Career Center

Summary

This Pharmacy Technician supports the VA Close-to-Me program which allows select infusions to be administered in the Community-Based Outpatient Clinics. The position functions primarily in Pharmacy Service and the patient care areas within the Fargo VA Health Care System. The incumbent is responsible for all activities relative to the IV rooms for the Fargo VAHCS. The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information - refer to Required Documents below.

Qualifications

Pharmacy Technician

Basic Requirements:

• To qualify for appointment to this position - all applicants must possess the following: Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 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 (GS-07 and above): 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)
• National Healthcareer Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• 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 licensure/certification/registration 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 - the following 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 a 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 on a temporary or permanent basis 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 re-entry to the occupation
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician GS-08 In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-08 you must possess at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07)
• 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)
• National Healthcareer Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical 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.) 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
• Preferred Experience: Sterile compounding - pharmacy automation - procurement Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Pharmacy Technician Qualification Standard The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08
• Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• Is knowledgeable in United States Pharmacopeia (USP) <795> - <797> and <800> standards - Pharmacy law - VHA directives and DEA regulations as they relate to practice within the VA Health Care System
• Incumbent will be a primary source of information and workload for all compounding of IV medications - both anti-neoplastic and standard IV medications
• He/she will function in the IV rooms under the direct review of a Pharmacist
• Uses aseptic technique to compound sterile products within the IV suite
• Prepares sterile ophthalmic preparations and other complex sterile pharmaceutics as appropriate
• Correctly interprets orders - selects - and measures appropriate ingredients - mixes ingredients in an aseptic manner - inspects the final product for accuracy - suitability and elegance - labels the product - maintains records of the manufacturing process and supplies the product for delivery
• Understands specific handling considerations for storage - distribution - and disposal of medications
• Displays competence with good aseptic technique and manufacturing practices through demonstration and work performance
• Maintains technical working knowledge of equipment and supplies used in compounding sterile products - including but not limited to admixing pumps - needles - syringes - and other compounding supplies
• Operates and maintains complicated Pharmacy equipment - including but not limited to laminar flow hoods - compounding software - and IV camera system
• Uses knowledge - skills - and abilities to resolve questionable orders or situations to ensure quality of care
• Contacts Pharmacist to obtain clarification on prescriptions - orders or situations that present a possible hazard to patient care
• Performs accurate product selection - dosage calculations and compounding of agents utilizing package literature - written procedural guidelines and application of specialized knowledge
• Generates proper product identification labeling and assigns accurate stability and handling information - including appropriate auxiliary information to ensure safety and efficacy to the patient and other handlers of the product
• Stocks and maintains the preparation areas - reviewing anticipated inventory needs - and effectively coordinates - manages - completes - and documents the purchasing of prescription drug products
• Initiates ordering requirements of pharmaceuticals - specialty - and supply items through pharmacy prime vendors multi complex accounts or other mandatory sources
• Responsible for adherence to federal contracts and compliance with federal regulations regarding open market - ensuring inventory control through perpetual evaluation
• Maintains accountability of daily purchases and coordinates receipt - assures consistent delivery schedules are employed and handled in a timely manner beneficial to Pharmacy Service and appropriately disperses stock in a timely fashion into designated storage areas
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: 0800-1300 Monday-Thursday Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) - Pro-rated for part-time
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 00000