Pharmacy Technician-Outpatient

Summary

At the full performance level, Pharmacy Technicians act as central communication hubs within the pharmacy, expertly responding to telephone inquiries and managing calls from patients, healthcare providers, and other members of the care team. They are adept at evaluating the nature and urgency of each call, accurately triaging requests, and connecting individuals with appropriate resources. Their unwavering commitment are fundamental to delivering outstanding care and support to Veterans.

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Duties

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VA Careers - Pharmacy :

DUTIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:A. Medication Management:

• Accurately reads and interprets prescriptions, selects appropriate medications or materials in the correct strength and dosage form, determines and measures the required quantities, applies proper labels and auxiliary labels, and documents necessary information electronically or on the pharmacy's copy of the prescription or order.
• Replenishes inventory for emergency carts, kits, and trays. Collects drug use evaluation data for quality improvements purposes.
• Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile) without a second review.
• After prescription/order(s) are reviewed by a pharmacist for therapeutic propriety, reviews orders for technical accuracy and ensures that the item dispensed corresponds to the drug and dose ordered.
• Answers questions and calls from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution.
• Monitors refrigerator temperature daily in assigned areas.
• Perform monthly inspections to assigned areas to ensure proper storage of medications and soon to expired drugs are removed.
• Maintains, verifies, stocks and replaces outdates in patient care area automated dispensing machines throughout the facility (i.e., floors and clinics).
• Properly handles medications by ensuring high alert, hazardous, refrigerated and controlled substance medications are handled/stored appropriately and legally.
• Prepares medications requiring special handling and ensures appropriate documentation is completed.
• Assures that each individual prescription order is filled correctly with right drug/supply item, strength, dosage form, quantity and with all necessary auxiliary labels attached.
• Verifies patient identification using two identifiers in accordance with medical center policy and ensures patients receive all prescriptions by utilizing VA software systems.

General Duties: As deemed necessary by the pharmacy supervisor:

• Assists in various patient care areas to support the consistent delivery of comprehensive pharmacy services.
• Provides telephone support and assistance to other departments and patients regarding pharmacy-related inquiries.
• Will monitor and maintain medication storage areas in accordance with Joint Commission standards, including routine checks for drug expiration dates and verification of proper storage conditions.

C. Education:

• Completes all National, VISN, local, and Pharmacy mandatory training.
• Provides training and education to health care professional trainees including pharmacy residents, students, and other staff members.

Compressed/Flexible : Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station: Not Authorized

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases

Telework : Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Not Authorized

Functional Statement # :30068F

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

Work Schedule : Variable 8 hour shift Monday - Friday with rotating weekends and holidays (Part-time 20 hours).

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

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).
• English Language Proficiency: Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• 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.
• 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 Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).

Grandfathering Provision. Pharmacy technicians employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.

Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.

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 :

In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-6 you must possess at least 1 year of experience at the next lower level (GS-5), and must fully meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs), which are:

1. Knowledge of basic pharmacy operations.
2. Knowledge of pharmaceuticals to perform duties in pharmacy functional areas.
3. Knowledge of pharmaceutical nomenclature (including generic, chemical and proprietary names of drug).
4. Ability to fill prescriptions.
5. Ability to use pharmacy information systems or basic pharmacy dispensing equipment with oversight.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience/KSAs above, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs at the GS - 6 level:

1. Knowledge of Federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice.
2. Knowledge of preparation, storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation.
3. Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment.
4. Knowledge of basic inventory procedures.
5. Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6.

Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, typing, walking distances within the medical center, lifting/carrying (up to 50 pounds) of pharmaceutical supplies, and ending/stooping/stretching. Requires ability to sit in front of a computer performing searches and data entry for hours at a time.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.