Summary
The Pharmacy Technician is assigned clinical duties & rotates through assignments in both inpatient & outpatient pharmacy - functioning independently within each area. Has complex functions within pharmacy service including inpatient medication preparation & distribution - sterile intravenous admixture preparation - automated equipment use & maintenance - filling of outpatient controlled substances in preparation for pharmacist verification - mail order reject assessment - & other complex duties.
Qualifications
*** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until April 30 - 2026 or until the position is filled. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be January 14 - 2026. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled. *** 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:
- 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)
- 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) Education or Experience
- None required
- 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 (GS-06) - the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
- OR National Healthcareer Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
- Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician - GS-07 (above full-performance) Experience
- Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-06)
- Assignments at the GS-06 level
- Fill orders - dispense/deliver medications using automated systems or provide technical customer service to Veterans related to prescription needs
- Duties will include delivery of medications to floors/patients - filling medications for the pharmacist to review - checking for expired medications - answering phones with appropriate disposition - preparing sterile products (when applicable) and assisting with basic inventory management such as putting up stock and identifying when medications need to be ordered
- Assignments at the GS-07 level
- The higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
- Pharmacy technicians at this level are nationally certified and can work autonomously using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties
- These pharmacy technicians mentor and train lower graded pharmacy technicians in the practice setting
- They assist advanced/ specialized pharmacy technicians and participate in performance improvement initiatives
- At this level - pharmacy technicians use independent judgement to perform the full range of duties in the pharmacy
- They also function as staff pharmacy technicians in various locations of the pharmacy - including pharmacy contact centers and other non-traditional pharmacy locations - with minimal oversight
- Certification
- Must hold an active national certification through either: PTCB as a CPhT
- OR NHA as a ExCPT
- Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
- In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles - practices - concepts and theories providing for sound independent work
- (b) Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent
- (c) Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team - Veterans and external customers
- (d) Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students
- (e) Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations - policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution
- (f) Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases
- Preferred Experience: PTCB Certified Prior experience as a pharmacy technician 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-7. Physical Requirements: This position provides services to patients and their families
- Incumbents must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others
- Normal work of the position requires visual acuity (with the ability to read typewritten characters without strain - corrective lenses permitted) - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - manual dexterity
- This position may require reaching above shoulder-level height and requires potentially moderate levels of lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds)
- This position requires long periods of sitting - standing and walking
- The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs.
Duties
- VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Responsible for computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent
- Resolves pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team - Veterans and external customers
- Dispenses medication or sterile products following all regulations - policies & procedures to ensure safe medication distribution
- Troubleshoots automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases
- Accurately interpret - fills - & prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications &/or medical supplies for pharmacist verification
- Maintains work areas in a clean & orderly condition by assuring that all stock and equipment are in assigned places & all shelves & counters are free of dust & debris in order to create optimal work areas
- Assures drugs & supplies are appropriately stored & secured according to USP & VA guidelines - including the storage of high-risk - look a-like sound a-like - hazardous - controlled substances - corrosive chemical - flammable liquids - & refrigerated items
- Receives - checks - rotates - & places in stock all items received from pharmacy procurement section & identifies & reconciles any discrepancies to assure correct items have been received
- Utilizes automation dispensing equipment available to the pharmacy staff following all safety & QA procedures
- Reports automation malfunctions timely the supervisor as appropriate
- Records expiration dates in the automatic prescription dispensing system upon receipt
- Perform monthly inspections to assigned areas to ensure proper storage of medications & soon to expired drugs are removed
- Completes inspection reports in compliance with regulatory requirements
- Compounds &/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile)
- This includes calculating & converting to proper weights & measures the amount of drug or solution to be used for final pharmacist verification
- Answers questions from pharmacy & non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution
- Identifies basic therapeutic problems - such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class & alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention
- Assists in training & orientation of new staff technicians - interns - & students
- Assumes an active role in the overall pharmacy-training program consisting of students - externs - interns - residents - & professional and non-professional staff members
- Participates in performance improvement initiatives for pharmacy
- Assists in quality improvement activities by participating in assessment & action teams that will improve service as assigned
- Completes all National - VISN - local - & Pharmacy mandatory trainings in a timely manner
- Maintains national certification with PTCB or ExCPT Complies with all VHA - Medical Center - & Pharmacy regulations - directives - policies - & procedures
- Accurately fills prescription items for wards using Automatic Replenishment reports
- Ensures all look alike - sound alike - high alert - refrigerated medications are stored properly according to manufactures recommendations and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) requirement
- Monitors refrigerator temperature on a daily basis in pharmacy service
- Assists with medication recalls within the pharmacy and healthcare system
- Correctly packages medications for shipment to patients or to Community Based Outpatient Clinics
- Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - Various rotating day shifts
- Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized
- Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized
- Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
- When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
- Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
- Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
- Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
- Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
- Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care
- Telework: Not available
- Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Functional Statement #: 59275-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.
