Career Center

Summary

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until 02/22/2027. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 03/02/2026 - with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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
• Experience
• Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work
• OR - 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 - 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: 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
• 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
• 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: Entry Level Experience or Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-04: Developmental Level Experience
• Six months experience as a MST - operating room or surgical technician or other position that demonstrated knowledge of sterile processing in a clinical setting
• or Education
• Two 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 U.S. 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
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below: Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination
• Basic knowledge of medical terminology in order 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: Developmental Level Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• or Education
• Four 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
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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: Full Performance Level Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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 regards to instrumentation
• Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures
• Preferred Experience: 3-5 years experiences as a sterile processing technician or medical supply technician
• Recent Experience with various RMD cleaning - decontamination - and sterilization processes Experience with operating room specialties i.e
• Ortho and surgical instrument processing 1-2 years experience with endoscope reprocessing - documentation and equipment Certifications: CRCST - CBSPD - CER - CHL 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: The position will require heavy lifting (45 pounds and over) - heavy carrying (45 pounds and over) - pulling hand over hand - walking (8 hours) - standing (8 hours) - and repeated bending.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties may include but are not limited to: Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RMD in the decontamination area
• Disassembles the RMD and determines the correct cleaning method - such as but not limited to ultrasonic cleaners - mechanical washers/disinfectors - cart washers - and chemical cleaning/decontamination agents - as determined by manufacturer instructions for use (IFUs)
• Inspects - assembles - and determines the correct method and packaging for sterilization such as but not limited to steam - Steris - and high-level disinfecting scope reprocessor
• Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment
• Advanced skills from next lower grade level should include Removes soil - blood - tissue fragments - body fluids - and other contaminants by wiping soaking - rinsing - and scrubbing
• Inspects packages for indications of proper sterilization - assembles sets and trays used throughout the Medical Center including those used in the Operating Room (OR)
• Prepares - loads - and operates sterilizers and scope reprocessor
• Prepares OR case carts daily using surgery schedule In this position - the employee will provide decontamination - preparation - sterilization - and distribution support of critical and semi-critical RMD for the Medical Center
• The term RMD as used in this functional statement refers to reusable items for patient care including basic instrumentation - equipment - instrument trays/sets - and various other items that could be processed or assembled through the decontamination and preparation areas of the SPS
• The MST will have extensive knowledge of the processes for RMD as required by this position
• The MST will be required to learn and maintain current knowledge of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) which document the processes and procedures for cleaning - disinfection - preparation - and sterilization of RMD appropriate to this position
• The MST will demonstrate their ability to follow the directions of a written procedure in the processing of RME appropriate to this position
• Complete training coursework and VA SPS certification as required for an MST position in the VA
• Maintain certification by completing approved - annual Continuing Education Units (CEU) and annual in-service hours
• Work Schedule: Sunday-Saturday - 8-Hour tour
• 7:30am-4:00pm (Day shift) Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 54233-F - 52823-F - 54234-F - 54235-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized