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Pharmacy Technician

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration

Summary

This recruitment is for a Clinical Pharmacy Technician who is a certified pharmacy technician with advanced skills providing administrative, clerical, and clinical support to the Clinical Pharmacist Practitioners (CPP). The primary practice area for this position will be Anticoagulation Services; however, the incumbent may additionally support other clinical pharmacy services, as necessary.



Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
12/08/2025 to 12/15/2025
Salary
$58,368 to - $75,883 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 8
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Marion, IN
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CBSR-12845797-26-AAR
Control number
851894300

This job is open to

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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

Duties

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

Clinical

- Routinely reviews laboratory monitoring reports for selected disease states and identifies patients with values outside of the normal limits. Reports identified patients to the assigned clinical pharmacy specialist for evaluation.
- Assists Clinical Pharmacy Specialists with Medication Reconciliation.
- Completes clinical pharmacy medication utilization evaluations.
- Provides patient education on pharmacy topics including but not limited to requesting refill process, drug information sheets, letter mailing to assist with compliance with therapy.
- Participates in performance improvement processes and programs as assigned.
- Review consults and completes actions as requested.
- Enter and adjudicate supply order requests (with pharmacist verification).
- Assist the Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner in reporting and entry of adverse drug reactions into VA ADERS, and Medication Errors, and Close calls in Joint Patient Safety Reporting System (JPSR).
- If applicable, troubleshoot pharmacy automated dispensing equipment performance by making minor adjustments to equipment when needed and contacting appropriate staff when service is required.
- Provide logistical support as a point of contact for telephone, voicemail, fax, secure messaging, and TEAMS for prescription operational issues and clinical team needs.
- Resolve, if able, prescription operational issues; otherwise, will triage to a pharmacist.
- Run reports and assist with reviews and actions as needed.

Operations/Procurement, as needed

- Inventories and replenishes emergency carts.
- Operates, monitors, and maintains complicated pharmacy equipment and refrigerator temperature on all pharmacy refrigerators.
- Conducts monthly ward inspection of patient care areas.
- Monitors and maintains inventory needs in pharmacy and patient care areas (ward stock/ automatic replenishment).

  • Includes filing documents in a proper and retrievable manner.
  • Maintain absolute drug security. Any discrepancies in count or inventory reconciliation are reported to the pharmacist immediately.
  • Ordering, checking, storing, delivering, prepackaging, wrapping (for mailing), and preparing for dispensing, medications, and supplies.
- Consult with drug manufacturers and suppliers' representatives concerning back orders, partial shipments, delayed shipments, tentative arrival/action dates, and other problems concerning drug orders.
- Purchase cardholder and complies with all acquisition regulations, both Federal, VA, and Local.

Education and Personal Competence

- Maintain current certification with the PTCB.
- Successfully complete annual competency certifications based upon the specific clinical functions/activities assigned.
- Participate in staff development programs.
- Provides training to new or existing staff.

Program Management

- Assists in conducting and reporting internal audits as required. Maintains all pertinent professional and administrative records as necessary.
- Acts as a liaison between Pharmacy Service and other health care providers.
- Documents clinical and operational activities as required.

Work Schedule: 8:00 - 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday
Compressed/Flexible:May be available upon Supervisor approval.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 92013
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

Requirements

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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.
  • 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).

Grade Determinations:
  1. Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below.
  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 the following KSAs for all GS-08 assignments and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated:
  • 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.

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-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the GS-08.

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

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

"VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being."

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

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