Pharmacy Technician - Clinical

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair clinics in Des Moines, IA seeks a Clinical Pharmacy Technician to support laboratory value acquisition, chart reviews, order entry with pharmacist verification, and patient education. The role emphasizes accurate medication histories and safe workflow coordination under clinical pharmacists.

Candidates must meet VA requirements, hold national certification (PTCB/CPhT or ExCPT) and demonstrate strong English proficiency.

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship required; English proficiency
• Certification: must pass a national exam and hold active national certification (PTCB/CPhT or ExCPT)
• Knowledge of pharmacy concepts, policies and procedures
• Ability to train and orient staff on policies and procedures
• Experience coordinating workflow in a pharmacy setting (preferred)

Responsibilities

• Obtain, perform and monitor laboratory values and chart reviews
• Process medication history reviews and prescription orders with pharmacist verification
• Provide telephone logistical support and scheduling
• Enter progress notes (cosigned by pharmacists) and educational communications
• Review medical charts/action profiles for accuracy and safety

Skills

Pharmacy knowledge

Workflow coordination

CPRS/Cerner familiarity

Communication skills

Job description

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.

All requirements must be met by the close date of this announcement, 10/27/2026.

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:

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

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:

1. (a) PTCB as a CPhT. OR,
2. (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.