Pharmacy Technician- Inpatient Pharmacy

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Hampton (VA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

The Hampton VA Medical Center Pharmacy Service is seeking a Pharmacy Technician to assist with stocking, dispensing, and sterile compounding in an inpatient environment. You will support unit-dose packaging and ward order assembly while maintaining safety and regulatory compliance.

Ideal candidates will have eligibility for VA qualification standards, with required certifications (PTCB/ExCPT) for higher grades. Grandfathering provisions may apply as described in VA policy.

Qualifications

• Citizenship in the United States is required.
• Education or experience: None required for some grades.
• Certification: for higher grades, must hold a national certification (PTCB or ExCPT).

Responsibilities

• Stocking, delivering, and inventory management.
• Assemble ward orders and prescription assembly.
• Sterile compounding, including hazardous drugs.
• Unit-dose packaging and dispensing.
• Controlled substances distribution and related duties.

Skills

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Communication

Pharmacy knowledge

Education

PTCB Certification

ExCPT Certification

Job description

Join our Team! This position is assigned to the inpatient pharmacy located within the Hampton VA Medical Center, Pharmacy Service. The Pharmacy Technician is expected to accomplish all duties related to stocking, delivering, inventory, inspections, assembling ward orders, prescription assembly, controlled substances distribution, sterile compounding (including hazardous drugs), unit-dose drug packaging, dispensing, and any other function related to pharmaceutical practices.

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: Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
• 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 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).

Grandfathering Provision

• Pharmacy technicians employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard 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

Pharmacy Technician, GS-07

• Experience. One year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the lower grade level (GS-06).
• 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.
  • NHA as a ExCPT.
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated:
  • Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts, and theories providing for sound independent work. Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures.
  • Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent.
  • Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other member of the healthcare team, Veterans, and external customers.
  • Ability to train new pharmacy technicians and students.
  • Ability to dispense medications 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.

Preferred Experience: VA Inpatient pharmacy experience preferred, IV/Chemo and sterile compounding a plus.

Reference

VA Handbook 5005/159, Part II, Appendix G28; Pharmacy Technician Qualification Standards dated November 07, 2023.

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements

Physical requirements for this position are as follows: Light lifting, 15-25 pounds with occasional heavier lifting. Light carrying, 15-25 pounds with occasional heavier carrying. Straight pulling (up to 2 hours). Pushing (up to 2 hours). Reaching above shoulder. Use of fingers. Repeated bending. Walking (up to 8 hours). Standing (up to 8 hours). Ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as needed.