Pharmacy Technician

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; United States; Remote; USD 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading healthcare team as a Pharmacy Technician at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. In this role, you will manage patient care activities, ensuring high standards in medication distribution while being a key part of a dedicated interdisciplinary healthcare team. Certification and experience in pharmacy services are essential for this position.

Qualifications

• Proficient in spoken and written English.
• Minimum of 1 year experience for GS-07.
• Two years experience in a pharmacy call center preferred.

Responsibilities

• Technical management of patient care activities.
• Dispense medication or sterile products per regulations.
• Train pharmacy technicians and resolve medication issues.

Skills

Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles

Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues

Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians

Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment

Education

Certification from a recognized Pharmacy Technician body

Job description

The incumbent serves as a Pharmacy Technician in the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) Clinical Contact Center as part of an interdisciplinary healthcare team. The incumbent is a certified pharmacy technician who is efficient, motivated, focused on customer satisfaction and, who, under the authority of the VISN Clinical Contact Center Pharmacy Chief, or designee, is responsible for the technical management of patient care activities for pharmacy services in the Clinical Contact Center.
Duties

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and may be posted until to September 30, 2025. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be June 10, 2025 or when 50 applicants apply. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals in groups of 50 (in the order in which they applied) until position has been filled.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Requirements

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.
• English Language Proficiency: You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d)
• Education or Experience:
  • None required.
  • 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-0661-07

• Experience: 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).
• 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).
• 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:

• Two (2) years experience in a pharmacy call center setting

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-07.

Physical Requirements: Position requires visual acuity, adequate auditory perception, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. Position requires extended periods of sitting. The position may require some bending and carrying of items. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations and able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must meet Employee Health mandates as a condition of employment.