Pharmacy Technician

Summary

The employee performs varied technical duties in the inpatient and/or outpatient pharmacy sections under the direction of a Lead Pharmacy Technician, Supervisor Pharmacy Technician, Clinical Pharmacist, or Inpatient/Outpatient Pharmacy Program Manager. Assists in training developmental pharmacy technicians 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.

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Duties

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Major Duties included but not limited to:

A. Inpatient Activities:

1. Follows USP 797/800 Guidelines for compounded sterile preparations. Accurately prepares parenteral admixture products for final check by a Clinical Pharmacist. Uses standard protocols to determine expiration date for each batch prepared. Consistently displays good manufacturing practices competency and sterile technique. Maintains quality assurance records in accordance with regulatory requirements. Provides intravenous admixture bulk fluid automatic replenishment service for inpatient units and outpatient areas.
2. Performs all technical functions of unit-dose medication distribution. Performs other duties as assigned.
3. Utilizes autogenerated reports to replenish inpatient automated dispensing cabinets. Replenishes medications and supplies for inpatient units. Maintains proper records of medications and supplies. Conducts monthly inspections of medication storage areas system-wide. Removes all expired and deteriorated drugs from stock.
4. Replenishes emergency/crash cart medication trays according to standardized list.
5. Utilizes unit dose packaging equipment to prepare "unit doses" for dispensing through the Inpatient Pharmacy section. Prepares labels for repackaged medications for final check by a Clinical Pharmacist. Schedules equipment preventative maintenance and cleaning. Records pertinent packaging information for each medication canister.

B. Outpatient Activities

1. Receives prescriptions and refill requests examining against medication profiles for administrative irregularities and refers to a Clinical Pharmacist as appropriate. Enters refill requests into the computer database accurately and efficiently. Correctly prepares/fills prescriptions, prescription labels, and related documents for final check by a Clinical Pharmacist. Enters correct lot number and expiration dates for dispensed medications into automated dispensing systems. Verifies patient identification prior to medication release at pick-up. Verifies patient receipt all prescriptions when picking up. Prepares medication packages appropriately for safe mail transit/delivery. Operates automated medication dispensing systems and performs preventative maintenance and cleaning.
2. Utilizes autogenerated reports to replenish the outpatient automated dispensing system. Replenishes medications and supplies for outpatient clinics according to "on demand" orders. Maintains proper medication and supply records. Removes expired and deteriorated drugs stock. Conducts monthly inspections of medications storage areas system-wide.
3. Answer telephones and other general questions triaging to other Pharmacy personnel where appropriate. Manages all tickets in health connect queue and triages to Clinical Pharmacist where necessary.

C. Procurement/Drug Supply Chain Security Act Activities

1. Accepts pharmaceutical deliveries from the prime vendor/warehouse. Checks incoming orders for accuracy validating the quantity received corresponds to the quantity ordered. Notify appropriate personnel of discrepancies. Rotates stock by date. Assists in maintaining pharmacy cleanliness and organization. Notifies appropriate personnel of actual or anticipated medication and supply shortages for timely procurement of additional stock.

Work Schedule: M-F 8am-430pm; rotating holidays and weekends; all shifts are determined or approved by management and based on service needs

Compressed/Flexible: Not Available

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 #: 25384F

Permanent Change of Station (PCS):Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

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).
• Education or Experience.
• (1) None required.
• (2) 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:

(1) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). OR (2) National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).

• Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.

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:

(1) 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.

(2) 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.

(3) 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.

(4) 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.

(5) 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. 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: Preferred Experience: 2 or more years of experience in both the retail (outpatient) and hospital (inpatient) pharmacy.

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: Physical demands of the position require regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing for prolonged periods of time, lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing up to 40 pounds, pushing and pulling of large carts. The job may include significant time at a computer terminal.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

"Whole Health is an approach to health care that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their life to the fullest. The VA is committed to Whole Health and values Veteran and Employee health and wellbeing. As a VA employee, you will practice Whole Health in an environment that supports personalized and proactive care."

ALL Pharmacy announcements: For Pharmacy Technicians (GS6 through GS10) Pharmacy Technicians are essential employees and follow VA Maryland Health Care System guidances, rules, policies, directives, and/or other notifications for essential employees during emergency and/or inclement weather.

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.