Pharmacy Technician - Clinical

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Des Moines, IA seeks a Clinical Pharmacy Technician to support the Pharmacy Department’s clinical operations. The role includes medication history reviews, data entry with pharmacist verification, scheduling, and patient education under pharmacist supervision.

The position emphasizes accurate documentation, use of electronic health records, and coordination of CITC and clinic duties in a full-time, on-site setting.

Qualifications

• US citizenship requirement per VA policy.
• No formal education/experience required for some grades.
• National certification may be required for higher grades (CPhT or ExCPT).
• English proficiency required for appointment.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical support and scheduling for Pharmacy operations.
• Enter medication orders and Lab values with pharmacist verification.
• Perform medication history reviews and CPTC CITC duties.
• Communicate with pharmacists and other staff regarding patient care and lab results.
• Document activities in the patient record and pharmacy system.
• Assist with patient education and follow-up as needed.

Skills

Communication skills

Professional writing

Training and orientation

Education

No formal education required

Tools

Cerner/CPRS

Job description

Summary

Clinical Pharmacy Technician The primary functions of the Clinical Pharmacy Technician include obtaining - performing - and monitoring laboratory values - medical chart/action profile reviews - telephone logistical support - scheduling - entering progress notes (signed/cosigned by clinical pharmacists) - medical chart/action profile reviews - performing medication history reviews - prescription order entry (with pharmacist verification) - and supplemental patient education communication.

Summary

Clinical Pharmacy Technician The primary functions of the Clinical Pharmacy Technician include obtaining - performing - and monitoring laboratory values - medical chart/action profile reviews - telephone logistical support - scheduling - entering progress notes (signed/cosigned by clinical pharmacists) - medical chart/action profile reviews - performing medication history reviews - prescription order entry (with pharmacist verification) - and supplemental patient education communication.

Qualifications

All requirements must be met by the close date of this announcement - 10/28/2026.

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: 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: 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 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: GS-8 Pharmacy Technician Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level - GS-7. AND 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
• AND Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Comprehensive knowledge of concepts - principles - methodology and policies in a specialized area or section of pharmacy (such as sterile compounding - controlled substances - automation - clinical pharmacy - contact center - etc.)
• (b) Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures
• (c) Ability to evaluate - analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy
• Preferred Experience: Proficiency with medication order entry/transcription
• ability to write and communication professionally
• familiarity with CPRS - Cerner or both
• proficiency with accurate and timely completion of self-directed work
• Three years experience as a pharmacy technician preferred
• 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-8. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include - but are not limited to: The Clinical Pharmacy Technician (CPT) shall provide support for clinical operations of the Pharmacy - including Care In the Community (CITC) prescription triage and acceptance - electronic health record modernization tasks and subsequent duties - clinical support and scheduling in the Pharmacy Centralized Anticoagulation Clinic - and supporting assigned Clinical Pharmacists and Clinical Pharmacist Practitioners
• All clinical decision making will first be reviewed by the Clinical Pharmacist and/or Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner
• All assigned clinical activities and functions shall be completed in accordance with approved protocols or procedures
• Assigned activities include: Clinical Activities: The Clinical Pharmacy Technician shall provide and support the clinical operations of the Pharmacy Department
• Assigned activities may include: 1) Chart review and confirmation of active/approved CITC consults and initial acceptance/rejection of CITC prescriptions
• 2) Clinic duties which entail daily patient appointment review and monitoring of clinic flow to ensure timely patient visits
• 3) Conducts patient interviews - including medication history - effectiveness of medications - and need for refills
• 4) Routinely reviews computer medication profile for prescription duplication - therapeutic duplication - prescription noncompliance - and allergies/adverse drug reactions
• 5) Reports completed medication history reviews to assigned clinical pharmacist for evaluation
• 6) Routinely reviews laboratory monitoring reports for selected disease states and identifies patients with lab values beyond normal limits
• Reports identified patients to assigned clinical pharmacist for evaluation
• 7) Routinely performs patient medical chart and medication profile reviews to identify poly-pharmacy situations
• Reports identified patients to assigned clinical pharmacist for evaluation
• 8) Obtains and assesses information on compliance - medication dosages - medication changes - alcohol consumption - smoking - bleeding symptoms - and general state of health
• Communicates this information to the clinical pharmacist
• 9) Enters medication and - when applicable and appropriate - laboratory orders for verification/signature by pharmacist
• 10) Provides supplemental reinforcement education for patients concerning operational issues or need for therapy compliance
• 11) Runs required reports and reviews data for input by clinical pharmacist
• 12) Documents clinical and operational activities as assigned
• 13) Utilizes population health to identify patients appropriate for comprehensive medication management provided by clinical pharmacist practitioner
• Technical duties include completing electronic progress notes - scheduling appointments - completing consults - and documenting data in the Pharmacy record or the patient electronic medical record
• i
• Communicates to the Clinical Pharmacist and/or Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner any changes in medications/diet - any evident reason for changes in INR value - and any abnormal laboratory findings
• Also communicates with other staff (including providers and nursing personnel) any complications of anticoagulation therapy or other problems - when appropriate
• ii
• Provides telephone support involved in rescheduling patients who have missed appointments - phone interviews of patients - and triaging incoming phone calls from patients - their family members or other health providers
• Work Schedule: Full-time
• 0730-1600 - 0800-1630 Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized 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) 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 #: 00000