Summary
The Pharmacy Technician assists the Pharmacist in providing optimal care and timely service in accordance with the mission - vision - and goals of the EPVHCS and Pharmacy. The Pharmacy Tech accomplish all duties related to stocking - delivering - inventory - inspections - assembling ward orders - prescription assembly - controlled substances distribution - hazardous drugs - unit-dose drug packaging - dispensing - distribution - blister packaging nursing home medications - and other related functions.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement -05/06/2026.
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
- Physical Requirements
- See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
- English Language Proficiency
- Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - this part Certification
- For positions above the full performance level - 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)
- 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)
- Preferred Experience: One to two years of experience working with medication formulary process including: prior authorization familiarity - non-formulary medication reviews - placing consults in electronic medical records - medication utilization management - formulary terminology - and communicating with healthcare providers
- One to two years of experience working with medication Automated Dispensing Cabinets including trouble shooting - managing inventory - and restocking medications
- Grade Determinations: GS-7 Experience - Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6) and demonstrate the KSAs below
- GS-7 KSAs - You must meet the following Knowledge - Skills - and or Abilities
- (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
- Creditable Experience - To be creditable - a candidate must possess the required knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with the scope of pharmacy technician practice
- The candidate's experience must be evidenced by active professional practice
- (Active professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional pharmacy technician.) For reference - GS-6 Assignment: Pharmacy technicians at the full performance level may 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
- Reference: GS-6 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
- References: VA Handbook 5005/159 - Appendix G28 - dated November 7 - 2023
- The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07
- The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-07
- Physical Requirements: A pre-placement examination will be required to be able to determine if the incumbent is able to safely operate a government vehicle
- The following requirements must be met: distant vision 20/40 in one eye with or without correction - field of vision 70 degrees - ability to distinguish red - green and amber - whispered voice at five feet - or average hearing loss of not greater than 40 dbs
- at 500 - 1000 and 2 -000 Hz.
Duties
- Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Pharmacy Technician: Accurately interprets - fills - and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification
- Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition by assuring that all stock and equipment are in assigned places and all shelves and counters are free of dust and debris to create optional work areas
- Assures drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured according to USP and VA guidelines - including the storage of high-risk medications - look-alike and sound-alike medications - hazardous drugs - controlled substances - corrosive chemical - flammable liquids - and refrigerated items
- Receives - checks - rotates - and places in stock all items received from pharmacy procurement section and identifies and reconciles any discrepancies to assure correct items have been received
- Utilizes automation dispensing equipment available to the pharmacy staff following all safety and Quality Assurance procedures
- Reports automation malfunctions timely the supervisor as appropriate Records expiration dates in the automatic prescription dispensing system upon receipt
- Performs monthly inspections of assigned areas to ensure proper storage of medications and removal of soon to expire drugs
- Completes inspection reports in compliance with regulatory requirements
- Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile)
- This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measuring the amount of drug or solution to be used for final pharmacist verification
- Manufactures products requiring compounding - whether made in large batches for more than one patient or in small batches to fill a single prescription or drug order
- Correctly interprets physician orders - selects - and measures appropriate ingredients - mixes ingredients in a safe and effective manner - inspects the final product for accuracy - labels the product - maintains records of the manufacturing process - and attains a final check by a pharmacist
- Uses standard protocols to determine an accurate expiration date for each batch prepared
- Proficiently operates equipment including but not limited to balances and mixing machines in the routing of manufacturing pharmaceutical products
- Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution
- Identifies basic therapeutic problems - such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention
- Assists in training and orientation of new staff technicians - interns - and students
- Assumes an active role in the overall pharmacy-training program consisting of students - externs - interns - residents - and professional and non-professional staff members
- Demonstrates the ability to work under a variety of circumstances to maximize group productivity and quality
- Performs duties of all lower grade technicians as needed
- Participates in performance improvement initiatives for pharmacy
- Assists in quality improvement activities by participating in assessment and action teams that will improve service as assigned
- Assists higher level technicians as needed
- Completes all National - VISN - local - and Pharmacy mandatory trainings in a timely manner Duties are continued in the Education Section of this announcement
- Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 07:30am - 4:00pm Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay - 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 (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Available (Ad Hoc) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Functional Statement #: Pharmacy Technician Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
