Summary
Pharmacy Technicians at this grade level are nationally certified by PTCB or ExCPT and can work autonomously - using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties. The incumbent will stock - deliver - inventory - inspect - assemble ward orders - distribute controlled substances - perform sterile compounding (including hazardous drugs) - package unit-dose drugs - and perform any other function related to pharmaceutical practices.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
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 with38 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
- 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)
- Foreign Education
- To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
- 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)
- GRADE DETERMINATIONS
- In addition to the basic requirements for appointment above - VA HR staff must use the following criteria to determine the appropriate grade assignment of candidates
- Pharmacy Technician - GS-07
- (1) Experience
- Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
- (2) Certification
- For positions above the full performance level - the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: (a) PTCB as a CPhT
- OR (b) NHA as a ExCPT
- (3) 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
- 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: There are no physical requirements for this occupation per OCHCO Communications email to VA Handbook 5019 - updated on 4/17/2026.
Duties
- A RECRUITMENT/RELOCATION INCENTIVE MAY BE AUTHORIZD Medication Distribution System: Fill and prepare prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification
- Assure drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured according to USP and VA guidelines - including the storage of high-risk - look a-like - sound a-like - hazardous - controlled substances - corrosive chemical - flammable liquids - and refrigerated items
- Receive - check - rotate - and place in stock all items received from pharmacy procurement section and identify and reconcile any discrepancies to assure correct items have been received
- Record expiration dates in the automatic prescription dispensing system
- Compound and/or reconstitute oral or external medications (non-sterile)
- Identify basic therapeutic problems - such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alert the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention
- Assist in training and orientation of new staff technicians - interns - and students
- Participate in performance improvement initiatives for pharmacy
- Comply with all VHA - Medical Center - and Pharmacy regulations - directives - policies - and procedures
- Window Pick-Up: Verify the patient's identification following the Medical Center's policies (i.e. - double patient identifiers)
- Verify the patient receives the correct prescriptions by using VA software (i.e. - VISTA and barcode scanning)
- Verify the patient received all prescriptions (i.e. - refrigerated - controlled substances - bulk medications - etc.)
- Mail Packaging: Utilize and comprehend mail shipping programs used by the facility (i.e. - USPS - FedEx - UPS - etc.) for overnight delivery of non-controlled and controlled prescriptions
- Perform searches - update patient information - and generate shipping reports as requested by the supervisor
- Call patients to arrange delivery of refrigerated prescriptions and verify patients' address
- Package prescriptions appropriately to ensure packages are not damaged within transit
- Pharmacy Phone System: Maintain appropriate phone etiquette and professionalism
- Accurately collect and clarify patient information
- Understand when to alert pharmacists for issues
- Communicate information accurately in electronic health records
- Controlled Substance Activities: These functions will be supported in the absence of the controlled substance technician (i.e. - after hours - weekends - and leave)
- Interpret - fill - and ready prescriptions with appropriate medications for pharmacist verification
- Document all controlled substance related transactions as indicated by VA and DEA guidelines
- Ensure proper handoff occurs when receiving or delivering controlled substances - always assuring these medications are never left unsecured
- Unit Dose Medication Management: Prepare unit dose medications using pharmacy provided software
- Inspect packaged items for accuracy and suitability before submitting for final check - prior to distribution
- Trouble-shoot minor mechanical problems of all automated systems as they occur and coordinate resolution of more involved mechanical or software problems with Supervisor - vendor help desk - ADPAC - etc
- as appropriate
- Automatic Replenishment/Ward Stock: Inventory - assess - and determine the need for floor stock and external medication
- Inspect and document assigned hospital areas for medication storage
- Remove all expired and deteriorated drugs from the automated dispensing stations - stock shelves - and the unit dose automated dispensing systems
- Assure each inspected area meets established standards for appropriate drug storage conditions - including drug security for inspection and accreditation
- Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Mon - Fri - 8:00am to 4:30pm with occasional night - weekend - and holidays
- Compressed/Flexible: Possible after training
- Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: May be authorized
- Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
- 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)
- 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: Ad-hoc only
- Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Functional Statement #: 50415-F
- Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.
