Pharmacy Technician

Summary

This position is responsible for procurement and inventory activities at the Lubbock, Texas HCC. Pharmacy technicians may be assigned expanded distributive function assignments (i.e. filling of controlled substances). Functions include: dispensing of medications, stocking, and restocking of automated dispensing cabinets and other ward stock areas, maintaining quality control practices, and assigned quality control inspections, training of fellow staff, and other duties as assigned.

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Duties

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Major duties of the Pharmacy Technician at the full performance level (GS-06) 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 on Pharmacy's copy of prescription/order or documents required data in the automated dispensing machine/robot.
• Provides customer service concerning patient eligibility, prescription status, medication availability, co-payment charges and mailing status.
• Processes refill requests and verified prescriptions for mailing.
• Enters new and refill prescription data which may include correct drug, strength, dosage form, and quantity into the patient's medication profile (VistA or otherwise).
• Answers all questions within their level of expertise from Pharmacy and non-Pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution (e.g. drugs in stock, new drugs on order, formulary drugs, dosage forms available, etc.).
• Identifies basic therapeutic problems such as duplicate therapy, patient allergy interactions/contraindications, formulary adherence, quantity errors and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention.
• Monitors inventory needs in Pharmacy areas, relays this information to the Procurement Pharmacist/Technician.
• Conducts monthly ward inspection of assigned patient care/Pharmacy storage areas assuring proper storage (including temperature and humidity), stock, cleanliness and drug expiration.
• Operates, maintains, fills/refills, and troubleshoots complicated, specialized or automated Pharmacy equipment.
• Assist in drug accountability through the proper use of the Pharmacy inventory management system.
• Repackages bulk items such as tablets, capsules, liquids, ointments, etc. into specified quantities and various size containers.
• Opens and separates mail, which contains cash, checks and refill requests.
• Fills prescriptions, drug packages and supplies for distribution to wards, clinics and affiliated services which are checked by a pharmacist.
• Prepares prescriptions (controlled substances and non-controlled substances) for mailing through contract carriers, USPS, and finalizes processing through the latest mail label tracking software.
• Collects drug use evaluation data for quality improvement purposes.
• Assists in total quality improvement activities by participating in Medical Center and Pharmacy Service process assessment and action teams, and continually seeks to improve services by following local policies and procedures that assures compliance with all VA/VHA, FDA, DEA, TJC, OIG, or other governing body's recommendations and regulations.
• Assists with training of technicians, student technicians, and pharmacy students.
• Prepares, handles and has knowledge of investigational drugs and their policies and procedures.
• Performs all the duties of lower graded technicians and other duties as assigned, if required.
• When handling Hazardous Drugs, will follow facility policies and procedures to maintain compliance with USP 800.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, higher or unique qualifications, or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA

Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: Pharmacy Technician

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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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 ( 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.
• 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

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/17/2026.

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: Must be proficient in written and spoken English

Grade Determinations:

Pharmacy Technician, GS-03.

(1) Education and Experience.(a) One year of post-secondary education.

OR

(b) Six months of general experience.

OR

(c) 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 individual's program.

Pharmacy Technician, GS-04.

(1) Education and Experience.

(a) Completion of two years of post-secondary coursework related to pharmacy (e.g., 12 semester hours of science and mathematics courses).

OR

(b) Completion of one of the following:

• Six months of experience, that demonstrated knowledge of medication or medical field practice. OR
• 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. OR
• One year of experience equivalent to next lower grade level, GS-3, Reference, GS-3 Assignment: Employees at the entry-level are developmental trainees. The pharmacy technician trainee is performing routine pharmacy duties under direct supervision of higher graded technicians to learn the basic functions of pharmacy operations.

(2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the education or experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

(a) Ability to follow policies and procedures.

(b) Ability to maintain appropriate files.

(c) Ability to communicate with patients and other health professionals.

(d) Ability to follow both written and verbal instructions.

(e) Ability to operate office software/equipment to include, computers, software applications and printers.

Pharmacy Technician, GS-05.

(1) Education or Experience.

(a) Successful completion of four years post-secondary education with courses related to pharmacy (e.g., 48 semester hours of science, mathematics, pharmacy) or a bachelor's degree.

OR

(b) An associate's degree in pharmacy technician or technology (48 semester hours of concentrated pharmacy technician training).

OR

(c) One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-4, Reference, GS-4 Assignment: Employees at this grade level serve in a pharmacy technician developmental position. Pharmacy technicians at this level perform duties such as dispensing prescriptions at the pharmacy window and prepacking medications.

(2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the education or experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

(a) Knowledge of basic pharmacy operations.

(b) Knowledge of pharmaceuticals to perform duties in pharmacy functional areas.

(c) Knowledge of pharmaceutical nomenclature (including generic, chemical and proprietary names of drug).

(d) Ability to fill prescriptions.

(e) Ability to use pharmacy information systems or basic pharmacy dispensing equipment with oversight.

Pharmacy Technician, GS-06.

(1) Education or Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower level, GS-5, Reference, GS-5 Assignment: Pharmacy technicians at this developmental level perform all duties expected of employees at lower grade levels; however, they are expected to exercise greater judgement, require less supervision and operate in accordance with all established policies and procedures. Pharmacy technicians at this grade level will fill orders and dispense/ deliver medications using automated systems. These technicians require oversight of assigned duties by full performance level technicians and or pharmacists.

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

(a) Knowledge of Federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice.

(b) Knowledge of preparation, storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation.

(c) Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment.

(d) Knowledge of basic inventory procedures.

(e) Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel.

Preferred Experience:

• National Pharmacy Technician certification:
  
  
  • Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) OR
  • National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• Previous VA experience
• Experience working in a retail pharmacy
• Experience working with automation

Reference can be found at the VA Qualification Repository, VA Qualifications Standards - Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) GS-0661 Pharmacy Technician VA Qualification Standard dated November 7, 2023

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-6.

Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to lift and carry moderate amounts (15-44 pounds), have use of fingers, be able to walk for less than 2 hours and stand for less than 4. The incumbent must have near and far vision corrected, depth perception, be able to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors. Must be able to hear (hearing aid permitted) and be emotionally and mentally stable.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

NOTE: If your school was accredited by a body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the U.S. Department of Education website DAPIP | Homepage (ed.gov), you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.