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 (6) months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work; Or,
Education: One (1) year above high school that included at least six (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.
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.
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
English Language Proficiency: Medical Supply Technician (MSTs) must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. 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).
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).
Grade Determinations:
Grade Determinations:
GS-03: None beyond the basic requirements.
Grade Determinations: GS-04: Six months experience as a Medical Supply Technician, operating room or surgical technician or other position that demonstrated knowledge of sterile processing in a clinical setting;
OR 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.
In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) :
- 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.
Grade Determination: GS-05: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-04) OR 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.
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.
Grade Determination: GS-06: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05).
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.
Creditable Experience: Knowledge of Current Medical Supply Technician (MST) Practices: To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with Medical Supply Technician (MST) responsibilities. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid/non-paid employment as a Medical Supply Technician (MST).
Quality of Experience: Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to Medical Supply Technician (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) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.
Part-Time Experience: Part-time experience as a Medical Supply Technician (MST) is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a Medical Supply Technician (MST) employed 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.
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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.