Pharmacy Technician

Description:

The Outpatient Pharmacy Technician is primarily responsible for management of filling and coordinating distributive and administrative tasks primarily located in the outpatient pharmacy. Secondary responsibilities include management of incoming pharmacy phone calls and prescriptions requests. The possible tour of duty is between the hours of 8 am and 9 pm, Monday through Friday, rotating weekends and holidays.

Requirements:

This position falls under the FY 26 Shortage Occupation list and VETERANS' PREFERENCE DOES NOT APPLY

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 :

• Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
• Education or Experience.

(1) None required.(2) For all grade levels and positions that accept both education and experience to qualify, equivalent combinations of qualifying education and experience that total at least 100% are qualifying. The combined percentage is determined by adding total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level to the education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level.(3)Certification. For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either:

• (1) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).
• OR
• (2) National Health career Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).

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 : Pharmacy Technician, GS-07.

Experience- Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. ( Creditable Experience - To be creditable, experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics associated with the scope of pharmacy technician practice.)

Certification: For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either:(a) PTCB as a CPhT.OR(b) NHA as a ExCPT.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)- In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work.
(b) Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent.
(c) Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers.
(d) Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students.
(e) Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution.
(f) Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases.

Assignments: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Pharmacy technicians at this level are nationally certified and can work autonomously using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties. These pharmacy technicians mentor and train lower graded pharmacy technicians in the practice setting. They assist advanced/ specialized pharmacy technicians and participate in performance improvement initiatives. At this level, pharmacy technicians use independent judgement to perform the full range of duties in the pharmacy. They also function as staff pharmacy technicians in various locations of the pharmacy, including pharmacy contact centers

VA outpatient pharmacy experience

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/159 PART II APPENDIX G28 dated November 07, 2023

Physical Requirements: Fine manipulation to include keyboarding (8 hours), hearing (aid permitted), employee will be required to sit at a computer for long periods of time in order to complete the duties of the position