Pharmacy Technician

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Tulsa (OK); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System in Tulsa seeks five Pharmacy Technicians. These roles involve duties with independent judgment, mentoring junior technicians, supporting specialized services, and participating in performance improvement across pharmacy settings.

This is an open continuous announcement until December 31, 2026. Citizenship, English proficiency, and national certification (PTCB or ExCPT) are required; education/experience combinations may qualify per VA standards.

Qualifications

• Citizenship requirement to be US citizen.
• Certification required: PTCB (CPhT) or NHA ExCPT for higher grade levels.
• English language proficiency for appointment.
• Education/experience combinations may qualify per VA standards.

Responsibilities

• Perform duties with independent judgment and minimal oversight.
• Mentor and train junior technicians and students.
• Support specialized pharmacy services and participate in performance improvement.

Skills

Pharmacy principles and independent工作

ADE troubleshooting

Team communication

Mentoring junior staff

Pharmacy procedures compliance

Customer and veteran interactions

Education

No formal education required

Certification: PTCB (CPhT) or ExCPT

Tools

Automated dispensing equipment (ADE)

PHARMACY IT systems

Job description

The Eastern Oklahoma VA Healthcare System is recruiting for five Pharmacy Technician positions. Pharmacy technicians perform duties with independent judgment and minimal oversight, mentor and train junior technicians, support specialized pharmacy services, and participate in performance improvement initiatives across pharmacy settings.

This is an open continuous announcement until December 31, 2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred until all vacancies are filled.

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.

Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).

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. For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: (1) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). OR (2) National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).

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).

GRADE DETERMINATIONS

In addition to the basic requirements for appointment in paragraph 5, VA HR staff must use the following criteria to determine the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.

Pharmacy Technician, GS-7

(1) Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

(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: (a) PTCB as a CPhT. OR (b) NHA as a ExCPT.

(3) 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.

(4) Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Pharmacy technicians at this level are nationally certified and can work autonomously using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties. These pharmacy technicians mentor and train lower graded pharmacy technicians in the practice setting. They assist advanced/specialized pharmacy technicians and participate in performance improvement initiatives. At this level, pharmacy technicians use independent judgement to perform the full range of duties in the pharmacy. They also function as staff pharmacy technicians in various locations of the pharmacy, including pharmacy contact centers and other non-traditional pharmacy locations, with minimal oversight.

Reference:

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

These vacancies are above the full performance level.

Physical Requirements:

The position requires moderate to extended periods of sitting, standing, walking, bending, stooping, stretching, reaching, lifting, pushing, and pulling. The employee may occasionally lift items weighing up to 30 pounds and must have average agility and dexterity.