Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

About the role

The MST will utilize the processes for Reusable Medical Devices (RMD) as required by this position. The MST utilizes Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which document the processes and procedures for decontaminating, preparation, sterilization, and disinfection of RMD appropriate to this position. The MST will utilize an appropriate proficiency in the use of RMD appropriate to this position.

Responsibilities

• Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RME, some non-critical RME, in the decontamination area.
• Disassembles RME per manufacturers' guidelines.
• Determines appropriate method of decontamination based on local Standard Operating Procedures and manufacturers' written cleaning instructions.
• Removes soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other contaminants by wiping, soaking, rinsing, and scrubbing.
• Operates decontamination equipment such as washer decontaminators, sonic washers, irrigators, laparoscopic insulation tester, automatic cart wash and tube dryers.
• Assembles minor and complex tray sets and instrumentation packs used for a variety of general and specialized medical and surgical procedures.
• Assembles surgical case carts according to physician preference and computer-generated picking lists for use in operating rooms. Interprets and assesses instrumentation needs for individual cases.

Requirements

This announcement is open to All US Citizens. This position is on the critical shortages list and, therefore, under 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference to external applicants for appointments made during the Fiscal Year 2026.

Major Duties:

• Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RME, some non-critical RME, in the decontamination area.
• Disassembles RME per manufacturers' guidelines.
• Determines appropriate method of decontamination based on local Standard Operating Procedures and manufacturers' written cleaning instructions.
• Removes soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other contaminants by wiping, soaking, rinsing, and scrubbing.
• Operates decontamination equipment such as washer decontaminators, sonic washers, irrigators, laparoscopic insulation tester, automatic cart wash and tube dryers.
• Assembles minor and complex tray sets and instrumentation packs used for a variety of general and specialized medical and surgical procedures.
• Assembles surgical case carts according to physician preference and computer-generated picking lists for use in operating rooms. Interprets and assesses instrumentation needs for individual cases.

Qualifications

• 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:
    • (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
    • (3) 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. 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.
  • 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 chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part.