Qualifications

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:

• A
• Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States
• Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7407(a)
• B
• English Proficiency: Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• 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: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
• OR National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• D
• Grandfathering Provision: 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
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above, applicants must meet the following grade requirements
• Pharmacy Technician, GS-07: Experience Requirement
• Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level of GS-6. 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.) 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
• 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
• Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate ALL of the following 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 or electronic equivalent
• 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 to ensure safe medication distribution
• Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases
• Preferred Experience: Minimum 3 years outpatient experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.