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This position functions primarily in patient care areas and Pharmacy Service within the health care organization. As a Pharmacy Technician, major duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Reads and interprets prescriptions.
• Obtains proper medication or material in the proper strength and dosage.
• Determines proper amount and counts, pours, or measures the medications.
• Independently fills without routine secondary review first dose medication.
• Performs final review of unit dose medications that are repackaged or dispensed by lower graded technicians.
• Repackages medication in unit-of-use packaging.
• Maintains pre-determined levels of automatic replenishment/ward stock medications for patient care areas.
• Independently restocks without routine secondary review the patient care areas to established inventory levels.
• Assists with inventory management by ensuring that adequate, in date stocks of medications and supplies for dispensing are maintained in the pharmacy.
• Receives new stock of controlled substances in accordance with VHA regulations.
• Operates and performs preventive maintenance on complicated pharmacy equipment.
• Coordinates the completion of all monthly ward inspections.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00AM - 4:30PM to include nights, weekends and rotating holidays.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Title/Functional Statement #:Pharmacy Technician/PD000000
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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Grandfathering 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).
• 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-3 Education or Experience:

(a) One year of post-secondary education.

OR(b) Six months of general experience.

OR(c) Student Technician. A student enrolled in an approved nationally accredited pharmacy technician program for an occupation identified in 38 U.S.C. 7405(a)(1)(A) or (B) may be appointed on a temporary full-time, part-time or intermittent basis under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. 7405(a)(1)(D) for a period not to exceed two years or the duration of the individual's program.

(2) Assignment. Employees at the entry-level are developmental trainees. The pharmacy technician trainee is performing routine pharmacy duties under direct supervision of higher graded technicians to learn the basic functions of pharmacy operations.

Pharmacy Technician, GS-4 Education or Experience:

(a) Completion of two years of post-secondary coursework related to pharmacy (e.g., 12 semester hours of science and mathematics courses).

OR(b) Completion of one of the following: Six months of experience, that demonstrated knowledge of medication or medical field practice.

OR Successful completion of a military or nationally recognized pharmacy technician education/training program. American Society of Health System Pharmacists® (ASHP), American Pharmacist Association (APHA), Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), PTCB or NHA are examples of acceptable professional organizations recognizing such training programs. NOTE: Training courses recognized by PTCB and NHA are not actual certifications.

OR One year of experience equivalent to next lower grade level.

(2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the education or experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:(a) Ability to follow policies and procedures.(b) Ability to maintain appropriate files.(c) Ability to communicate with patients and other health professionals.(d) Ability to follow both written and verbal instructions.(e) Ability to operate office software/equipment to include, computers, software applications and printers.

(3) Assignments. Employees at this grade level serve in a pharmacy technician developmental position. Pharmacy technicians at this level perform duties such as dispensing prescriptions at the pharmacy window and prepacking medications.

Pharmacy Technician, GS-5 Education or Experience:

(a) Successful completion of four years post-secondary education with courses related to pharmacy (e.g., 48 semester hours of science, mathematics, pharmacy) or a bachelor's degree.

OR(b) An associate's degree in pharmacy technician or technology (48 semester hours of concentrated pharmacy technician training).

OR(c) One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

(2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the education or experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:(a) Knowledge of basic pharmacy operations.(b) Knowledge of pharmaceuticals to perform duties in pharmacy functional areas.(c) Knowledge of pharmaceutical nomenclature (including generic, chemical and proprietary names of drug).(d) Ability to fill prescriptions.(e) Ability to use pharmacy information systems or basic pharmacy dispensing equipment with oversight.

(3) Assignments. Pharmacy technicians at this developmental level perform all duties expected of employees at lower grade levels; however, they are expected to exercise greater judgement, require less supervision and operate in accordance with all established policies and procedures. Pharmacy technicians at this grade level will fill orders and dispense/deliver medications using automated systems. These technicians require oversight of assigned duties by full performance level technicians and or pharmacists.

Pharmacy Technician, GS6 Education or Experience:

One year of experience equivalent to the next lower level.

(2) Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:(a) Knowledge of Federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice.(b) Knowledge of preparation, storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation.(c) Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment.(d) Knowledge of basic inventory procedures.(e) Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel.

(3) Assignments. Pharmacy technicians at the full performance level may fill orders, dispense/deliver medications using automated systems or provide technical customer service to Veterans related to prescription needs. Duties will include delivery of medications to floors/patients, filling medications for the pharmacist to review, checking for expired medications, answering phones with appropriate disposition, preparing sterile products (when applicable) and assisting with basic inventory management such as putting up stock and identifying when medications need to be ordered.

Reference: VA HANDBOOK 5005/159 PART II APPENDIX G28 PHARMACY TECHNICIAN QUALIFICATION STANDARD 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-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-06.

Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45lbs and over); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; walking (3 hours per day); standing (8 hours per day); kneeling (2 hours per day); repeated bending (4 hours per day); both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; far vision correctable in one eye 20/20 and 20/40 in the other; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted).

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.