Pharmacy Technician

Summary Join the Pharmacy Service at the VA Augusta Health Care System as a GS-7 Pharmacy Technician, providing advanced inpatient and outpatient support. Pharmacy Technician's at this level prepare and dispense medications, perform sterile and non-sterile compounding, maintain inventory and automation systems, support controlled substance activities, and mentor junior technicians while ensuring safe, accurate, and efficient patient care. Responsibilities VA Careers - Pharmacy: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional As a GS-7 Pharmacy Technician with the VA Augusta Health Care System, you will support both inpatient and outpatient pharmacy operations and function with significant independence under a pharmacist's supervision.Major duties include but are not limited to: Medication Preparation & Dispensing Interpret, prepare, and fill prescription orders for pharmacist verification. Assemble and label outpatient prescriptions for window pickup and mail delivery. Perform bar-code verification on medications to ensure accuracy. Operate and troubleshoot automated dispensing systems and prescription packaging equipment. Compounding (Sterile & Non-Sterile) Compound oral, topical, and other non-sterile medications, ensuring accuracy in measurements, calculations, and documentation. Prepare sterile products-including hazardous, ophthalmic, cardioplegic, and IV admixtures-following USP <797>/<800> and VA standards. Maintain sterile technique, cleanroom quality assurance, and compounding records. Controlled Substances Support Restock automated controlled substance cabinets (e.g., Pyxis) and document all transactions per VA and DEA requirements. Perform inventory counts, proper chain-of-custody handling, and discrepancy resolution. Assist inspectors during accountability reviews. Inpatient Distribution & Inventory Management Prepare unit-dose medications, replenish emergency trays, and support automated unit-dose systems. Conduct monthly ward inspections to ensure proper drug storage and removal of expired items. Manage floor stock inventory, determine stock levels, and fill automated replenishment requests. Maintain repackaging records and ensure labeling accuracy per USP and VA standards. Outpatient Services Provide window dispensing with proper patient verification using VA systems. Package and ship prescriptions, including refrigerated and controlled medications, using USPS, FedEx, UPS, or other carriers. Update patient shipping information, resolve delivery issues, and ensure secure and damage-free packaging. Training, Team Support & Quality Improvement Train and orient new technicians, interns, and students. Support group productivity by assisting in workflow management across pharmacy areas. Participate in performance improvement, quality assurance activities, and service initiatives. Serve as a resource to staff by answering distribution questions and identifying potential therapeutic issues for pharmacist review. Safety, Compliance & Professional Requirements Maintain national certification (PTCB or ExCPT) and complete all mandatory training. Follow VHA, DEA, Joint Commission, USP, and local policies related to medication storage, security, hazardous materials, and infection control. Protect patient information and comply with all computer security requirements. Support environmental, safety, and emergency management programs. Work Assignments & Scope May rotate among inpatient, outpatient, sterile compounding, controlled substances, and other specialized areas based on service needs. Expected to perform the full range of pharmacy technician duties with minimal oversight and maintain high accuracy and productivity. May be assigned to additional pharmacy areas as required by the Chief of Pharmacy or Supervisor. Work Schedule: Rotating tours, weekends, and holidays. Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. 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 #: 61464F 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 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. Education or Experience: 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: 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). OR National Health career Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician, GS-07: Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. (e.g., filling and preparing medications using automated systems, sterile and non-sterile compounding support, inventory and automated dispensing equipment management, technical customer service to patients/clinicians, and compliance with pharmacy regulations/safety standards). Certification: For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: PTCB as a CPhT. OR NHA as a ExCPT. 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. 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). Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, typing, walking distances within the medical center, lifting/ carrying (up to 40 pounds) of pharmaceutical supplies, and bending/stooping/stretching. 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.