Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Videos

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws

Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf

Primary Functions are but limited to:

Clinical Functions:

• Demonstrates competence in differentiating individual patient pharmaceutical care needs based on patient age from adult (18-64) through geriatric (65+).
• Completes medication histories.
• Assesses medication refill information.
• Reviews basic laboratory values.
• Completes medication use evaluation.
• Conducts allergy assessments.
• Obtains opioid filling histories.
• Monitors for drug-drug and drug-food interactions.
• Contacts nursing homes for complete medication administration records.
• Contacts non-VA pharmacy for outside fill records.
• Updates non-VA medications to reflect patient over the counter and herbal medications.
• Maintains Basic Life Support (BLS) certificate.
• Attends code strokes as assigned. Prepares medications during codes at bedside for immediate administration per protocol.
• Serves as a resource within the team for formulary management issues, implementation of VHA criteria for use.
• Completes all documentation in a professional and concise manner to accurately reflect care plans allowing for safe and efficient care throughout the care continuum.
• Contributes pharmaceutical guidance with development and review of evidence-based treatment protocols, criteria for use and new medication requests.
• Develops an efficient and thorough approach to retrieving, analyzing and providing timely oral and written professional responses to the health care team.

Distributive Functions:

• Assigned to coordinate workload activities and expected to direct colleagues or technicians to complete routine tasks of the shift and assigned area. Timely and constructive feedback to the immediate supervisor is expected when assigned workload cannot be completed.
• Carefully executes each step in the dispensing process according to law, regulatory standards, VHA policies and standard of care to ensure safe and appropriate medication therapy.
• Deliver inpatient medications or stock to automated dispensing cabinets when visiting that area for a patient interview.
• Deliver medication lists or home medications for stretcher patients when visiting that unit.
• Field and triage inpatient central pharmacy phone calls as necessary
• Responsible for keeping abreast of changes in the pharmacy department and maintains an appropriate knowledge of VHA, DEA, FDA, OIG, TJC and other pharmacy regulations, policies and procedures.
• Adheres to dispensing guidelines for hazardous medications and disposal guidelines for all medications.
• May be required to assist in the duties of lower graded technicians in the case of emergency staffing requirements.

Administrative Functions:

• Assists in the identification, development and implementation new programs or services in their area of practice.
• Routinely identifies the patient or customer's situation properly and consistently resolves the problem accurately and in a timely manner to promote positive pharmacy service interactions.
• Exhibits initiative and resourcefulness in managing time and workload to meet deadlines and changing priorities.
• Independently identifies and resolves clinical and administrative problems that occur in their service. Effectively communicates across service lines as necessary to achieve resolution.
• Collaborates with the Inpatient Pharmacy Supervisor, Inpatient Technician Supervisor and other technician staff members to develop sustainable and consistent practices across the health care team.
• Assesses the education needs of medical center staff and provides appropriate and timely formal/informal education on an ongoing basis.
• Attains the indicated goals for all assigned quality and clinical metrics
• Actively participates in the clinical pertinence review process and competency assessment documentation for any assigned staff.
• Actively participates in VHA or Medical Center committees or work groups.
• Maintains preceptor qualifications defined by the KCVA Pharmacy Residency Handbook and shares responsibility for training, guidance and evaluation of residents.
• Serves as a preceptor/trainer for visiting healthcare professionals or pharmacy students.

Work Schedule: Full time: Four 10 hour shifts per week (40 hrs) Wed-Sat
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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

This position falls under the FY 26 Shortage Occupation list and VETERANS' PREFERENCE DOES NOT APPLY

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.(3)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).

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. 11

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.

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.