Pharmacy Technician

Summary

This position is for a certified pharmacy technician above the full performance level with advanced pharmaceutical knowledge and functions in the inpatient/acute care section of the Pharmacy Service that provides care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, nights, weekends, and holidays. For this grade level must be nationally certified by PTCB or ExCPT.

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Duties

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Primary responsibilities and duties of this position include but not limited to processing, preparing, and filling of unit dose and sterile parenteral medications and solutions, controlled substances distribution, maintaining all IV rooms and stocking the automated medication dispensing system, mentor and train lower graded pharmacy technicians in the practice setting and any other function related to pharmaceutical practices. Technicians at this level can operate with minimal supervision, except when dealing with more complex patients and procedures. This position reports directly to the Supervisory Pharmacist, Inpatient Technicians and the rest of the Acute Care/Inpatient Pharmacy leadership.

A. Inpatient Pharmacy/Sterile compounding

a) The technician will demonstrate understanding of general workflow of the inpatient pharmacy section and the duties and responsibilities pertaining to each inpatient pharmacy area.

b) The technician will be able to consistently show competence in correct compounding procedure and sterile technique through demonstration and actual work performance. The technician is responsible for properly compounding, labeling, and delivering in a timely manner all IV piggybacks and admixtures used in this Medical Center, including TPNs/PPNs, cardiac and electrolyte batches and replacement fluids. The technician will comply with all documentation processes required for product preparation as well as quality assessment measures to ensure strict adherence to sterile compounding guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

c) Depending on the complexity and nature of the preparation, the actual compounding process will be completed without direct supervision. A supervising pharmacist will initial the compounded product verifying its accuracy prior to dispensing and delivery to the appropriate patient ward.

d) The technician is responsible for delivery of pharmacy supply items for use in the inpatient pharmacy satellites and IV rooms or as identified by their direct supervisor.

B. Pharmacy Supply

a) The technician will demonstrate ability in accurately completing fills for all automated medication dispensing units and will participate in conducting quality assurance audits as requested by their direct supervisor. The process will include pulling medications from the pharmacy supply area, completing, and filing reports, loading medications into individual dispensing units in patient areas and troubleshooting any problems.

b) The technician will have knowledge of the operation and care of automated pharmacy equipment. The pharmacy technician will have knowledge how to operate machines such as Carousel, Omnicell, prepackaging machine and will keep up to date with new operations as instructed by Inpatient Technician Supervisor and automation technician.

c) The technician will determine medications to be prepackaged and unit dosed by looking at monthly usage and PAR levels. Technicians should be familiar how to file papers in supply pharmacy for unit dosed item.

d) The technician will be responsible for conducting routine ward inspections and maintaining general upkeep of designated work areas, including pharmacy satellites and IV rooms.

Work Schedule : Rotating shift M-F 0600-2330, weekends, holidays and overnig

Compressed/Flexible :Not Authorized

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Autorized

Telework : Not Authorized

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # :

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

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

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 Requirement:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education or Experience:
  • None required.
  • 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:
  • Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).
  • National Health career Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• 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).

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 whoa re int his 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 (GS-06).

Certification: Required as position isabove the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either:

• PTCB as a CPhT
• NHA as a ExCPT.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work.
• Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent.
• Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers.
• Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students.
• Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution.
• Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases.

References: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit: full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7.

Physical Demands: 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 40 pounds) of pharmaceutical supplies, and bending/stooping/stretching

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.