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
• 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 Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work
• OR, 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, Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable
• Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates GS-03 (Entry Level) Experience and/or Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-04 (Developmental Level) 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, 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, 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 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
• AND, 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
• GS-06 (Full Performance Level) Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• AND, 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 (1) year experience in Sterile 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 a GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-6. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.