Pharmacy Technician

Full Job Description

The Columbia VA Health Care System is currently recruiting for the position of Controlled Substances Pharmacy Technician.

Pharmacy Technicians at the GS-08 grade level are required to be nationally certified by PTCB or ExCPT and can work autonomously.

The incumbent is expected to provide support to the controlled substance program by coordinating with the Controlled Substances pharmacists to ensure all policies and procedures are performed.

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. 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: (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.

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).

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).

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, 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: 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-08 Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below. Certification.

For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: PTCB as a CPhT. OR NHA as a ExCPT.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs).

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs for all GS-08 assignments and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated: 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.

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: One year of experience working as a Controlled Substances Pharmacy Technician or a Pharmacy Technician in both an inpatient and outpatient pharmacy setting.

Experience working with pharmacy automation equipment to include stocking, inventory management, and reconciling discrepancies.

Experience with inventory control in a healthcare institution to include procurement, maintaining electronic spreadsheets, tracking inventory returns, and resolving discrepancies.

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-06.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-08.

Physical Requirements: This work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals, record boxes, equipment or assisting patients.

See https://dvagov.sharepoint.com/sites/OCHCO/SitePages/D5019.aspx VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. Major Duties:

The Pharmacy Controlled Substance Technician is certified, highly specialized technician, under the supervision of the Outpatient Pharmacy Supervisor is responsible for the first line management of all controlled substances handled by the pharmacy for the Columbia VA HCS.

Mandated accountability and control of scheduled drugs makes this a particularly sensitive position that is considered critical by all levels of management.

This position requires thorough knowledge and understanding of federal, VA, and facility regulations regarding controlled substances and pharmacy processes in general and involves performing complex procedures over a range of functions.

Duties of this position include but are not limited to all services involving receipt, storage, fill, dispense, transfer, inventory, administration, waste, or destruction of controlled substances per Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Handbooks and Directives, as well as all Office of Inspector General (OIG) Directives and Health System Policy.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include, but not limited to: Monitors the status and progress of work and makes day-to-day adjustments in accordance with established priorities, obtains assistance from the Controlled Substance Program Manager or Supervisor on problems that may arise such as pending controlled substance prescriptions, which cannot be properly addressed.

Inventories, prepares, delivers, and rotates controlled substance stock for all automated dispensing equipment locations. Ensures restocking is provided as unit dose.

Ensures correct use and maintenance of tablet counting machines, labeling machines and all other equipment used for medication preparation and dispensing.

Coordinates the mail out of controlled substance prescriptions to assure accountability.

This includes maintaining documentation of all packages prepared for mail-out daily, coordinating pick-up with contracted delivery service, and reconciling list of packages daily.

Provides accurate orders for all classes of controlled substances and orders from the Prime Vendor. Maximizes inventory to control costs while assuring 24/7 supply of needed controlled substances.

Conducts required vault inventories and maintains required reports. Collaborates with the procurement section as needed on the ordering or posting of controlled substances.

Reviews and maintains monthly controlled substance inspection reports for the assigned Pharmacy sites.

Maintains accurate electronic inventory through decrementing prescriptions, entering received inventory, transferring to automated dispensing cabinets and satellite dispensing areas.

Ensures two person authentications when the balance adjustment function is used to reconcile a discrepancy.

Conducts primary investigations of all discrepancies discovered in the vault, on the wards, or dispensing areas.

Advises the Controlled Substance Program Manager, Outpatient Pharmacy Supervisor, and/or Chief Pharmacist on controlled substance matters related to procurement, inventory, inspection, dispensing and discrepancy irregularities.

Plans, develops, and implements inventory processes and security awareness procedures to heighten controlled substance accountability.

Follows policy and procedure in reporting unresolved discrepancies. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm.

May be required to work weekends and holidays during periods of staffing shortages if needed. Tour of duty is subject to change based on agency's needs.

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) 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 #: 55825F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.