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
• 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 Healthcareer 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) Grade Determinations: In addition to meeting the basic requirements above, to qualify for the GS-7 you must possess at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6) AND demonstrate all the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) below: Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work
• Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent
• Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers
• Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students
• Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution
• Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases
• Preferred Experience: Minimum 1 year of inpatient pharmacy experience Minimum 1 year of USP 797 and or USP 800 sterile compounding experience Minimum of 6 months of outpatient pharmacy dispensing experience Minimum 1 year of pharmacy automation experience to include automation dispensing cabinets, automated tablet packager and outpatient dispensing automation (i.e., Parata, ScriptPro, Omnicell) Minimum 1 year-controlled substance management technician experience
• 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-7. Physical Requirements: The work is mostly standing, walking, bending and climbing
• however, some sitting, which involves typing, is also required
• Technicians must be able to lift and move cases of IV fluids weighing approximately 30 lbs
• Technicians work mainly in area assigned, however, may be required to walk to storage area or to various hospital units and clinics.