Pharmacy Technician

This position is located in Pharmacy Service at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System. Pharmacy technicians may fill orders, dispense/deliver medications using automated systems or provide technical customer service to Veterans related to prescription needs.

• 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:
  
  
  • (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 Health career 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).

• (1)
  
  Education and Experience .
  • (a) One year of post-secondary education. OR
  • (b) Six months of general experience. OR
  • (c) Student Technician.

• (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:
    • i Six months of experience, that demonstrated knowledge of medication or medical field practice. OR
    • ii 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. OR
    • iii 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.

• (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 (48 semester 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.

• (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…