Summary

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT open until September 26 - 2025 - but may close before if a selection has been made. All eligible applicants will be reviewed and referred to the hiring manager no later than 09/30/2025.

Qualifications

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 with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a)
• 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)
• 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)
• Grandfathering Provision
• Pharmacy technicians employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and licensure/certification/registration 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: (1) 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
• (2) 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
• (3) 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
• (4) 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
• (5) 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 - GS-07
• Experience
• Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower 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: (a) PTCB as a CPhT
• OR (b) NHA as a ExCPT
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (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
• Assignments
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Pharmacy technicians at this level are nationally certified and can work autonomously using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties
• These pharmacy technicians mentor and train lower graded pharmacy technicians in the practice setting
• They assist advanced/ specialized pharmacy technicians and participate in performance improvement initiatives
• At this level - pharmacy technicians use independent judgement to perform the full range of duties in the pharmacy
• They also function as staff pharmacy technicians in various locations of the pharmacy - including pharmacy contact centers and other non-traditional pharmacy locations - with minimal oversight Preferred Experience: One year of experience working as a certified pharmacy technician in an Inpatient or Outpatient Pharmacy setting
• Experience working with pharmacy automation equipment and preparing intravenous admixtures
• 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Columbia VA Health Care System is currently recruiting for the position of a Rotational Pharmacy Technician
• Pharmacy Technicians at this grade level can work autonomously - using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties
• The technician will assist in both outpatient and inpatient Pharmacy areas
• Inpatient functions include packaging unit dose medications utilizing unit dose packaging machine - replenishing stock in automated dispensing machines - conducting routine ward inspections - preparing intravenous admixtures - and delivering medications to inpatient and outpatient clinics
• Outpatient functions include filling and labeling medications for verification by a pharmacist - assisting patients at the pharmacy pick-up window - cleaning and refilling the outpatient automated dispensing machines - and preparing outpatient-controlled substances in accordance with facility policy for pharmacist verification
• The technician assigned to this role will be assigned to all areas - duties - and tours to cover all technical work assignments in the pharmacy - and other duties assigned by management
• Major duties include - but are not limited to: Accurately interpret - fills - and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification
• Appropriately restocks controlled substances items in automated secured cabinets (i.e. - Pyxis) in pharmacy or throughout medical center - as assigned
• Assures drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured according to USP and VA guidelines - including the storage of high-risk - look a-like sound alike - hazardous - controlled substances - corrosive chemical - flammable liquids - and refrigerated items
• Utilizes automation dispensing equipment available to the pharmacy staff following all safety and QA procedures
• Reports automation malfunctions timely to the supervisor as appropriate
• Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile)
• Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution
• Identifies basic therapeutic problems - such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention
• Assists in training and orientation of new staff technicians - interns - and students
• Assumes an active role in the overall pharmacy-training program consisting of students - externs - interns - etc
• Ensures that proper handoff occurs when receiving or delivering controlled substances - assuring that at all times these medications are never left unsecured
• Complies with all laws - regulations - directives - policies - and procedures applying to the dispensing - storage - transfer - inventory - and accountability of controlled substances
• Receives and responds to all telephone inquiries from patients/family members regarding any issue related to prescription availability
• Work Schedule: Rotating Shifts (0700-1530 - 0730-1600 - 0800-1630 - 0830-1700 - 0930-1800 - 1230-2100 - 1400-2230)
• Will be required to work at least one weekend per month (weekend tours include 0730-1600 - 0800-1630 - 1230-2100 - 1400-2230)
• Will be required to work some holidays and provide coverage for odd tours and nights (1230-2100 - 1530-midnight - 8pm-8am - midnight-8am)
• May be required to work extra weekends and holidays during periods of staffing shortages
• Tour of duty is subject to change based on agency's needs
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorize Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 55823F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized