Pharmacy Technician

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Responsibilities Total Rewards: Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf Duties include but not limited to: Fills inpatient medication orders to fulfill pre-exchange doses, missing dose reports, Automated Dispensing cabinets (ADCs) loads and restocks, and IV orders with accuracy. Delivers pre-exchange doses, missing doses, ADC loads and restocks, and IV medications to the appropriate location within the hospital as needed for administration. Prepares intravenous admixtures in compliance with USP 797 regulations and medical center policies and procedures. Utilizes TCGRx Automated Tablet Packaging (ATP) Machine to accurately repackage medications needed for inpatient use. Operates, stocks, provides basic maintenance to, and troubleshoots issues with ADC in compliance with policies and procedures. Ensures that all pharmacy equipment is cleaned and maintained to minimize downtime. Replenishes, checks, and maintains records for emergency carts, emergency kits, and OR trays. Removes expired medications from stock and follows facility policy and procedure for disposal. Assists in unloading and stocking medications, fluids, and supplies in appropriate pharmacy inventory and ward stock areas within a reasonable time after receipt and regularly rotates stock. Properly deducts medications from outpatient inventory via ScriptPro Inventory Management (SIM) as needed for inpatient dispensing. Utilizes barcode scanning programs in VISTA to ensure accurate dispensing of bulk medications (inhalers, topicals, insulin, etc) and compounded IV products. Triages phone calls from nurses and providers with appropriate disposition. Processes and fills outpatient prescriptions for scheduled and non-scheduled federal legend drugs and medical devices, over-the-counter products, and supply items in compliance with regulations, policies, and procedures for pharmacist review. Utilizes ScriptPro to assist in the packaging and dispensing of medication to patients for outpatient window prescriptions. Also ensures two patient identifiers are utilized when dispensing medications and patient signatures for medication pick up are obtained. Provides technical customer service over the phone and at the outpatient window to Veterans related to outpatient prescription needs. Perform duties according to the Pharmacy SOP's and CPM's regarding High Alert medications. Procurement/ Responsibilities Provides information to pharmacy procurement personnel regarding medications and supplies needed from the warehouse or wholesaler based on items used that day. Collaborates with pharmacy procurement personnel to manage out of stock items and ensures the items are filled as soon as stock is available. Other Significant Responsibilities Completes monthly inspection(s) of all assigned internal and external pharmacy areas as delegated by supervisor and/or as determined by the needs of the pharmacy. Assists with preparation for special accreditations and reviews (e.g., The JC, IG, SOARS, ASHP) and meeting with reviewing/inspecting officials and/or pharmacy management. Participates in educating and training new employees or employees introduced to selected practice areas. Ability to do limited physical exertion. Physical activities will include walking and lifting (less than 40 pounds). Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, various tours including but not limited to 6:00AM-2:30PM; 7:00AM-3:30PM; 8:00AM-4:30PM; 9:00AM-5:30PM; 10:00AM-6:30PM; 11AM-7:30PM; Noon-8:30PM; 1:00PM-9:30PM; 2:00PM-10:30PM, 7PM-7AM. May be included in holiday and weekend rotations. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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) 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 #: F Requirements 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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. 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 Health career 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). 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. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. 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). Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician, GS-7 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: 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: Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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.