Pharmacy Technician

Overview

The incumbent will work within Pharmacy Customer Care under the direct supervision of the Supervisory Contact Representative for Pharmacy Customer Care. The incumbent accepts case referrals and provides guidance and assistance to Pharmacy Customer Care Contact Representatives while supporting VA missions in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner with consistent information according to established policies and procedures.

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.

Basic Requirements:

• 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
• 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:
  Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) OR National Health career Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• Grade Determination for GS-08 Pharmacy Technician:
  In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements listed above - you must meet the following:
  
  Experience:
  
  Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07) and demonstrate the KSAs below
• Demonstrated Knowledge,
  
  Skills and Abilities
  
  (KSA):
  In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  Comprehensive knowledge of concepts, principles, methodology and policies in a specialized area or section of pharmacy (such as sterile compounding, controlled substances, automation, clinical pharmacy, contact center, etc.)
  
  Note:
  
  See Specialized Area in the Definitions Section of this qualifications standard
• Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures
• Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy
• Grandfathering Provision: A Pharmacy Technician employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (11/7/2023) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and certification 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 - provisions apply: 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
• Employees in an occupation that requires 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
• 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 until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• 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…