Pharmacy Technician - Inpatient

Summary

GS‑7 Pharmacy Technicians function in various areas of the pharmacy – inpatient, outpatient (East and West campuses), chemotherapy infusion center, clinics, emergency department, surgery, wards, storage areas, offices, and other patient‑care areas – under the supervision of the respective pharmacy supervisor.

Applicants pending completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected; however, they may not be hired until all requirements are met.

• United States Citizenship:
  Non‑citizens may be appointed only 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 as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).
• Education or
  
  Experience:
  
  For all grade levels that require both education and experience, equivalent combinations totaling at least 100% are qualifying.
• Certification (GS‑07 and above):
  Must hold an active national certification (PTCB – Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) or NHA – Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)). A copy of certification must be provided.
• Grandfathering Provision:
  Current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria are considered to have met all qualification requirements as of 11/7/2023.
• Promotion and Reassignment:
  Employees may be promoted up to the full performance (journey) level or reassigned to a lower grade, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory positions without meeting the requisite credentials.
• Temporary Appointments:
  Temporary appointments prior to the effective date of the qualification standard cannot be extended or renewed until all basic requirements are fully met.
• Hybrid Status:
  Employees converted to title 38 hybrid status and who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard upon re‑entry.
• Grandfathered Employees:
  Employees who later obtain additional education or credentials that meet all basic requirements must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment.

The incumbent is responsible for the filling, dispensing, procurement, storage, preparation, review, distribution, and control of medications and other pharmaceutical products to patients, inpatient and outpatient treatment units, and research investigators. The work directly impacts patient health.

• Inpatient and Outpatient
  • Process and fill outpatient prescriptions for scheduled and non‑scheduled federal legend drugs and medical devices, over‑the‑counter products, and supply items.
  • Prepare and distribute unit‑dose medications, ward stock items, and intravenous admixtures, including cytotoxic chemotherapy.
  • Maintain crash cart, manage stock, and operate automated dispensing equipment.
  • Maintain logs, records, and reports.
  • Perform advanced functions such as intravenous admixture preparation, prescription filling of scheduled and non‑scheduled drugs, and independent stock maintenance without secondary pharmacist checks.
• Sterile Compounding
  • Use aseptic technique to prepare pharmaceuticals for parenteral administration.
  • Apply advanced knowledge of administration routes, labeling, handling, storage, distribution, and disposal.
  • Operate and care for compounding equipment such as RABS, BSC, LAF, admixture pumps, and other supplies.
• Controlled Substances
  • Fill and dispense prescriptions for controlled substances for both inpatient and outpatient beneficiaries.
  • Perform controlled substances inventories and obtain witness from nursing during Pyxis replenishment.
  • Demonstrate advanced knowledge of principles, regulations, and policies related to controlled substances.
• Chemotherapy
  • Prepare and label chemotherapeutic agents.
  • Perform intravenous admixture preparation and distribution of cytotoxic chemotherapy, biosimilar products, and bladder irrigation solutions.
  • Maintain high accuracy, productivity, and sensitivity to oncology service requirements.
• Additional resources: VA Careers – Pharmacy:

• Work Schedule:
  
  Rotating shifts – days, swings, evenings, midnights, weekends.
• Pay:
  Competitive salary with regular…