Pharmacy Technician

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. Certification. 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).OR National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). Proof of this certification must be provided with this application. 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). Grandfather Provision. 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 certification 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: 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. (This position is above the full performance level) 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. 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. 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. 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. Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician (Procurement/Inventory) - Experience Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must possess at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-08). -AND- In addition to meeting the experience for the GS-09 level, do you possess the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities - Expert knowledge serving as a key resource advising others in their particular specialty area or section of the pharmacy (such as procurement, sterile compounding (USP compounding standards), controlled substances DEA, automation, clinical pharmacy, lead tech, contact center, etc.). - Skill in analyzing data for self-driven (independent) performance improvement projects, workload analysis and statistical reports. - Skill in solving problems and implementing corrective actions to maximize outcomes in their program area. - Ability to maintain special accreditations and prepare for national reviews/inspections (e.g., The Joint Commission, Inspector General, American Society of Health System Pharmacists, controlled substance inspections). - Ability to develop training programs and material for orientation, competency development and educational needs for regulatory requirements within the specialized pharmacy program area. - Knowledge of pharmaceutical and supply inventory requirements to ensure compliance with regulations and national/audit/inspections (e.g., financial regulations, The Joint Commission, Inspector General, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, DEA, USP 797/800, FDA 503A/B). - Knowledge of clinical specifications, characteristics and ordering processes of a wide variety of soft prosthetics and supply items (e.g., catheters, colostomy, ileostomy and urostomy supply and associated products) that technicians procure to dispense to Veterans in the outpatient pharmacy setting .- Skill in managing specialized programs related to inventory including, but not limited to, specialty medications and supplies, All Hazards Emergency Cache Program, recalls, reverse distribution and pharmaceutical waste. Supervisory Control: The technician works under the supervision of the Clinical Pharmacy Technician Supervisor or designee. The technician independently plans and completes work using established protocols and accepted practices. The technician is considered a program subject-matter expert for Community Care prescription workflows and exercises independent technical judgment. Issues involving unusual circumstances are brought to the supervisor or pharmacist, but sequence and timing of work are generally at the technician's discretion. Preferred Experience: Experience in Outpatient Pharmacy operations, including Community Care processes. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. This announcement is for a position that is above the full performance level. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. The Care in the Community (CITC) Coordinator Pharmacy Technician is a certified, highly specialized technician responsible for coordinating all outpatient pharmacy-related aspects of community care prescriptions and authorizations. The incumbent serves as a liaison between Outpatient Pharmacy, Community Care program manager and pharmacists, non-VA providers, patients, and internal VA clinical teams to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant processing of community-based medication needs.