Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. Please use the Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV). For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This announcement is open to current permanent employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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Duties include but are not limited to:

• Receives faxed, mailed, electronically prescribed, or delivered prescriptions written by Care in the Community providers (including state veterans nursing home) and documents all received prescriptions in Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and/or Care in the Community workflow file.
• Communicates with patients concerning prescriptions received from unauthorized providers visits and handles prescriptions appropriately, whether forwarding to primary care provider or returning to patient.
• Reviews authorized prescriptions for appropriateness using pharmacy technician knowledge, as well as knowledge concerning the national drug formulary and local VA formulary requirements.
• Maintains a current knowledge of national, state, and local laws, regulations, directives, policies, and procedures pertaining to controlled substances.
• Initiates the non-formulary/prior authorization process with the Care in the Community provider and records needed documentation in CPRS and Care in the Community workflow file.
• Enters non-formulary or prior authorization consult requests in CPRS for review and completion by the Care in the Community clinical pharmacist, after all needed documentation has been received.
• Inputs authorized prescriptions of prepares electronically prescribed medications in VistA for the review and verification by the clinical pharmacist.
• Assists in the tracking and shipping of Care in the Community prescribed controlled substances, as well as all Care in the Community prescribed medications mailed from the El Paso VAHCS Pharmacy or Consolidated Mail-Out Pharmacy (CMOP).
• Dispense medications to patients and/or other healthcare professionals post final verification by a pharmacist as required by policy.
• Assembles prescriptions properly with the correct drug, strength, quantity, auxiliary labels, and prescription labels for window dispensing and mail delivery post pharmacist verification.
• Supports automation by manually completing prescriptions not processed through the automation dispensing machine.
• Assists in training and orientation of new staff technicians, interns, and students. Assumes an active role in the overall pharmacy-training program.

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.
• 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.

• 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.

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:
  • None required.
  • 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 (GS-7 and above): For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either:
  • Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).
  • National Health career Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).
• Physical Requirements. See physical requirements listed below.
• English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d)
• Grandfather Provision. 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). A Pharmacy Technician employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (11/7/2023) 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.

1. 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.).
2. Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures.
3. Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy.

• Demonstrated experience in managing, troubleshooting, and maintaining pharmacy automated dispensing cabinets, including server-level configuration, inventory management, and resolving data integrity issues. This includes collaborating with vendor support, OIT, Biomed, and pharmacy staff to ensure optimal performance and minimal downtime.
• Proven ability to train and orient pharmacy staff, controlled substance inspectors, and medical center personnel in the use of Omnicell automation equipment. Experience in writing, updating, and implementing facility policies and procedures related to automation, ensuring compliance with controlled substances regulations and supporting operational excellence.
• Experience in supporting pharmacy operations through clinic ward inspections, ADC drug stocking/destocking, removal of expired medications, and adherence to facility policies for medication storage and disposal. Ability to communicate medication errors, adverse events, and other issues to pharmacists and supervisors for timely resolution.
• Skilled in using office automation software (e.g., word processing, EHR, VistA) for administrative tasks, data collection, and report generation. Participation in quality assurance and performance improvement initiatives, including process action teams, to enhance pharmacy service and patient care.
• Exceptional customer and experience in establishing and maintaining positive working relationships with facility providers, nursing, pharmacy personnel, and other departments. Ability to resolve questions and problems affecting staff and patients, demonstrating strong oral and written communication skills, professionalism, and sensitivity to age, developmental, and cultural needs.

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.