Summary

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information - refer to Required Documents below. The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) serves in comprehensive medication management (CMM) needs for patients as a Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner (CPP). The CPP functions as the custodian - distributor - and consultant for pharmaceutical agents and adjunct therapy - including their national uses and appropriate administration.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 12/05/2025.

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 (1) 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: (312) 664-3575 - or through their Web site at: http://www.acpe-accredit.org/
• (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program
• Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.) (2) 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(f))
• 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
• English Language Proficiency
• Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• 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-13 Grade Determination: Experience
• In addition to the GS-12 requirements - must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• Experience includes: 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 patient's 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
• knowledge of professional pharmacy practice
• ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff
• knowledge of laws - regulations - and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security
• and - skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies - including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters
• Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
• The clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) functions at the highest level of clinical practice - works independently under their scope of practice as defined by the individual medical center to directly care for patients
• A CPS plays a defined role in budgetary execution and serves as a mid-level provider who functions to initiate - modify or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services
• This includes - but is not limited to - the following: designing - implementing - assessing - monitoring and documenting therapeutic plans utilizing the most effective - least toxic and most economical medication treatments
• helping achieve positive patient centric outcomes through direct and indirect interactions with patients - providers - and interdisciplinary teams in assigned areas
• performing physical assessments
• and ordering laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy
• Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs: a
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions
• b
• Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area
• c
• Ability to solve problems - coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise
• d
• Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy
• e
• Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies - including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters
• Preferred Experience: PGY-2 Primary Care Residency (preferred) or PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency (minimum required) Comprehensive knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy such as quality assurance/utilization review - informatics systems - drug information - etc
• This level of knowledge is usually characterized by at least 1 year of experience in a specialized clinical area or advanced training/certification
• Comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutics - pharmacokinetics - pharmacodynamics - pharmacoeconomics - and pharmacotherapeutics
• This level of knowledge is characterized by at least 1 year of experience in a specialized clinical area or advanced training/certification
• Extensive skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters
• Ability to design specific treatment regimens based on specific disease states for mental health patients to establish appropriate therapeutic outcomes
• 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-13
• Physical Requirements: Ability to distinguish basic colors
• Some work may require movement between offices - hospitals - warehouses - and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work
• Work may also require walking/standing - in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site
• Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.

Duties

• Clinical Specialty Practice-Patient Care Skills: Interfaces with physicians in the design of the veteran's treatment regimen
• Collaboratively works in the assigned clinic area under a scope of practice designing comprehensive medication management for patients
• Serves as an authoritative information source on drugs and their utilization in therapy
• Evaluates the drug literature by analysis of experimental design and methodology - to compare therapeutic regimens and roles for new drugs
• Designs dosage regimens for current pharmacokinetics principles and specific patient parameters
• From a verbal or written patient presentation of signs - symptoms - laboratory tests and diagnoses - recognize and list important medical problems - disease states - symptoms - or abnormal laboratory values - which may necessitate altering the therapeutic regimen
• Establish and expand the patient database through interpreting the drug history - medical history - physical examination - and progress notes
• Designs a therapeutic regimen or plan - based on patient-specific information - which includes establishing a therapeutic endpoint - selecting an appropriate drug and related therapy and establishing an appropriate dosage regimen
• Monitors and assesses therapeutic and adverse effects of drug therapy (including drug interactions)through selection and evaluation of physical and laboratory parameters
• Administrative: Receives and completes pharmacy consults timely
• Perform administrative duties required for performance measures or improvement activities - compliance with accrediting organizations - or other duties as assigned
• Submits return to clinic (RTC) orders as clinically indicated
• Works with other services to explore - organize - and implement interdisciplinary programs to enhance patient care
• Assists in the training of new pharmacy staff
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m
• - 4:30 p.m
• (Alternate schedules may be necessary to meet the needs of the organization.) Telework: Ad-hoc Available Virtual: This is not a virtual/remote position
• Functional Statement #: 53681-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized