Pharmacy Technician

Description:

This position functions in the Inpatient Pharmacy section at the Seattle campus, primarily in the unit dose and sterile compounding areas. Work includes preparing sterile hazardous and non-hazardous compounded sterile preparations, medication distribution and inventory control, emergency crash cart replenishment, simple daily maintenance of automated dispensing equipment and interpreting data from pharmacy information systems.

Requirements:

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements :

Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).

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:

1. Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).

OR

1. National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).

Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

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).

Grade Determinations:

Pharmacy Technician, GS-06.

Education and Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower level

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the education or experience 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: Inpatient sterile compounding experience preferred. Prepare sterile hazardous and non-hazardous compounded sterile preparations (CSP's) using aseptic technique and safe handling of hazardous medications described in Chapters 797 and 800 US Pharmacopoeia.

Reference: VA Handbook 5005/159, Part II, Appendix G28, November 07, 2023.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-6.

Physical Requirements:
Physical demands include the following: repetitive motion activities requiring the use hands and fingers for extensive keyboarding and to open and close medication bottles; sitting or standing for 6 hours; moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds); reaching above shoulder; repeated bending up to 2 hours; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid permitted); mental and emotional stability.