Summary
The Technician holds certification by the Pharmacy Technician Certification board (PTCB). The incumbent is the technical expert in providing patient care related to compounding and dispensing of parenteral medications - controlled substances - and other compounded agents. They function in the sterile compounding room - with secondary responsibilities as a pharmacy technician in any area of Pharmacy Service. Completed work is checked by the pharmacist.
Qualifications
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: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
- Education or Experience: 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: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
- OR 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)
- Grade Determinations: GS-8 Pharmacy Technician Qualifying experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower level (GS-7)
- 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 - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Comprehensive knowledge of concepts - principles - methodology - and policies in a specialized area or section of pharmacy (such as sterile compounding - controlled substances - automation - clinical pharmacy - contact center - etc.) Note: See Specialized Area in the Definitions Section
- Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures
- Ability to evaluate - analyze - and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy
- Preferred Experience: At least five years of pharmacy technician experience
- At least three years of experience compounding parenteral medications - to include potentially toxic medications or chemotherapy
- At least three years of experience using closed system transfer devices
- At least two years of experience with pharmacy package in VISTA
- Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
- Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination.
Duties
- Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The incumbent is the technical expert in providing patient care related to compounding and dispensing of parenteral medications - controlled substances - and other compounded agents
- S/he functions in the sterile compounding room - with secondary responsibilities as a pharmacy technician in any area of Pharmacy Service
- S/he works independently under established procedures
- Completed work is checked by the pharmacist
- Guidance is always available from a pharmacist and must be sought when clarification is needed
- Work Schedule: Full-time
- Various day shifts available
- Holiday rotations
- 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 off 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) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Functional Statement #: 00000 References: Please provide "References" with application
- At a minimum two current or former supervisors or from individuals who were in a position of a professional nature
- Indicated if the Hiring Manager may contact.