Pharmacy Technician - Outpatient

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Saint Cloud (MN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Pharmacy Technician at the GS-7 level to support outpatient and inpatient pharmacy operations in Minnesota.

Responsibilities include stocking, dispensing, and processing prescriptions, with involvement in controlled substances and ward orders. Candidates must meet citizenship and English proficiency requirements, and hold a national certification (PTCB/CPhT or ExCPT).

Qualifications

• US citizenship requirement
• English language proficiency required
• Certification: PTCB/CPhT or NHA ExCPT
• Education/Experience: none required or equivalent combinations

Responsibilities

• Stocking and dispensing pharmaceuticals in outpatient and inpatient settings.
• Assemble ward orders and unit-dose drug packaging.
• Handle controlled substances distribution and inventory inspections.
• Operate within regulatory policies and coordinate with healthcare team.

Skills

Pharmacy knowledge

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Tools

ADE (Automated Dispensing Equipment)

Pharmacy databases

Job description

Primary assignments will be in the Outpatient Pharmacy, while also providing support in other areas as needed, including Inpatient Pharmacy and with controlled substance activities. Pharmacy Techs at this level are expected to accomplish all duties related to stocking, delivery, inventory, inspections, assembling ward orders, prescription assembly, controlled substances distribution, unit-dose drug packaging, dispensing, distribution, and any other function related to pharmaceutical practice.

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.