Pharmacy Technician

The technician will assist in both outpatient and inpatient Pharmacy areas. Inpatient functions include packaging unit dose medications utilizing unit dose packaging machine replenishing stock in automated dispensing machines conducting routine ward inspections preparing intravenous admixtures and delivering medications to inpatient and outpatient clinics. Outpatient functions include filling and labeling medications for verification by a pharmacist assisting patients at the pharmacy pick-up window cleaning and refilling the outpatient automated dispensing machines and preparing outpatient-controlled substances in accordance with facility policy for pharmacist verification. The incumbent performs all duties under the supervision of a pharmacist and is expected to acquire and maintain a high degree of accurate productivity and performance.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Duties include but not limited to:

• Accurately interpret 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 optimal work areas.
• Assures 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.
• 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 QA procedures. Reports automation malfunctions timely to the supervisor as appropriate.
• Perform monthly inspections to assigned areas to ensure proper storage of medications and soon to expired drugs are removed. 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 measures 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.
  • Proficiently operates equipment including but not limited to balances and mixing machines in the routing of manufacturing pharmaceutical products.

• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers 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.

• 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.

The incumbent is expected to accomplish all duties related to stocking delivering inventory inspections assembling ward orders prescription assembly controlled substances distribution sterile compounding (including hazardous drugs) unit-dose drug packaging dispensing distribution and any other function related to pharmaceutical practices. The incumbent performs all duties under the supervision of a pharmacist and is expected to acquire and maintain a high degree of accurate productivity and performance. The incumbent will assist with performance improvement activities to improve Pharmacy systems and processes to meet the goals of the service and the Medical Center. Lastly the technician(s) assigned to this role will be assigned to all areas duties and tours to cover all technical work assignments in the pharmacy and any other duties and work areas as assigned. The tour of duty for this position will be a rotating schedule through Inpatient and Outpatient Pharmacies to provide coverage to all shifts as determined by the respective section supervisor for the needs of Pharmacy Service.

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.
• 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: (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:
  • Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). OR
  • National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).

• PTCB as a CPhT. OR
• NHA as a ExCPT.

• Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles practices concepts and theories providing for sound independent work.
• Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent.
• Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team Veterans and external customers.
• Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students.
• Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution.
• Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases.