating appropriate treatment during medical or surgical trauma emergencies (life or death or severe injury).
  • Ability to assess and monitor a patient’s medical condition and to initiate appropriate treatment and/or transportation.
  • Knowledge of medication administration, doses, routes and side effects.

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

  • Veterans' Preference Documentation:  Veterans MUST provide a DD-214 demonstrating that they have been discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions (i.e., the individual must have received either an honorable or general discharge).
  • If you are on active duty and expect to be discharged or released from active duty service within 120 days, you may submit a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty from the appropriate Branch Personnel Office containing the following information: (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; (2) and the character of service (must be an honorable or general discharge); and (3) any qualifying service/campaign/expeditionary medals.
  • SF-15: If you are a disabled veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, widow/widower of a veteran, the spouse of a disabled veteran or the parent of a disabled or deceased veteran, submit a completed Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference"; all other required documentation identified on the SF-15, in addition to the veteran's DD-214 described above.  A Department of Veterans Affairs letter must contain: the Veteran’s Name and Combined Service-Connected Evaluation.
  • Failure to submit all required documents at the time of application will result in the loss of claimed preference eligibility.
  • Resume: showing relevant experience (cover letter optional).  Experience that would not normally be part of the Federal employee's position is creditable when documented by satisfactory evidence (e.g., a memorandum from the manager, Human Resource Manager, SF-52, etc.)
  • To receive credit for experience contained in an application, the experience must be documented in month/year format (MM/YYYY), reflecting starting date and ending date and include the number of hours worked per week. Failure to follow this format may result in disqualification.
  • College transcript: which includes the School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). (Note:  If you are selected for this position, official transcript(s) will be required prior to your first day).
  • SF-50: for proof of prior LEO coverage, if applicable.
  • Current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration.

USAJOBS Help Center - What should I include in my resume?

Failure to provide these documents could possibly result in removal from consideration for this vacancy.  If uploading documentation, do not identify/save your documents utilizing a special character such as %, #, @, etc.  Documentation should be identified/saved as VA Letter, DD214, or Transcripts.

We cannot be held responsible for incompatible software, delays in mail service, applicant application errors, etc.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

You must apply through the online application system at www.USAJOBS.gov. Follow the prompts to register, answer a few questions and submit all required documents.  

NOTE: Submission of a resume alone is not a complete application.  This position may require the completion of additional forms and/or supplemental materials as described under the Required Documents section.  Please carefully review the complete job announcement and the "How to Apply" instructions.  Failure to provide the required information and/or materials will result in your application not being considered for employment.

Claiming Veterans Preference? If yes, you MUST claim preference on-line during the application process and upload documentation to support preference claimed.   Failure to claim Veterans Preference or provide supporting documentation may result in you not receiving appropriate consideration during the assessment process.

Required supporting documentation must be uploaded and electronically linked from USAJOBS at the time you apply.  

NOTE:  Failure to follow these application procedures could result in the applicant losing consideration for this position.

Paper applications:  If applying online is impossible, please contact BOP-Hires at the telephone number listed below, prior to the closing date of the announcement for the alternate application procedure.

Contact for Assistance in Applying On-Line:
DOJ, Federal Bureau of Prisons
Consolidated Staffing Unit
346 Marine Forces Drive
Grand Prairie, TX  75051
E-Mail:  BOP-HRM-HRSC-BOPHIRES-S@bop.gov
Phone:  972-352-4200

Agency contact information

CSU/BOP-HIRES
Address
JUSTICE, BUREAU OF PRISONS
Consolidated Staffing Unit
346 Marine Forces Drive
Grand Prairie, Texas 75051
United States

Next steps

Applicants will receive a Notice of Results once the application is successfully completed and submitted.  The status of the application process can be tracked by logging on to your USAJOBS account and select "Application Status".  Applications will remain on the inventory until the closing date of the vacancy announcement. Applicants may contact the geographic location(s) selected to inquire about current or anticipated vacancies.  Contact numbers for location preference choices can be found at www.bop.gov.

The Bureau of Prisons cannot be held responsible for incompatible software, applicant application errors, etc.

Inquiry of Availability Forms (OF-5):

Applicants referred on a certificate of eligibles may receive an email sent to the e-mail address registered in their USAJOBS account with instructions to complete the Inquiry of Availability form (OF-5). IF you receive the instructional email, you MUST read and follow the instructions in order to complete the inquiry process online. You must click submit to electronically return the form to the Human Resource Department.  In addition, applicants who are interested in scheduling an interview, MUST telephone the Human Resource Department.  Failure to either return the form or contact the Human Resource Department may result in not receiving consideration for the position.  The selecting official expects to make a final job offer within 80 days.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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