Professional certified outpatient pharmacy technician at Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs Healthcare System supports outpatient and clinic areas by performing a range of pharmacy services. The technician handles tasks such as operating automation systems, stocking, deliveries, inventory checks, controlled substance management, hazardous drug handling, packaging, and dispensing.
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: 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). Grandfather Provision. Pharmacy Technicians 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. 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). 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-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: 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 Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7 Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, typing, walking distances within the medical center, lifting/ carrying (up to 40 pounds) of pharmaceutical supplies, and bending/stooping/stretching.
Ensures proper storage and security of medications and supplies per USP, VA, and local guidelines, including high-risk and hazardous items. Accurately prepares prescriptions using pre-packaged meds, ScriptPro, Eyecon, and bulk packaging for pharmacist verification. Operates and maintains pharmacy automation, following safety and QA protocols; reports issues promptly. Troubleshoots automation problems and coordinates repairs with supervisors, vendors, or IT as needed. Performs and documents monthly inspections of medication storage areas, ensuring compliance and reporting concerns. Participates in quality improvement initiatives and workgroups. Prepares unit-dose meds for pharmacist check and automated stocking. Receives and inspects deliveries, reconciles invoices, updates records, and reports issues. Restocks dispensing areas and communicates inventory needs. Collaborates with Inventory Specialists on stock issues. Assists in training staff, students, and residents. Maintains clean, organized workspaces and proper stock placement. Ensures safe disposal of pharmaceutical waste. Understands and follows downtime procedures. Follows all regulations for controlled substance handling, storage, and dispensing. Maintains strict accountability using the electronic controlled substance system. Prepares and processes controlled substance requests, including mail orders, ensuring proper storage and handling. Performs required back counts during all controlled substance transactions. Collects prescriptions from clinics and verifies documentation as needed. Receives controlled substances into the vault per policy. Completes bi-weekly inventories and helps resolve discrepancies. Assists with inspections and destruction processes. Reports unresolved discrepancies to the supervisor. Verifies patient identity using two identifiers and documents receipt with electronic signature. Dispenses prescriptions using VISTA, ScriptPro, and barcode scanning to ensure accuracy. Tubes prescriptions to hospital areas using correct codes and logs verification in ScriptPro/POSID. Fills mail prescriptions, separating those needing special handling or pharmacist verification. Uses SAVAHCS mail systems (e.g., USPS, UPS) to choose cost-effective shipping methods. Resolves special handling or address issues with pharmacists or patients. Packages and sorts mail accurately, ensuring proper handling and delivery method. Generates USPS/UPS shipping labels and verifies accuracy with another technician. Resolves delivery issues using VA systems or by contacting patients directly. Restocks meds for clinics and CBOCs using automation and restock reports. Uses policies and usage data to maintain proper stock levels. Inspects clinic storage areas, removes expiring meds, and restocks as needed. Ensures compliance with drug storage, signage, and security standards. Work Schedule: Rotating Shifts Monday through Friday between 7:00AM and 6:00PM, with rotating weekend (Saturday/Sunday 8:00AM-4:30PM and holiday coverage. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized