Pharmacy Technician

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Duties included but not limited to:

1. Accurately interpret fills and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for Pharmacist verification.
2. 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 in order to create optional work areas.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Utilizes automation dispensing equipment available to the Pharmacy Service staff following all safety and quality assurance procedures. Reports automation malfunctions timely to Pharmacy Supervisor as appropriate.
6. Records expiration dates in the automatic prescription dispensing system upon receipt.
7. Performs 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.
8. 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:

• a) 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.
• b) 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.
• c) Uses standard protocols to determine an accurate expiration date for each batch prepared.
• d) 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.
• 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:

• Citizenship. Citizen of the United States: (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 section A paragraph 3g Education or Experience: A high school diploma or equivalent; or at least 3 months experience.
• Certification: Certification by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is required at grades GS-6 and above.
• 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.

1. * Ability to evaluate analyze workflow and coordinate work activities.
2. Ability to independently gather evaluate and analyze data to generate reports and/or for other projects/statistical purposes.
3. Knowledge of pharmacy policies and procedures sufficient to train and orient new employees and other staff
4. Comprehensive knowledge of the operation and care of specialized pharmaceutical equipment.
5. Comprehensive knowledge of the procurement and formulary process.
6. Comprehensive knowledge of investigational drug policies and procedures.
7. Comprehensive knowledge of controlled substance policies and procedures and the ability to identify and investigate discrepancies in these policies and procedures.
8. Comprehensive knowledge of and ability to analyze data in VA information systems.