Pharmacy Technician (Outpatient)

Summary The Primary Purpose of the Position is: To accomplish all duties related to processing, preparing, and packaging medications and medical supplies for pick-up and mail, stocking, delivering, inventory, inspections, assembling clinic orders, prescription assembly, controlled substances distribution, and any other function related to pharmaceutical practices for outpatient care areas. Responsibilities VA Careers - Pharmacy: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties are but not limited to: Pharmaceutical Care: Interpret, fill, prepare, and package prescriptions and medical supplies for pharmacist verification. Dispense medications after pharmacist verification. Answer drug distribution questions and provide basic patient education (e.g., refill process). Maintain proper storage, inventory, and removal of outdated medications. Monitor refrigerator/freezer temperatures and reconstitute medications with accurate calculations. Operate, stock, and troubleshoot automated dispensing systems (Omnicell, ScriptPro, Parata). Process returned postal packages according to guidelines. Prescription Fulfillment: Correctly assemble prescriptions with proper drug, strength, quantity, and labels. Use barcode scanning for accuracy in filling medications. Support manual filling when automation is not used. Complete prescriptions in a timely manner. Verify patient identity and prescription accuracy at pickup. Package and process mailed prescriptions, including refrigerated items, using USPS/FedEx/UPS. Update patient information, generate shipping reports, and resolve mailing issues. Ward and Clinic Stock Management: Inventory and replenish ward/clinic stock at main and satellite locations. Use usage reports to determine proper stock levels. Fill medications for wards/clinics and ensure proper storage conditions. Inspect hospital areas, remove expired drugs, and ensure compliance with storage standards. Controlled Substances Activities: Maintain vault duties and document all controlled substance transactions per VA/DEA rules. Safeguard controlled substances, resolve discrepancies, and coordinate handoffs. Restock automated controlled-substance cabinets and verify inventory counts. Follow all laws and policies regarding storage, transfer, dispensing, and accountability. Administrative / Education / Training: Maintain clean, organized workspaces. Train new technicians, interns, and students. Perform duties across various technician levels as needed. Use VistA, EHR, and related systems for administrative processing. Enter and process prescription requests and renewals, including controlled substances. Participate in performance and quality improvement initiatives. Complete mandatory national, VISN, and local training. Communication: Maintain effective working relationships with providers, nursing, pharmacy staff, and others. Support VISN Clinical Contact Center activities (calls, secure messaging, chat, text, video). Provide patient assistance with refills, renewals, tracking, and pharmacy procedures. Document patient interactions in appropriate systems. Communicate professionally to ensure positive customer experience. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday (8:00 AM-4:30 PM or 8:30AM-5:00 PM); Tour may be further adjusted or extended (including holiday/weekend) to meet patient care needs. Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): 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 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 #: 51415 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements 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 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) 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). National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). GS-07: Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-06). Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work. (b) Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent. (c) Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers. (d) Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students. (e) Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution. (f) Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases. Preferred Experience: Minimum of 1-year previous outpatient pharmacy experience. Experience with pharmacy automation (ScriptPro, Omnicell, ScriptCenter). Knowledge and experience with pharmacy information/operating system. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting: (15-44 pounds); Moderate Carrying (15-44 pounds); Straight Pulling (less than 30 minutes); Pushing (less than 30 minutes); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 6 hours); Standing (up to 6 hours); Repeated bending (up to 1 hour); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; Hearing (aid permitted). 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: 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.