The Pharmacy Technician (Informatics/Automation) position functions as the informatics/automation specialist in all the patient care areas of pharmacy service with primary focus in both the inpatient and outpatient pharmacy service. The Pharmacy Technician is responsible for the daily maintenance and oversight of all inpatient and outpatient pharmacy automated dispensing equipment.

Qualifications:

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:

Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).

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, (2) 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). GS-08

Grade Determinations :

In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements listed above, you must meet the following:

EXPERINCE

Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07) .

Experience includes:

plans, designs, analyzes, acquires, documents, tests, implements, integrates, maintains, or modifies computer systems or software; Evaluates and analyzes workflow, coordinates work activities; outpatient prescription filling; narcotic vault assignments; maintenance; Trains and orients pharmacy staff; archive automated dispensing data. AND, In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrated the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): 1. 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.) 2. Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures. 3. Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy.

Preferred Experience:

Previous experience as a pharmacy technician, usually a minimum of 4 years in a health system or retail pharmacy setting. 1. Experience with pharmacy automation such as Pyxis, ScriptPro, Parata, etc. 2. Understanding of pharmacy software systems- Prior pharmacy technician management, lead technician, or role in training staff preferred. 3. Prior experience with Cerner/Oracle Health preferred

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

Physical Requirements:

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.