Pharmacy Technician- Outpatient

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Hampton (VA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The US Department of Veterans Affairs Hampton VA Medical Center Pharmacy Service seeks a Pharmacy Technician, GS-7, to support stocking, inventory, inspections, ward-order assembly, prescription assembly, and controlled substances distribution in an outpatient setting.

Citizenship is required; some applicants may be referred under grandfathering provisions. Certification through PTCB or ExCPT is required for higher grades. The full performance level is GS-7.

Qualifications

• US citizenship is required; certain hires may be referred under specific provisions.
• Certification requirements apply for higher grade levels (PTCB or ExCPT).
• Grandfathering provisions may apply for current employees.

Responsibilities

• Stocking, delivering, inventory, inspections, assembling ward orders.
• Prescription assembly, dispensing, distribution, and related pharmaceutical duties.
• Operate and troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment.
• Support pharmaceutical practices in outpatient settings.

Skills

Pharmacy technician principles

Training and orienting staff

Computerized prescription processing

Medication issue resolution

Dispensing medications

ADE / equipment troubleshooting

Tools

Automated dispensing equipment (ADE)

Job description

This position is assigned to the outpatient pharmacy located within the VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), Hampton VA Medical Center, Pharmacy Service. The incumbent is expected to accomplish all duties related to stocking, delivering, inventory, inspections, assembling ward orders, prescription assembly, controlled substances distribution, unit-dose drug packaging, dispensing, distribution, 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

• 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

Outpatient Pharmcay Tech Experience. Strong work ethic. Great customer service skills.

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/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7.

Physical Requirements

• 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.