Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to the public and VA employees. Note: All Employees must provide your most recent non-award SF-50.

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Major duties include but not limited to:

Community Care Prescription Support

• Receives faxed, mailed, electronically prescribed, or delivered prescriptions written by Non-VA providers.
• Reviews CPRS and Third-Party Administrator (TPA) portals to determine authorization of Community Care.
• Communicates with patients concerning prescriptions received from unauthorized provider visits and handles prescriptions appropriately, whether forwarding to VA provider or notifying and returning to patient, if applicable.
• Reviews authorized prescriptions for appropriateness using pharmacy technician knowledge, as well as knowledge concerning the VA National Formulary (VANF) and local VA formulary requirements.
• Performs a comprehensive review of CPRS and Joint Legacy Viewer (JLV) to determine if medication was previously provided by VA or DoD facilities.
• Communicates with Community Care providers and ancillary staff to request clarification of prescriptions, documentation required for Prior Authorization Drug Requests (PADRs) and forwards all necessary information to the appropriate stakeholders.

Controlled Substance Community Care Prescription Support

• Reviews the North Carolina Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) website to ensure appropriateness of received prescription, determines exact due date of medication, and prevents duplicate and overprescribing of controlled substances and documents in CPRS.
• Once approved and verified by the Community Care pharmacist or representative, prepares prescription and medication for the final verification by a pharmacist.
• Maintains a current knowledge of national, state, and local laws, regulations, directives, policies and procedures pertaining to controlled substances.
• Files all Community Care prescriptions according to VA and DEA policy.
• Secures controlled substances while filling Community Care controlled substance prescriptions. Documents all controlled substance entries through the computerized controlled substance package perpetual inventory system. Monitors profiles for abuse potential and notifies Community Care pharmacist or supervisor if discovery is made.

Telephone Triage

• Answers the pharmacy phone lines and handles all phone calls that do not require pharmacist intervention.
• Utilizes pharmacy information systems to answer patient or provider questions related to status of prescriptions, completion date, package tracking, etc.
• Educates patients on how to use the automated phone service.
• Transfers calls to the pharmacists, when needed and appropriate.

Outpatient Drug Distribution

• Performs technical support work in the pharmacy under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. Packages, assembles drugs and supplies, and prepares bulk compounds.
• Assists with ordering and inventory control concerns against the risk of being out of critical drugs for maintaining an acceptable level of health care. Routinely receives medications and supplies, checks for shortages, tampering, breakages, deterioration, and expiration.
• Knows drug medication brand names, generic names/chemical names, general and special storage requirements, expiration date requirements, dosage forms, applicable systems of weights and measures, medical terminology in order to interpret physician's orders and verify that correct drug, dosage form, strength and dose is prepared and dispensed. Understands drug usage and dosage forms available to be able to screen drug orders for propriety and assist the pharmacist in solving potential problems.

General

• Stocks and orders all medications, solutions and supplies needed in each area from the Procurement Technician and prepackaging section, as appropriate.
• Helps orient new technician employees and others assigned to Pharmacy Section.
• Performs regular inspections of drug storage areas to ensure that the medications are not expired, that there are no obvious signs of degradation, and that all required items are present.
• Requires advanced technical working knowledge of hazardous medications and chemicals which can pose a danger or threat to those who prepare, deliver, administer and/or who receive treatment. Knowledge includes appropriate receipt, storage, handling, and disposal.
• Uses word processing software to execute several office automation functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files; activating printers; inserting and deleting text; formatting letters, reports, and memoranda; and transmitting and receiving email.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm; Extended hours and overlapping shift assignment, Weekends and Federal holidays are to be expected as needed to serve Urgent Care.
Telework: Ad Hoc at the Supervisor's discretion.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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).

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.
• 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) 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).

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.

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.

Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician, GS-08
Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below.
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 the following KSAs for all GS-08 assignments and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated:

(a) 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.
(b) Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures.
(c) Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy.

Assignments: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Pharmacy technicians at this level have a higher level of responsibility for specialized areas of pharmacy and are expected to independently carry out assigned tasks of considerable difficulty. Pharmacy technicians at this grade level may be appointed to one of the following assignments:

Pharmacy Technician: Pharmacy technicians in this assignment specialize in areas such as sterile compounding, oncology, controlled substances, medication history review, clinical specialist (anticoagulation, pain, infectious diseases), clinical informatics, automation, immunizations and any other specialized area in the advancement of the profession. The pharmacy technician will serve as a subject matter expert and key resource in the day-to-day technician duties of the specialized area. The technician will be performing assignments such as compounding sterile products, filling controlled substance prescriptions while maintaining compliance with Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulations, taking medication histories and counseling patients, managing automation, managing workflow and training and orienting staff in the specialized area.

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-08.

Physical Requirements: Employees are typically expected to work forty hours per week. This may include nights, weekends and/or holidays as assigned. Principle duties require repetitive use of hands and fingers (e.g. lifting and carrying light loads (up to 44lbs.), including boxes, equipment, unit dose-cassettes, and IV solutions; stooping or kneeling (e.g. to pick up items from the floor, remove and replace items on lower shelves, and to file documents in lower file drawers, etc.); sitting, walking, or standing for long periods of time (4-8 hours). Normal range of hearing and vision are required to perform work and communicate effectively; must have the visual ability to distinguish between basic colors and shades of color. An ability to perform tasks requiring rapid mental and muscular coordination functions simultaneously is necessary. Must be physically capable of operating various types of equipment used for the job.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.