Clinical Pharmacist

VA Careers - Pharmacy: include but are not limited to:

Prescription Processing:

• Effectively utilizes and maintains proficiency with all computerized prescription processing systems to be able to appropriately process/review all medication orders.
• Verifies eligibility for Non-VA care Community Care Network prescriptions Non-VA urgent-care prescriptions and non-VA care hospital discharge prescriptions ensures non-VA providers are authorized and appropriately credentialed to prescribe medications before entering them into the system.
• Follows facility policies to enter/review Prescription Drug Monitoring program (PDMP) takes appropriate action and document review when necessary.
• Receives interprets and evaluates all electronic and/or written provider medication orders for both accuracy and appropriateness using acceptable pharmacy practice standards.

• 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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

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.
• Education. Graduate of an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited College or School of Pharmacy with a baccalaureate degree in pharmacy (BS Pharmacy) and/or a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. Verification of approved degree programs may be obtained from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education 20 North Clark Street Suite 2500 Chicago Illinois 60602-5109; phone: or through their website at: ACPE. (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.)
  • Graduates of foreign pharmacy degree programs meet the educational requirement if the graduate is able to provide proof of achieving the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Commission (FPGEC) Certification which includes passing the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT)
• Licensure. Full current and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a State Territory Commonwealth of the United States (i.e. Puerto Rico) or the District of Columbia. The pharmacist must maintain current registration if this is a requirement for maintaining full current and unrestricted licensure. NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct professional incompetence or substandard care or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the State for professional misconduct professional incompetence or substandard care are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. 7402(/)). Effective November 30 1999 this is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to licensed pharmacists on VA rolls as of that date provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license registration or certification.
  • Exception. Non-licensed pharmacists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment at the entry level as a Graduate Pharmacist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 2 years for a pharmacist that provides care under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. For grade levels above the GS-11 the candidate must be licensed.
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
• English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).

1. Experience Education and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. (NOTE: See exception to licensure requirement in subparagraph 2c(1) above.)
   • Assignment. Pharmacists at this grade level serve in a developmental capacity.

1. Experience or Education.
   • Experience: In addition to the basic requirements must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11). Experience at the GS-12 level includes assignment handles routine medication-related activities in accordance with local Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) and national policies and regulations. These include but are not limited to: reviewing interpreting and verifying medication orders for appropriateness; processing and filling medication orders; interacting with and making recommendations to other clinical staff regarding medication therapy ordered to ensure safe and effective care; reviewing the patients medications allergies labs and other pertinent information from the medical record to identify and solve medication-related problems; contacting providers as appropriate; documenting recommendations and interventions; providing refill extensions and partial medication supplies; taking health and medication histories; performing medication reconciliation; providing drug information; assisting in formulary management including therapeutic substitutions nonformulary reviews and medication usage evaluations; documenting and assessing adverse drug events (ADEs); assisting in medical emergencies; providing oversight of technical staff in all aspects of medication distribution. OR
   • Education: Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program.
2. And Pharmacists assigned to this position must FULLY demonstrate ALL the following KSAs in their resume:
   1. Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice.
   2. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff.
   3. Knowledge of laws regulations and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security.
   4. Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

1. At least 1 Year Experience with VA Pharmacy
2. Experience with VA systems such as CPRS VistA or BCMA
3. Proficiency with ScriptPro pharmacy automation (Omnicell OPTiFill)
4. Proficiency with handling VA community care prescription processing
5. Demonstrated commitment to customer service patient education and resolving issues promptly during independently staffed shifts.
6. Experience processing Prior Authorization requests
7. Strong communication skills for interacting with patients providers and interdisciplinary teams
8. Proficiency with drug utilization review medication reconciliation and ensuring safe effective medication use
9. Experience performing clinical interventions medication therapy management (MTM) and resolving drug therapy problems