Pharmacy Technician (Inpatient)

The inpatient pharmacy technician performs all duties under the general supervision of a licensed pharmacist and is expected to acquire and maintain a high degree of accurate productivity performance and customer service. 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 designated duties. The employee will assist the pharmacist in providing optimal care and timely service in accordance with the mission vision and goals of the VA North Texas Health Care System and Pharmacy Service.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Pharmaceutical Care

• Interprets prepares and dispenses medications and medical supplies with high accuracy following established VA policies and safety standards.
• Ensures proper storage handling and inventory control of medications including high-risk refrigerated and look-alike/sound-alike items in compliance with USP and VA guidelines.
• Operates and maintains automated dispensing and unit dose packaging systems; identifies and resolves minor technical issues and escalates complex problems appropriately.
• Provides patient education within technician scope and responds to routine medication distribution inquiries from healthcare personnel.

• Prepares medication orders with correct drug strength dosage form quantity and labeling using established verification and safety checks.
• Inspects and verifies accuracy of packaged medications prior to pharmacist review.
• Supports timely and efficient medication distribution completing orders promptly and supplementing automated processes as needed.

• Performs ward and clinic inventory assessments determines replenishment needs and maintains appropriate stock levels based on usage reports and policies.
• Conducts inspections of medication storage areas ensuring compliance with security environmental and expiration standards.
• Removes expired or compromised drugs and ensures consistent adherence to VA and regulatory requirements.

• Assists in the preparation of sterile products-including IV admixtures syringes TPN ophthalmic preparations and hazardous. medications-using proper aseptic technique and USP 797/800 guidelines.
• Interprets medication orders performs calculations selects appropriate ingredients and documents compounding processes accurately.
• Inspects final sterile products for accuracy and quality and ensures appropriate beyond-use dating and recordkeeping.

• Documents controlled substance transactions accurately in accordance with VA and DEA regulations.
• Ensures secure storage proper inventory counts and compliant handoffs during restocking or transport.
• Identifies and reports discrepancies assists investigations and maintains strict accountability throughout controlled substance workflows.

• Maintains a clean organized and compliant work environment.
• Assists in training and onboarding of new technicians interns and students.
• Uses VA software systems (VistA CPRS and related tools) for clinical and administrative tasks.
• Participates in performance improvement quality assurance reviews and mandatory training requirements.
• Provides adaptable support in multiple pharmacy areas as assigned by leadership.

• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with pharmacists providers nursing staff and other departments.
• Communicates clearly and professionally to resolve issues and support positive outcomes for internal and external customers.

• 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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.

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:

• 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 - You must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 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 (GS-07 and above): 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).
  • National Health-career Association (NHA) Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).

• Employees may be reassigned promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
• Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/ registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/ certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
• Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

• In addition to meeting the basic requirements to qualify for the GS-07 you must possess at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-06). Pharmacy technicians 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.
• 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).
  2. National Health-career Association (NHA) Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).
• Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs:
  1. Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles practices concepts and theories providing for sound independent work.
  2. Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent.
  3. Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team Veterans and external customers.
  4. Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students.
  5. Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution.
  6. Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases.

• Minimum of 1-year previous inpatient hospital pharmacy experience
• Experience with pharmacy automation
• Knowledge and experience with pharmacy information/operating system