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Summary Under the supervision of a pharmacist, pharmacy technicians perform routine pharmacy functions including filling, preparation and dispensing of prescriptions, sterile compounding preparation, management of automated dispensing equipment (ADE), inventory management and multiple types of customer contact services. Responsibilities The GS-7 Pharmacy Technician will provide administrative, clerical and basic clinical support to the clinical pharmacy section of the Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) Service. The incumbent must have the ability to independently gather, evaluate and analyze patient data. The incumbent must be able to communicate orally and in writing in an accurate and concise manner which supports the needs of the customer. The GS-7 Pharmacy Technician will function in HBPC patient care areas providing various technical support services within the pharmacy division. The incumbent will promote harmonious relationships within the work environment supporting the needs of the patient care team and the patient. Assists the clinical pharmacy service and interdisciplinary HBPC team in clinic duties as assigned including patient and health care professional contact, data collection and analysis, entry of information into patient databases, chart review and drug information. This could include communicating with other services and disciplines (i.e. coordinate medication delivery and administration, communicate with outpatient pharmacy service to fill controlled substances, and communicate with other healthcare providers to ensure active and accurate prescriptions are available for all patients involved in the medication bubble packing program). Triages telephone calls from patients, family members, and/or caregivers to address a variety of issues, evaluate the problem, and provide an appropriate solution or refer the problem expeditiously to the pharmacist and/or interdisciplinary HBPC team when the problem is beyond the technician's level of knowledge or expertise. Obtains vital signs and point of care (POC) labs (e.g., glucose, INR) and documents subsequent values appropriately in the electronic medical chart. The HBPC clinical pharmacy technician ensures appropriate training and certifications are maintained. Takes data provided by patients in the form of home logs and compiles that data for interpretation by the clinical pharmacy specialist and/or interdisciplinary HBPC team. Additionally, the clinical pharmacy technician is familiar with procedures to upload data from glucometers or other POC machines to a computer. Provides patient education on pharmacy topics including prescription refills, patient rights and responsibilities and education specific to the clinic procedures. Documents communication with patients in CPRS/VISTA. Routinely reviews computer medication profile of patients and will notify pharmacist and/or interdisciplinary HBPC team of issues related to prescription duplication, therapeutic duplication, medication compliance, allergies or adverse reactions which are identified through patient communication or medical record review. Provides supplemental reinforcement education for patients and/or caregivers concerning operational issues or need for therapy compliance through routine adherence phone calls. Routinely performs patient medical chart reviews to identify polypharmacy and/or identify medication changes. Expeditiously reports identified patients to assigned clinical pharmacist and/or interdisciplinary HBPC team for evaluation and where appropriate documents in CPRS. Updates and manages local inventory used for medication blister packing. Communicates with local inventory procurement specialist to ensure adequate inventory supply. Collects inventory medication lot and expiration date and communicates medication recall information to blister packing team when appropriate. Ships and tracks medication blister packs to patients, including occasional patient home visits for medication delivery when determined to be necessary by interdisciplinary HBPC team. Reviews medication blister packing consults on a routine basis, screens consult for appropriateness and schedules new patient, if appropriate, for initial visit with clinical pharmacy specialist. Updates and maintains the clinic databases as required. Assists in conducting and reporting internal audits as required. Maintains all pertinent professional and administrative records as necessary. Assists in data collection and analysis for drug utilization evaluation, medication errors, adverse drug events and performance improvement initiatives. Provides administrative support for the ongoing professional practice evaluation (OPPE) process for clinical pharmacy section. Work Schedule: Days, Monday - Friday Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Telework: Ad Hoc available. Telework that occurs on an occasional, non-routine basis. Telework that occurs to complete short-term special assignments or to accommodate special circumstances even though the telework arrangement may occur continuously for a limited and specific period of time. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 523-F03439 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications COVERAGE. The following are requirements for appointment or placement as a Pharmacy Technician in Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The requirements will apply to all VHA pharmacy technicians employed in the General Schedule (GS) 0661 series performing a variety of pharmacy duties under the supervision of a pharmacist. BASIC REQUIREMENTS. a. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. b. 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. c. 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). d. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. e. 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 GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for appointment, VA HR staff must use the following criteria to determine the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. Pharmacy Technician, GS-07. (1) Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Pharmacy technicians at the GS-06 full performance level may fill orders, dispense/deliver medications using automated systems or provide technical customer service to Veterans related to prescription needs. Duties will include delivery of medications to floors/patients, filling medications for the pharmacist to review, checking for expired medications, answering phones with appropriate disposition, preparing sterile products (when applicable) and assisting with basic inventory management such as putting up stock and identifying when medications need to be ordered. (2) 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. (3) 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. (4) 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: 2-3 years of outpatient pharmacy experience preferred. Current or recent experience working with CPRS/VISTA computer systems. Proficient in Microsoft Excel. Proficient in Script Pro. Experience with medication procurement. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. FORMER VA HANDBOOK REFERENCE: PART II APPENDIX G28 EFFECTIVE DATE: November 07, 2023 Physical Requirements: Principal duties of this position require repetitive use of hands and fingers (e.g., preparing prescriptions, use of a computer keyboard, etc.). May require lifting and carrying light loads (up to 44 lbs.), including boxes, equipment, medical supplies, stock boxes etc.; stooping or kneeling (e.g., to pick up items from the floor, remove and replace items on lower shelves, and to file documents in lower file drawers, etc.); sitting, walking, or standing for long periods of time (4-8 hours). Ability to operate automation. Normal ranges of hearing and vision are required to perform work and communicate effectively. An ability to perform tasks. DEFINITIONS. a. Creditable Experience. To be creditable, a candidate must possess the required knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with the scope of pharmacy technician practice. The candidate's experience must be evidenced by active professional practice. (Active professional practice means paid/nonpaid employment as a professional pharmacy technician.) b. Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time work week. For example, one week of full-time credit is equivalent to two weeks of half-time work. c. Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to pharmacy technician experience at the next lower grade level. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. d. Specialized Area. Areas within pharmacy that require advanced knowledge, skills and abilities to ensure a high level of accountability for patient safety, quality of care and/or VHA or other regulatory requirements. Examples include, but are not limited to compounding sterile products, controlled substance dispensing, research, automation, clinical informatics, quality assurance, hazardous medication compounding/management, immunizations and clinical pharmacy assignments. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. This position is a AFGE Bargaining Unit position. This position is covered by a special rate. Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf FY 2025 VHA SHORTAGE OCCUPATIONS APPROVED FOR WAIVER OF VETERANS' PREFERENCE: Pharmacy Technician, 0661 TIME LIMITATIONS: OFFICE OF THE CHIEF HUMAN CAPITAL OFFICER (OCHCO) BULLETIN is in effect through September 30, 2025. After comparing the OIG report and VHA workforce planning cycle findings, VHA requested and received approval from the Secretary to waive Veterans' preference for the hybrid title 38 occupation listed above for FY 2025.