Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees, current permanent Federal employees of other agencies. First area of consideration is Facility. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Videos

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

Major duties but not are limited to:

• Provides for the security of controlled substances by controlling access to storage areas, and by ensuring that controlled substances (hereafter referred to as the "cage" or "vault").
• Prepares and fills inpatient and outpatient orders and request for controlled substances.
• Prepares order request for the controlled substance for patients being discharged from the inpatient units.
• Coordinates the holding and destruction of unusable controlled substances maintaining proper electronic records and security per VHA policy and DEA requirements.
• Tracks and accounts for each medication from the moment it is received to the moment it is used or destroyed through use of manual and/or automated systems as necessary.
• Seeks personal and professional development opportunities which enhance personal well-being, customer service skills, and technical expertise. Educates non-pharmacy personnel and patients regarding Pharmacy Service's procedures, policies, and processes. Serves as trainer for pharmacy technician students.
• Reconciles automated dispensing unit controlled substance discrepancies. Correction of a CS discrepancy requires 2 pharmacy personnel: the CS technician or designee, and either another pharmacy technician or pharmacist.
• Maintains written hardcopy prescription accountability with the vault pharmacist.
• Monitors and analyzes orders and usage patterns for questionable circumstances or aberrant trends in usage. Communicates potential problems to supervisor.
• Researches and resolves issues related to mailed outpatient scheduled prescriptions according to resources through the U.S. Postal Service or United Postal Service, using computer or available resources.
• Provides support for pharmacists, interns, technicians, inspectors, students, and others in controlled substance accountability procedures and in proper use of the VISTA Controlled Substance Package, as assigned by the supervisor.
• Acts as an information source for the medical center staff on CS regulations, procedures, and product availability.
• Maintains a safe, clean, uncluttered work area in the controlled substance storage areas.
• Maintains open, cooperative communications with pharmacy staff and individuals outside the pharmacy that may need advice and action.
• Prepares items necessary for storage according to policy and requirements. This includes daily upload of records into electronic storage.
• Contacts are made to clarify orders, prioritize orders in accordance with established pharmacy procedures, and to resolve problems.
• Serves as on-line back up to other Pharmacy technicians.
• Assists the Pharmacy Supervisor and Pharmacy Technician Supervisor in collecting data for workload reports and process improvement projects.
• Other pharmacy technician duties(inpatient/outpatient/compounding/automation/etc.) as assigned

Work Schedule: Generally an 8-hour tour Monday through Friday between the hours of 6:00am - 5:00pm. Employees may be required to work days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays on rotating schedule. The hours may vary based on the needs of the service and will rotate, on a fair and equitable basis.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:55703F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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:

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

English Language Proficiency: Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).

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.

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 Healthcareer 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).

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-08: Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below. 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.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs :

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

Certification. For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either:

PTCB as a CPhT.
OR
NHA as a ExCPT

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-08.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Area of Consideration- Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:

1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.
2. All other VA employees.
3. Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies.

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.