Career Center

Summary

The Pharmacy Technician must be a nationally certified pharmacy technician who can work autonomously - utilizing independent technical judgment (without the need for readily available supervision) as well as with a comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of complex pharmacy principles and practices to perform a full range of duties. The pharmacy technician has operational responsibility in the inpatient and/or the outpatient pharmacy performing highly complex procedures.

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
• 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: 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)
• OR National Healthcareer 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-7: Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6) GS-6 level experience includes: Knowledge of Federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice
• Knowledge of preparation - storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation
• Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment
• Knowledge of basic inventory procedures
• Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel
• Certification: For positions above the full performance level - the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: PTCB as a CPhT
• OR 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination

Duties

• Major duties include - but are not limited to the following: Pharmacy Dispensing/Distribution Services: The Pharmacy Technician will be involved in assuring appropriate - safe - and accurate medications are dispensed to veterans in an efficient manner
• The pharmacy technician will provide a range of medication management and administrative services
• These activities include: Maintains workflow patterns that assure timely delivery of pharmacy services and ensures accurate documentation and dispensing of pharmaceuticals
• Effectively organizes workload - solves problems - and achieves established goals
• Provides patient care utilizing an in-depth knowledge of specialized areas of pharmacy practice
• Maintains and understands the operation of pharmacy equipment and automation - such as ScriptPro - TCG-Rx - BD Cato - and Pyxis
• Assists staff and patients - either by phone or in person - concerning drug distribution - refill requests - mail - and general triaging of requests for the pharmacists
• Documents patient requests as necessary in CPRS and alerts the appropriate provider
• Assists in assuring that pharmacy programs are compliant with all regulatory and accrediting body requirements (i.e. - Joint Commission - FDA - ASHP - DEA - OIG - etc.)
• Actively participates in the procurement process supporting just in time inventory management
• This may include serving as a back-up procurement technician where responsibilities may include ordering or receiving product
• This may also include processing of invoices using the VistA Drug Accountability system
• Inspects all areas of the facility outside of the pharmacy where medications are dispensed - administered - or stored - including medication carts - automated medication dispensing cabinets - (Pyxis Medstationsâ„¢) - physical cabinets and drawers - supply carts - refrigerators - crash carts - and emergency kits
• Distributive Interprets pharmacy orders
• obtains medication in the correct strength and dosage form
• determines proper amount and prepares product
• affixes proper label
• and documents proper information
• Prepares non-sterile compounds independently for dispensing to patients or other health care providers for use in clinical areas
• Compounds sterile products to be delivered in the form of large volume - small volume - and other complex pharmaceuticals such as chemotherapy
• Completes documentation and uses knowledge of safe handling and disposition of hazardous materials used in pharmacy
• Dispenses controlled substances according to current policies and procedures and standards established by DEA - FDA - VA - and Joint Commission
• Controlled substances: Accurately interpret - fills - and readies prescriptions with appropriate medications for pharmacist verification Appropriately restocks controlled substances items in automated secured cabinets (i.e. - Pyxis) in pharmacy or throughout medical center - as assigned
• Documents all controlled substance related transactions as indicated by VA and DEA guidelines
• Assures that inventory counts are correct at the time of restocking
• Ensures that proper handoff occurs when receiving or delivering controlled substances - always assuring that these medications are never left unsecured
• Reports unresolvable discrepancies to immediate area supervisor for resolution
• Assist in investigating - witnessing - and resolving discrepancies
• Complies with all laws - regulations - directives - policies - and procedures applying to the dispensing - storage - transfer - inventory - and accountability of controlled substances
• h) Assists inspectors with the inventory and accountability inspections
• Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: Monday-Friday Rotating tour hours Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized