Pharmacy Technician (Outpatient Pharmacy)

Clarification from the agency

Open to the public. Due to a staffing shortage for FY2026, veterans' preference is waived for this recruitment. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws

Major Duties

• Reviews, interprets, and processes outpatient prescriptions received from authorized healthcare providers in accordance with established pharmacy policies and procedures.

• Dispenses medications and supplies after final verification by a pharmacist, ensuring proper patient identification and compliance with all applicable regulations.

• Delivers finished prescriptions to patients and/or caregivers using established patient identification procedures and customer service standards.

• Correctly packages and prepares prescriptions and pharmaceutical products for mailing and distribution.

• Assists with receiving, unpacking, stocking, rotating, and organizing medications and pharmaceutical supplies.

• Maintains cleanliness, organization, and operational readiness of assigned pharmacy work areas.

• Identifies, reports, and assists in resolving equipment malfunctions, automation issues, and workflow concerns.

• Fills prescriptions utilizing robotics, prescription packaging systems, automated dispensing equipment, and other pharmacy technology resources when assigned.

• Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications that do not require pharmacist review and performs calculations and conversions necessary to prepare medications accurately.

• Answers routine pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical inquiries regarding medication availability, prescription status, and pharmacy services, referring clinical questions to a pharmacist when appropriate.

• Responds to patient telephone inquiries and prescription-related questions using established pharmacy procedures and customer service practices.

• Assists in training and orienting lower-graded pharmacy technicians, students, and new staff members within the outpatient pharmacy.

• Processes prescription refill requests utilizing VistA and other VA pharmacy information systems while ensuring data accuracy and completeness.

• Files, retrieves, and maintains prescription records and related pharmacy documentation in accordance with record management requirements.

• Performs duties associated with inventory management, including receipt, storage, stocking, rotation, and monitoring of pharmaceutical inventory levels.

• Communicates stock shortages, backorders, and inventory concerns to procurement personnel and pharmacy leadership to minimize interruptions in patient care.

• Receives and stores pharmaceuticals in accordance with manufacturer requirements, federal regulations, and VA policy.

• Removes unusable, expired, recalled, or deteriorated stock from active inventory and coordinates appropriate disposition procedures.

• Conducts and documents monthly inventory inspections, including stock rotation, outdate reviews, and inventory control activities.

• Utilizes automated pharmacy systems and pharmacy software applications to support prescription processing, inventory management, reporting, and workload documentation.

• Protects sensitive patient information and maintains compliance with privacy, information security, and confidentiality requirements.

• Ensures compliance with all applicable VA policies, Pharmacy Service procedures, federal and state regulations, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements, DEA regulations, and medication safety standards.

• Participates in quality improvement initiatives, patient safety activities, and pharmacy service performance improvement efforts designed to enhance medication management and customer service outcomes.

• Performs other duties as assigned in support of pharmacy operations and the mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Work Schedule: Rotating shifts that may include Monday through Friday, weekends, and holidays based on the needs of the service.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 41217F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• 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.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

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 with38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).

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.

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.

Grandfathering Provision. Pharmacy technicians employed in VHA on the effective date (11/07/23) of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for appointment in paragraph 5, VA HR staff must use the following criteria to determine the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.

Pharmacy Technician, GS-06.
Education or Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower level.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of Federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice.
• Knowledge of preparation, storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation.
• Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment.
• Knowledge of basic inventory procedures.
• Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel.

Assignments. 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.

Preferred Experience:

• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in a retail pharmacy, and outpatient pharmacy.
• Current Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) certification preferred.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-6.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Other (2)
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

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