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: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a.
- Education or Experience: 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 Health career Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).
Grade Determinations:
Experience: Must have one year of experience equivalent to at least the next lower level (GS-6) that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. You must fully meet the KSAs at the GS-6 level which includes: Ability to solve problems and make recommendations, e.g., troubleshoot operational problems and refer for appropriate action; Knowledge of the operation and care of automated equipment; Knowledge of, and ability to follow, written instructions for compounding with aseptic technique for hazardous materials such as oncology agents; Knowledge, and ability to perform, compounding with aseptic technique for routine sterile products; Knowledge of policies and procedures for inventory management in specialized areas such as emergency carts; Knowledge of the computerized prescription process demonstrated by the ability to input prescriptions and medication orders.
AND
You must demonstrate the following
Knowledge, Skill, and Abilities:
(a) Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work.
(b) Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent.
(c) Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers.
(d) Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students.
(e) Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution.
(f) Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases
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: Work is sedentary but may involve prolonged standing and/or walking.