Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to VHA, VISN 7 employees in the department of Birmingham VAHCS Pharmacy Service Only. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. VETERANS PREFERENCE IS WAIVED FOR THIS OCCUPATIONAL SERIES IAW Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) BULLETIN "FY25 Staffing Shortage Determinations" dated: 10/03/2024.

Videos

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:

Medication Distribution System

• Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts, and theories providing for sound independent work
• Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medications orders or electronic equivalent.
• Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other member of the healthcare team, Veterans, and external customers.
• Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students.
• Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies, and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution.
• Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases.
• Reads and interprets prescriptions from all the veteran electronic health record systems(EHRS) or in written format.
• Reviews prescription orders for technical accuracy.
• Prepares medications and ensures the orderable item matches the item being dispensed with regard to drug, strength, quantity, or appropriate supply item.
• Dispenses medications following all regulations, policies, and procedures for safe medication distribution.
• Uses Automatic Dispensing machines (ADM) such as ScriptPro to batch and label medications. Ensure ScriptTalk labels are batched if needed. Understands when to use other prescription labels with computer outages.
• Maintains highly sophisticated pharmacy equipment. This includes cleaning procedures and maintenance of ADM's and other counting machines. Troubleshoots equipment and databases when needed.
• Assists with automated or manual inventory processes that include but are not limited to inventory counts, medication ordering, stocking, checking for outdates, pulling outdates, pulling recalled medications, inspections or any other activity related to the supply of VA medications.
• Accurately interprets EHRS patient medication profiles. Is able to confirm prescription information in the Pharmacy computer packages. Able to execute refills or other technician duties within the pharmacy software.
• Accurately or updates patient information in the many pharmacy software packages such as ADM's and EHRS.
• Prioritizes workload to complete assignments on time.
• Maintains a safe orderly and clean working environment.
• Ensures all look alike, sound alike, high alert, refrigerated medications are stored properly according to manufactures recommendations and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) requirement.
• Maintains adaptability and flexibility for various emerging roles and responsibilities in the medication distribution system including new equipment, assignments, and changes in pharmacy workflow.

Work Schedule: This will be discussed during the interview. Work schedule will be determined upon selection.
NOTE: May be expected to work evenings, rotating weekends, and/or holidays.
Work Schedule: 8 hr shift between 6a and 6p
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: : 60072F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

Notifications:

• This position is in the Excepted Service
• Due to a critical staffing shortage, 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement.
• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held
• This position is a Bargaining Unit position.
• Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.

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

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:

• Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
• 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. Please submit transcripts to verify education.

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: In addition to the basic requirements for appointment in paragraph 5, VA HR staff must use the following criteria to determine the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.

Pharmacy Technician, GS-07.
(1) Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent
to the next lower grade level.
(2) 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.
(3) 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.(4) 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 are nationally certified and can work
autonomously using independent judgement to perform a full range of
duties. These pharmacy technicians mentor and train lower graded
pharmacy technicians in the practice setting. They assist advanced/
specialized pharmacy technicians and participate in performance
improvement initiatives. At this level, pharmacy technicians use
independent judgement to perform the full range of duties in the pharmacy.
They also function as staff pharmacy technicians in various locations of the
pharmacy, including pharmacy contact centers and other non-traditional
pharmacy locations, with minimal oversight.

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.