Summary

GS-7 Pharmacy Technicians function in various areas of the pharmacy - e.g. inpatient pharmacy - outpatient pharmacy (East and West campuses) - chemotherapy infusion center - clinics - emergency department - surgery - wards - various storage areas - offices - and other patient care areas - under the supervision of the inpatient pharmacy supervisor - outpatient pharmacy supervisor - or pharmacy technician supervisor - depending upon the area of administrative assignment of the incumbent.

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 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: You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d) Education or Experience: a
• None required
• b
• 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 (GS-07 and above): For positions above the full performance level - the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: a
• Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
• (MUST PROVIDE A COPY OF CERTIFICATION) OR b
• National Healthcareer Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• (MUST PROVIDE A COPY OF CERTIFICATION) 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).Grandfather Provision
• A Pharmacy Technician employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (11/7/2023) 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
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: Employees may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/ registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/ certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels
• Employees 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
• Employees 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 re-entry to the occupation
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• Grade Determinations:GS-7 Level: One year experience at the next lower level - and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level
• 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
• and Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical 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
• 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 and other non-traditional pharmacy locations - with minimal oversight
• Certification: PTCB or NHA certification is required at this grade level and above
• Physical Requirements: Refence VA Directive and Handbook 5019Applicants 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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• 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)
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Duties

• Function of the Position: The incumbent is responsible for the filling - dispensing - procurement - storage - preparation - review - distribution - and control of medications/other pharmaceutical products to patients - inpatient and outpatient treatment units - and research investigators
• The work product directly affects the health of inpatients and outpatients
• Major Duties and Responsibilities: A
• Inpatient and Outpatient: Incumbent will perform processing and filling of outpatient prescriptions for scheduled and non-scheduled federal legend drugs and medical devices - over-the-counter products and supply items
• inpatient preparation and distribution of unit dose medications and ward stock items and intravenous admixtures including cytotoxic chemotherapy
• crash cart maintenance
• stock management
• operation - maintenance - usage - re-stocking - and troubleshooting of automated dispensing equipment/BD IV Prep
• patient and customer relations
• and preparation and maintenance of various logs - records and reports
• Performs advanced functions including intravenous admixture preparation and distribution - including cytotoxic chemotherapy - prescription filling of federally scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and supply items and distribution to patients with a secondary pharmacist check - unit dose - inpatient controlled substance and ward stock processing and distribution - and independent procurement and stock maintenance functions without secondary pharmacist checks
• B
• Sterile Compounding: Through use of aseptic technique - responsible for the preparation of pharmaceuticals for parenteral administration
• advanced technical working knowledge of various administration routes for various parenteral pharmaceuticals and the special preparation considerations that must be taken into account in their preparation - labeling - handling - storage - distribution and disposal
• advanced technical working knowledge of equipment and supplies used in the preparation of intravenous admixtures including but not limited to Restricted Access Barrier Systems (RABS) - biological safety cabinet (BSC) - laminar airflow workbench (LAFVV) - admixing pumps - needles - syringes - connecting tubing - various drug reservoirs - etc
• The incumbent will effectively operate and care for related compounding equipment
• C
• Controlled Substances: Fills and dispenses prescriptions for controlled substances for both Inpatient and Outpatient beneficiaries
• Incumbent performs controlled substances inventories as required
• Incumbent is required to obtain a witness from nursing during Pyxis replenishment of controlled substances
• The incumbent is required to possess advanced knowledge of principles relating to controlled substances and the requirements of FHCC and Network policy and state and Federal regulations - which apply to these drugs
• D
• Chemotherapy: Responsible for preparation and labeling of chemotherapeutic agents
• Performs advanced functions including intravenous admixture preparation and distribution of cytotoxic chemotherapy - biosimilar products - and bladder irrigation solutions
• The incumbent is expected to maintain a high degree of accurate productivity and performance while being extremely sensitive to the specific contribution to oncology service
• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEwsTotal Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Rotating shifts - days - swings - evenings - midnights - weekends Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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 Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 05423F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized