Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency: MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part.
• Experience and/or Education: (1) Experience. Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work; or (2) Education. One year above high school that included at least 6 semester hours in health care related courses such as sterile processing, nursing assistant, hospital corpsman, and operating room and surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position; or 1 (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grandfathering Provision. All MSTs that are employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

(1) Employees grandfathered into the GS-622 occupational series as MSTs may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation.

(2) MSTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.

(3) MSTs who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

Grade Determinations:

GS-03 Medical Supply Technician- In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-03 you must meet one of the following experience and/or education grade level requirements.

• Six (6) months of experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work of a Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing).
• One (1) year above high school that included at least 6 semester hours in health care related courses such as sterile processing, nursing assistant, hospital corpsman, and operating room and surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position.
• Equivalent combination of experience and education.

GS-04 Medical Supply Technician- In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-04 you must meet one of the following experience and/or education grade level requirements.

• Six (6) months experience as a MST, operating room or surgical technician or other position that demonstrated knowledge of sterile processing in a clinical setting.
• Two (2) years of education above high school that included at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation. NOTE: Successful completion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or nursing assistants obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces, the US. Maritime Service, or hospitals under close medical and professional supervision, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to 6 months of experience.

GS-4 Medical Supply Technician - Knowledge Skills and Abilities: In addition to meeting the experience or education for the GS-04 level, you must possess the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
• Basic knowledge of medical terminology to assemble specialty operating room/clinic instrument sets.
• Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.
• Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.

GS-05 Medical Supply Technician - Experience/Education Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-05 you must meet one of the following experience and/or education grade level requirements:

• One (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-4). Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Performing segments of work pertaining to the decontamination, sterilization and inspection of reusable medical equipment (RME); completing segments of work pertaining to the assembly of basic sets and trays for use in the medical center; operating equipment involved in sterilization processes; preparing operating room case carts.
• Four (4) academic years above high school leading to a Bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation or a Bachelor's degree.

GS-05 Medical Supply Technician - Knowledge Skills and Abilities: In addition to meeting the experience or education for the GS-05 level, you must possess the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Basic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
• Basic knowledge of event-related packaging in regards to sterility.
• Knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.

GS-06 Medical Supply Technician - Experience Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5)? Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Removing soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other containments by wiping, soaking, rinsing, and scrubbing; Inspecting packages for indications of proper sterilization, assembling basic sets and trays used throughout a medical facility including those used in the operating room; preparing, loading, and operating sterilizers such as steam, Sterrad, Steris, ETO, and a high level disinfecting scope reprocessor; prepares operating room case carts daily using surgery schedule.

GS-06 Medical Supply Technician - Knowledge Skills and Abilities: In addition to meeting the experience for the GS-06 level, you must possess the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
• Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
• Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures.
• Knowledge of sterility principles in regard to instrumentation.
• Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures.

Preferred Experience:

• 1-year experience as Medical Supply Technician
• Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST)
• Experience with Reusable Medical Devices (RMD) and surgical instrument processing.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-06.

Physical Requirements: This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, case cart, RMD, and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus. The MST may be required to work in areas that are hot, cold, drafty, and poorly lighted.