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Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner, Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) - Mental Health

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
VA North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS)

Summary

The Primary Purpose of the Position is: The Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner (CPP) is an advanced practice provider with expertise in providing comprehensive medication therapy management and functions at the highest level of clinical practice to ensure patient centered care and evidence based positive patient outcomes.

The Organizational Location of the Position is: Mental Health and Pain Section, Pharmacy Clinical and Education, Pharmacy Service, VA North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS).

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/25/2026 to 03/02/2026
This job will close when we have received 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$143,798 to - $186,940 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Locations
2 vacancies in the following locations:
Dallas, TX
Fort Worth, TX
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm; Hours and tour may be adjusted or extended to meet patient care needs
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CAZM-12894107-26-SR
Control number
858848800

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Duties

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The CPP in BHIP serves as a provider with prescribing privileges as outlined in the individual's Scope of Practice and through direct and indirect care with patients and consultation with other providers and staff on their team to ensure appropriateness, effectiveness, safety, and adherence to medication therapy regimens for patients in the outpatient mental health setting.

Clinical Practice

  • Designs, implements, assesses, and monitors therapeutic drug plans to achieve positive patient outcomes through direct and indirect interactions with patients, providers, and staff in assigned areas. Therapeutic medication plans including but not limited to assessments of clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions and intolerances, cost- effectiveness, formulary considerations, antimicrobial stewardship, nutrition support, and therapeutic outcomes, as required. Findings are acted upon based on scope of practice and/or communicated with prescribers and provides appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans, as needed. Demonstrates expertise in the principles of clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and is knowledgeable and able to make dose adjustment recommendations based on objective laboratory findings.
  • Monitors and assesses the outcome of drug therapies with advanced skill, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic procedures. Monitors patients prospectively for any deviation from the accepted treatment plan, for the efficacy of the plan, and for any adverse reaction or drug interaction occurring during the execution of the plan.
  • Completes comprehensive medication management (CMM) through in person and VA Video Connect (VVC) visits for patients with psychiatric conditions as defined in scope of practice, care coordination agreement, or other established referral structure.

Administrative and Quality Assurance
  • Participates in medication use evaluations activities, audits or quality management monitoring as requested.
  • Gathers data for administrative reports when assigned. Upon request, independently prepares reports or participates in pharmacy. projects. Assists in preparing for special accreditations and reviews.

Formulary Management
  • Supports institutional efforts to construct and maintain the use of Veterans Administration (VA) national formulary that promotes safe and cost-effective use of medications. Provides support to the Medical Staff in drug use policy development and disease management, focusing on appropriate, cost-effective use of therapeutic measures. Provides support to the local and VISN P& T committees to assess and evaluate cost-effective medication use and programs.
  • Provides timely and complete evaluation of non-formulary and prior authorization drug requests for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria as assigned.

Education and Research
  • Participates in the training and in-servicing of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students, pharmacy residents, and other medical center personnel as requested.
  • Serves as a preceptor for pharmacy students and pharmacy residents in accordance with established facility needs. Supports student program and residency programs by completing requests for documents to maintain accreditation and or quality improvement efforts including but not limited to creating and updating learning experience descriptions, completing preceptor evaluation materials, participating in student and/or resident teaching and learning activities, completing ASHP documentation, learning experience and rotation evaluations, and providing information for completion of student and resident schedules and calendars.

Communication
  • Establishes, develops, and maintains effective working relationships and rapport with Facility Providers, Nursing and other departments as needed. Serves as a source to resolve questions and problems affecting hospital staff members and patients.
  • Expected to communicate in a manner that affords internal and external customers the ability to experience positive exchange and outcomes.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, Hours and tour may be adjusted or extended to meet patient care needs
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 53479-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
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 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).
  • 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:
Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.)

Education. Graduate of an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited College or School of Pharmacy with a baccalaureate degree in pharmacy (BS Pharmacy) and/or a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. Verification of approved degree programs may be obtained from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 20 North Clark Street, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois 60602-5109; phone: (312) 664-3575, or through their Web site at: http://www.acpe-accredit.org/. (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.)

(2) Graduates of foreign pharmacy degree programs meet the educational requirement if the graduate is able to provide proof of achieving the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Commission (FPGEC) Certification, which includes passing the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT).

Licensure. Full, current and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia. The pharmacist must maintain current registration if this is a requirement for maintaining full, current, and unrestricted licensure. A pharmacist who has, or has ever had, any license(s) revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16.

NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetence or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such licens e by the State for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. ยง 7402(f)). Effective November 30, 1999, this is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to licensed pharmacists on VA rolls as of that date, provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license, registration or certification

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-13 - Clinical Pharmacist
Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Assignments. Candidates at this grade level are to be in one of the assignments listed below. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. 1. Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. The clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) functions at the highest level of clinical practice, works independently under their scope of practice as defined by the individual medical center to directly care for patients. A CPS plays a defined role in budgetary execution and serves as a mid-level provider who functions to initiate, modify or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: designing, implementing, assessing, monitoring and documenting therapeutic plans utilizing the most effective, least toxic and most economical medication treatments; helping achieve positive patient centric outcomes through direct and indirect interactions with patients, providers, and interdisciplinary teams in assigned areas; performing physical assessments; and ordering laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy.

Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs:
a. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.
b. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area.
c. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise.
d. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy.
e. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

Preferred Experience:

  • PGY2 Pharmacy Residency in Psychiatry
  • BCPP certification through the Board of Pharmacy Specialties
  • Experience working as a Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner (CPP) in Mental Health providing direct patient care with a scope of practice or equivalent
  • Active DEA license and experience prescribing and managing controlled substances

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-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the GS-13.

Physical Requirements: Moderate Lifting, carrying, straight pulling, Pulling hand over hand, Pushing, Reaching above shoulders, Use fingers, Both hands required, walking, standing, Kneeling, Repeated bending, Climbing legs, Both legs required, Near vision correctable at 13' to 16' to Jaeger 1 to 4, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, both eyes required, Depth perception, Ability to distinguish basic colors, Ability to distinguish shades of colors, Hearing (aid permitted)

Education

NOTE: A transcript must be submitted with your application packet if basing any 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: 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/.

Note: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

Additional information

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.

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.

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.

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