To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
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).
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.
English Language Proficiency. Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for appointment above, VA HR staff must use the following criteria to determine the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.
Pharmacy Technician, GS-03.
Education and Experience.
(a) One year of post-secondary education.
OR
(b) Six months of general experience.
OR
(c) Student Technician. A student enrolled in an approved nationally accredited pharmacy technician program for an occupation identified in 38 U.S.C. 7405(a)(1)(A) or (B) may be appointed on a temporary full-time, part-time or intermittent basis under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. 7405(a)(1)(D) for a period not to exceed two years or the duration of the individual's program.
Pharmacy Technician, GS-04.
(1) Education and Experience.
(a) Completion of two years of post-secondary coursework related to pharmacy (e.g., 12 semester hours of science and mathematics courses).
OR
(b) Completion of one of the following:
- Six months of experience, that demonstrated knowledge of medication or medical field practice.
- Successful completion of a military or nationally recognized pharmacy technician education/training program. American Society of Health System Pharmacists® (ASHP), American Pharmacist Association (APHA), Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), PTCB or NHA are examples of acceptable professional organizations recognizing such training programs. NOTE: Training courses recognized by PTCB and NHA are not actual certifications.
- One year of experience equivalent to next lower grade level.
(2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the education or experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) Ability to follow policies and procedures.
(b) Ability to maintain appropriate files.
(c) Ability to communicate with patients and other health professionals.
(d) Ability to follow both written and verbal instructions.
(e) Ability to operate office software/equipment to include, computers, software applications and printers.
Pharmacy Technician, GS-05.
(1) Education or Experience.
(a) Successful completion of four years post-secondary education with courses related to pharmacy (e.g., 48 semester hours of science, mathematics, pharmacy) or a bachelor's degree.
OR
(b) An associate's degree in pharmacy technician or technology (48semester hours of concentrated pharmacy technician training).
OR
(c) One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
(2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the education or experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs
(a) Knowledge of basic pharmacy operations.
(b) Knowledge of pharmaceuticals to perform duties in pharmacy functional areas.
(c) Knowledge of pharmaceutical nomenclature (including generic, chemical and proprietary names of drug).
(d) Ability to fill prescriptions.
(e) Ability to use pharmacy information systems or basic pharmacy dispensing equipment with oversight.
Pharmacy Technician, GS-06.
(1) Education or Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower level.
(2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of Federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice.
(b) Knowledge of preparation, storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation.
(c) Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment.
(d) Knowledge of basic inventory procedures.
(e) Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel.
Preferred Experience: In addition to the basic Pharmacy Technician qualification standards, preferred experience includes:
- Three years of Pharmacy Technician experience compounding sterile products in a hospital pharmacy setting.
- Three years' experience using inpatient pharmacy equipment to include experience with Automated Dispensing Cabinets (Omnicell or Pyxis), inpatient pharmacy robotic systems, or TPN compounding devices (BAXA, Pinnacle, etc.).
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-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-6.
Physical Requirements: The work requires moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds); reaching above the shoulder; use of fingers; standing (up to 6 hours); repeated bending (up to 2 hours); near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; the ability to distinguish basic colors; and mental and emotional stability. May be exposed to constant noise; extensive keyboard and mouse use; and you must be able to work alone and closely with others.