Pharmacy Technician

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Lubbock (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

The US Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Certified Pharmacy Technician to support stocking, dispensing, and inventory, including automated dispensing systems and unit-dose packaging. The role emphasizes accuracy, compliance, and collaboration with the pharmacy team.

Qualifications include U.S. citizenship, English proficiency, and potential certification (PTCB or ExCPT). Education/experience requirements vary; grandfathering provisions may apply for current VA staff.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories.
• Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions.
• Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with the healthcare team and customers.
• Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students.
• Ability to dispense medication following regulations and procedures.
• Ability to troubleshoot ADE or technology platforms/databases.

Responsibilities

• Stock, deliver, inventory, inspections, and assemble automated dispensing orders.
• Prepare prescription assembly and unit-dose packaging.
• Participate in controlled substances distribution.
• Dispense medications and support distribution activities.
• Support quality checks and regulatory compliance.

Skills

Pharmacy technician principles

Computerized prescription processing

Issue resolution

Train junior staff

Dispense medications

ADE troubleshooting

Education

None required

Job description

The Certified Pharmacy Technician accomplishes duties related to stocking, delivering, inventory, inspections, assembling automated dispensing orders, prescription assembly, controlled substances distribution, unit-dose drug packaging, dispensing, distribution, and any other function related to pharmaceutical practices.

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.
• Certification (GS-07 and above): 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).

Grade Determinations

Pharmacy Technician, GS-661-7

1. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-07 you must possess at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-06).
2. 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).
3. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs:
   • Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work.
   • Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent.
   • Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers.
   • Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students.
   • Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution.
   • Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases.

Preferred Experience:

• IV Compounding experience: both hazardous and non-hazardous.
• Previous VA experience.
• Experience working in a retail pharmacy.
• Experience working with automation.

Reference:

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-07.

Physical Requirements:

Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination.