Pharmacy Technician

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Grand Island (NE); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Pharmacy Technician works autonomously with independent judgment and thorough knowledge of complex pharmacy principles. It holds operational responsibility including compounding, inventory, packaging, dispensing, distribution, preparing orders, controlled substances management, and equipment maintenance.

Basic requirements include U.S. citizenship, English proficiency, and national certification for higher grades. None or mixed education/experience may qualify depending on grade level.

Qualifications

• Citizenship: U.S. citizenship required; non-citizens only when VA policy allows.
• English language proficiency required for spoken and written communication.
• Certification: for higher grades, must hold an active national certification (PTCB/CPhT or ExCPT via NHA).

Responsibilities

• Operates autonomously with independent judgment and knowledge of complex pharmacy principles.
• Performs highly complex procedures including compounding sterile and non-sterile products, packaging, dispensing, and distribution.
• Manages controlled substances and maintains care equipment.

Job description

The Pharmacy Technician works autonomously, utilizing independent technical judgment and comprehensive working knowledge of complex pharmacy principles and practices. The pharmacy technician has operational responsibility in the pharmacy performing highly complex procedures such as compounding sterile/non-sterile products, inventory inspections, drug packaging, dispensing, distribution, preparing orders or prescriptions, controlled substance management, and maintenance and care equipment.

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).
• 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).
• 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.

Grade Determinations

• Pharmacy Technician, GS-07:
  • Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6).
  • 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:
    1. Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work.
    2. Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent.
    3. Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers.
    4. Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students.
    5. Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution.
    6. 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.