Pharmacy Technician

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Pharmacy Technician

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$62,730.00/yr - $81,553.00/yr

This position is located within the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System within the Pharmacy Service. This position provides support to all pharmacy operations in a variety of settings. This includes patient care activities in the main outpatient dispensing pharmacy, phone center, outpatient clinic, administration area, or other area as assigned by the supervisor. The position includes independent judgment and team assignments as they relate to pharmacy services and the care of the Veteran.

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.

• 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;
  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:
  
  None required; equivalence of education and experience that total at least 100% qualifies; 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
• 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)
• Pharmacy Technician - GS-07
  
  Experience:
  
  Candidates must possess one full year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-6) level
• Knowledge of federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice
• Knowledge of preparation, storage and distribution of medication products including required special handling and documentation
• Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment
• Knowledge of basic inventory procedures
• Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel
• Knowledge,
  
  Skills and Abilities
  
  (KSAs):
  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; 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;
  
  ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases
• Certification:
  National certification exam and hold an active national certification through either the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) – Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) or the National Health career Association (NHA) – Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• Preferred Experience:
  
  Minimum of 1 year of hospital experience, experience in a large‑complex VA medical center, experience preparing and dispensing medications, competence in preparing and dispensing unit dose medications accurately and efficiently, minimum 1 year of experience filling and troubleshooting Pyxis and Script Pro, proficiency with automated Pharmacy dispensing systems, minimum 1 year of experience compounding sterile products using aseptic technique
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard – please visit https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). Standards/
• Physical Requirements:
  
  Heavy lifting (45 pounds and over), moderate lifting (15‑44 pounds), light lifting (under 15 pounds); heavy carrying (45 pounds and over), moderate carrying (15‑44 pounds), light carrying (under 15 pounds); straight pulling (2 hours); pushing; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (up to hours); standing (prolonged); repeated…