Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

Veterans Health Administration; Fresno (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration seeks a Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) to inspect, prepare, assemble and determine the correct method and packaging for sterilization of contaminated reusable medical equipment (RME). This OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT covers GS-3 through GS-6, with requirements on experience, education, and English proficiency.

The role emphasizes sterile processing knowledge, universal precautions, and clear written and verbal communication.

Qualifications

• Experience or education as MST or related clinical role.
• Knowledge of sterile processing and operating room sets.
• Ability to read and follow sterilization procedures.

Responsibilities

• Inspect, prepare, and assemble reusable medical equipment for sterilization.
• Determine correct sterilization method and packaging for RME.
• Work in a decontamination and sterile processing environment.

Skills

Universal precautions

Medical terminology

Sterilization equipment operation

Oral and written communication

Education

Six months experience as MST or related clinical role

Two years of education above high school with 12 semester hours in related courses

Military/Armed Forces course substitution allowed

Job description

The Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) inspects, prepares, assembles and determines the correct method and packaging for sterilization of contaminated critical and semi-critical reusable medical equipment (RME).

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT until September 30, 2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred daily. 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 and/or Education
  • 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.
• Certification. None.
• Grandfathering Provision. 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. (3) MSTs who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status.
• Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U. S. programs.
• English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).

GRADE REQUIREMENTS

Creditable Experience

1. Knowledge of Current MST Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with MST responsibilities. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid/non-paid employment as a MST.
2. Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to MST experience at the next lower grade level of the position being filled. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty).
3. Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a MST is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service

Grade Determinations

In addition to the basic requirements of this position, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) GS-3

1. Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) GS-4

1. 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
2. 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. and
3. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below:
   1. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
   2. Basic knowledge of medical terminology in order to assemble specialty operating room/clinic instrument sets.
   3. Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.
   4. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.

Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) GS-5

1. Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. 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. or
2. 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. and
3. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
   1. Basic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
   2. Basic knowledge of event-related packaging in regards to sterility.
   3. Knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.

Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) GS-6

1. Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-06 you must possess one 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 contaminants 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. and
2. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
   1. Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
   2. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
   3. Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures.
   4. Knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation.
   5. Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures.

Preferred Experience

One year of experience in sterile processing.

Reference

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Former VA Handbook Reference: Part II, Appendix G47 Effective Date: May 2814

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-3/4/5/6.

Physical Requirements

As required by VA Directive and Handbook 5019. This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply (preparation) and in other services and departments.