Pharmacy Technician

VA Careers - Pharmacy: Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Major Duties to Include:

• Reads and interprets prescriptions obtains proper medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form; determines proper amount and counts pours or measures the medications; affixes proper label; and records required data electronically or via the Pharmacys copy of prescription/order. After a final check by a pharmacist dispenses medication in a clinic ambulatory care dispensing window discharge situations or via mail.
• Assembles prescriptions with correct drug strength quantity auxiliary labels and prescription labels for window dispensing and mail delivery.
• 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.
• Provides pharmacy phone support with other departments and patients.

• 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.
• You may be required to serve a trial period.
• 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).

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:
  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.

• Grandfathering Provision:
  • A Pharmacy Technician employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (11/7/2023) 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. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it the following provisions apply:
    • 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.

1. In addition to meeting the basic requirements to qualify for the GS-03 you must meet one of the following:
   1. One (1) year of post-secondary education. OR
   2. Six (6) months of general experience OR
   3. Student Technician. A student enrolled in an approved nationally accredited pharmacy technician program for an occupation identified in 38 U.S.C. 7405(a)(1)(A) or (B) may be appointed on a temporary full-time part-time or intermittent basis under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. 7405(a)(1)(D) for a period not to exceed two years or the duration of the individuals program.

1. In addition to meeting the basic requirements to qualify for the GS-04 you must meet one of the following:
   1. Completion of two years of post-secondary coursework related to pharmacy (e.g. 12 semester hours of science and mathematics courses). OR
   2. Completion of one of the following:
      1. Six (6) months of experience that demonstrated knowledge of medication or medical field practice.
      2. Successful completion of a military or nationally recognized pharmacy technician education/training program. American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) American Pharmacist Association (APHA) Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) PTCB or NHA are examples of acceptable professional organizations recognizing such training programs. NOTE: Training courses recognized by PTCB and NHA are not actual certifications.
      3. One year of experience equivalent to next lower grade level.
2. Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
   1. Ability to follow policies and procedures.
   2. Ability to maintain appropriate files.
   3. Ability to communicate with patients and other health professionals.
   4. Ability to follow both written and verbal instructions.
   5. Ability to operate office software/equipment to include computers software applications and printers.

1. In addition to meeting the basic requirements to qualify for the GS-05 you must meet one of the following:
   1. Successful completion of four years post-secondary education with courses related to pharmacy (e.g. 48 semester hours of science mathematics pharmacy) or a bachelors degree. OR An associates degree in pharmacy technician or technology (48 semester hours of concentrated pharmacy technician training). OR One (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
2. Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
   1. Knowledge of basic pharmacy operations.
   2. Knowledge of pharmaceuticals to perform duties in pharmacy functional areas.
   3. Knowledge of pharmaceutical nomenclature (including generic chemical and proprietary names of drug).
   4. Ability to fill prescriptions.
   5. Ability to use pharmacy information systems or basic pharmacy dispensing equipment with oversight.

1. In addition to meeting the basic requirements to qualify for the GS-06 you must possess at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05).
2. Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
   1. Knowledge of Federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice.
   2. Knowledge of preparation storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation.
   3. Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment.
   4. Knowledge of basic inventory procedures.
   5. Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel.