Clinical Pharmacy Technician is a certified pharmacy technician with the ability to support the clinical programs at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System. The incumbent will provide administrative, clerical, and clinical support which serves in the inpatient, outpatient, and specialty clinics.
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 - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d) 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). Grade Determination: Pharmacy Technician, GS-08 In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-08 you must possess 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 Health career 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. Grandfather 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. Preferred experience: GS 8 - Preferred previous specialty experience within VA 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-08. Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment. Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf Pharmacy technicians in this assignment specialize in areas such as sterile compounding, oncology, controlled substances, medication history review, clinical specialist (anticoagulation, pain, infectious diseases), clinical informatics, automation, immunizations and any other specialized area in the advancement of the profession. The pharmacy technician will serve as a subject matter expert and key resource in the day-to-day technician duties of the specialized area. The technician will be performing assignments such as compounding sterile products, filling controlled substance prescriptions while maintaining compliance with Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulations, taking medication histories and counseling patients, managing automation, managing workflow and training and orienting staff in the specialized area. The following is a list of the specialty GS8 positions eligible for application under this announcement: Sterile compounding- Most duties will be performed in the sterile compounding cleanroom suite(s), and/or segregated compounding areas and include compounding sterile products for dispensing, making appropriate record entries, reviewing IV administration records, and assisting inspectors, review teams, and other staff during routine inquires and inspections. Vault technician/ Controlled Substance- highly specialized technician, under the Chief of Pharmacy Service, is responsible for the first line management of all controlled substances handled by the pharmacy for the (Insert location). Mandated accountability and control of scheduled drugs makes this a particularly sensitive position that is considered critical by all levels of management. Pharmacoeconomics- assists in the technical management of the pharmacoeconomic program development, monitoring and reporting. Programs and program activities shall focus on pharmaceutical formulary selection; formulary implementation; medication conversions; drug utilization evaluations, medication therapy pathway assessments (economic and clinical); patient health outcomes; health-related quality of life assessments, medical education and information communication. RRTP- provide administrative, clerical, and clinical support for pharmacy services within the Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP). Other duties may include medical chart / action profile poly-pharmacy reviews, medication utilization evaluation monitoring, telephone logistical support, and supplemental patient education communication. PACT/Medication Management Clinic: certified pharmacy technician with advanced skills who will provide administrative, clerical, and clinical support to the administration office staff and Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner (CPP). Automation- The Pharmacy Technician (Automation) position functions as the automation specialist in all the patient care areas of pharmacy service with primary focus in both the inpatient and outpatient pharmacy service. Work Schedule: Various schedules that may include off-tours, weekends and holidays will be discussed during the interview process and are subject to change based on Agency needs. Compressed/Flexible: May be available Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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) 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: Ad-hoc telework may be available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 01234F; 01183F, 01221F, 01180F, 01222F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): not available