Pharmacy Technician

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Little Rock (AR); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Pharmacy Technician at the full performance level to assist pharmacists in delivering optimal care within VA Healthcare System facilities.

The role includes mentoring junior technicians, processing prescriptions, and supporting both inpatient and outpatient pharmacy activities. Applicants must meet national certification requirements, English proficiency, and be capable of working in a fast-paced clinical setting with rotating shifts.

Qualifications

• Must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• Ability to mentor and train lower grade technicians.
• Certification as Pharmacy Technician required for higher grades.

Responsibilities

• Interpret, fill, and prepare prescriptions for pharmacist verification.
• Maintain clean, organized work areas and proper stock control.
• Assist in training and orientation of new staff technicians, interns, and students.
• Participate in inpatient and outpatient pharmacy activities including unit dose management and window pickup.
• Ensure safe storage and handling of drugs and supplies per USP and VA guidelines.
• Operate and troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment as needed.
• Support quality improvement initiatives within the pharmacy.

Skills

English proficiency

Mentoring

Interprofessional collaboration

Pharmacy workflow

Education

Pharmacy Technician Certification

Education/Experience equivalence

Tools

PTCB/CPhT

NHA/ExCPT

Job description

Summary

Pharmacy technicians above the full performance level can mentor and train lower grade technicians in the practice setting. The employee will assist the pharmacist in providing optimal care and timely service in accordance with the mission - vision - and goals of the VA Healthcare System and Pharmacy.

Summary

Pharmacy technicians above the full performance level can mentor and train lower grade technicians in the practice setting. The employee will assist the pharmacist in providing optimal care and timely service in accordance with the mission - vision - and goals of the VA Healthcare System and Pharmacy.

Qualifications

Pharmacy technicians above the full performance level can mentor and train lower grade technicians in the practice setting. The employee will assist the pharmacist in providing optimal care and timely service in accordance with the mission - vision - and goals of the VA Healthcare System and Pharmacy.

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 by38 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 Health career 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: In addition to the basic requirements for appointment - the following criteria must be met
• Pharmacy Technician - GS-07
• Experience
• Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower 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: (a)PTCB as a CPhT
• OR (b)NHA as a ExCPT
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles - practices - concepts and theories providing for sound independent work
• (b) Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent
• (c) Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team - Veterans and external customers
• (d) Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students
• (e) Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations - policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution
• (f) Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases
• Preferred Experience: None 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-07
• Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation - see Duties section for essential job duties of the position
• May require standing - lifting - carrying - sitting - stooping - bending - puling - and pushing
• May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment
• Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions
• the area is adequately lighted - heated - and ventilated
• However - the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The duties of the Pharmacy Technician include - but are not limited to: Interpret - fills - and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification
• Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition by assuring that all stock and equipment are in assigned places and all shelves and counters are free of dust and debris to create optimal work areas
• Assures drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured according to USP and VA guidelines - including the storage of high-risk - look a-like sound a-like - hazardous - controlled substances - corrosive chemical - flammable liquids - and refrigerated items
• Receives - checks - rotates - and places in stock all items received from pharmacy procurement section and identifies and reconciles any discrepancies to assure correct items have been received
• Utilizes automation dispensing equipment available to the pharmacy staff following all safety and QA procedures
• Reports automation malfunctions timely the supervisor as appropriate
• Performs monthly inspections to assigned areas to ensure proper storage of medications and soon to expired drugs are removed
• Completes inspection reports in compliance with regulatory requirements
• Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile)
• This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used for final pharmacist verification
• Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution
• Identifies basic therapeutic problems - such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention
• Participates in performance improvement initiatives for pharmacy
• Assists in quality improvement activities by participating in assessment and action teams that will improve service as assigned
• Participates in Inpatient Pharmacy Activities to include - sterile product compounding - unit dose medication management - automatic replenishment and ward stock
• Participates in Outpatient Pharmacy Activities to include - prescription assembly - window pick-up - and mail packaging
• Assists in training and orientation of new staff technicians - interns - and students
• Assumes an active role in the overall pharmacy-training program consisting of students - externs - interns - residents - and professional and non-professional staff members
• Work Schedule: Rotating tours through days - evenings - weekends - and holiday/overnight coverage - subject to change based on the needs of the facility
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (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 Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 598-01164F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized