Summary This position is in the Pharmacy Service located at the VA Bedford Healthcare System, MA. This position is Full-Time at 40 hours per week. Responsibilities The Pharmacy Technician will perform routine pharmacy functions under the supervision of a pharmacist. Pharmacy technicians prepare prescriptions by counting, pouring, weighing, measuring, and mixing the medication if necessary. Pharmacy technicians maintain patient profiles, prepare insurance claim forms, stock, and take inventory of medications. Pharmacy technicians prepare medications for inpatients in various settings, including sterile product preparation. Duties include but not limited to: Prepares medications for distribution to inpatient wards and clinics and outpatients. Reviews medications and supplies returned from units and clinics for restock or destruction in a timely manner. Prepares medications by counting, pouring, weighing, measuring, and mixing or compounding oral and intravenous medications. Fills orders, dispense/deliver medications using automated systems. Maintains patient profiles, prepare insurance claim forms, stock, and take inventory of medications Answers the telephones and answer questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution. Prepares medications for inpatients in various settings, including sterile product preparation. Operates, maintains, and cleans complicated pharmacy equipment. Other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Full-Time, Mon-Fri, 8:30am-5:00pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Available. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F06756 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized. Notifications: This position is in the Excepted Service. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. This position is a NAGE bargaining unit position. This position is covered by a special rate. Current or formal Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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: 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: (a) None required. (b)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: a. Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). b. 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). 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. Grade Determinations: GS-03 Pharmacy Technician - Experience/Education Requirement: 1. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-03 you must meet one of the following: a. One (1) year of post-secondary education. OR b. Six (6) months of general experience OR c. Student Technician. A student enrolled in an approved nationally accredited pharmacy technician program for an occupation identified in 38 U.S.C. 7405(a)(1)(A) or (B) may be appointed on a temporary full-time, part-time or intermittent basis under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. 7405(a)(1)(D) for a period not to exceed two years or the duration of the individual's program. GS-04 Pharmacy Technician - Experience/Education Requirement: 1. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-04 you must meet one of the following: a. Completion of two years of post-secondary coursework related to pharmacy (e.g., 12 semester hours of science and mathematics courses). OR b. Completion of one of the following: i. Six (6) months of experience, that demonstrated knowledge of medication or medical field practice. ii. Successful completion of a military or nationally recognized pharmacy technician education/training program. American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP), American Pharmacist Association (APHA), Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), PTCB or NHA are examples of acceptable professional organizations recognizing such training programs. NOTE: Training courses recognized by PTCB and NHA are not actual certifications. iii. One year of experience equivalent to next lower grade level. 2. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Ability to follow policies and procedures. b. Ability to maintain appropriate files. c. Ability to communicate with patients and other health professionals. d. Ability to follow both written and verbal instructions. e. Ability to operate office software/equipment to include, computers, software applications and printers. GS-05 Pharmacy Technician - Experience/Education Requirement: 1. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-05 you must meet one of the following: a. Successful completion of four years post-secondary education with courses related to pharmacy (e.g., 48 semester hours of science, mathematics, pharmacy) or a bachelor's degree. OR b. An associate's degree in pharmacy technician or technology (48 semester hours of concentrated pharmacy technician training). OR c. One (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. 2. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Knowledge of basic pharmacy operations. b. Knowledge of pharmaceuticals to perform duties in pharmacy functional areas. c. Knowledge of pharmaceutical nomenclature (including generic, chemical, and proprietary names of drug). d. Ability to fill prescriptions. e. Ability to use pharmacy information systems or basic pharmacy dispensing equipment with oversight. GS-06 Pharmacy Technician (Full Performance Level) - Experience/Education Requirement: 1. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-06 you must possess at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05). 2. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Knowledge of Federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice. b. Knowledge of preparation, storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation. c. Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment. d. Knowledge of basic inventory procedures. e. Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel. Preferred Experience: Preferred National Pharmacy Certification. Hospital Pharmacy Experience. Minimum of 2 years 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-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-06. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.