Pharmacy Technician (Outpatient Pharmacy)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; West Palm Beach (FL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System Pharmacy Service seeks a Pharmacy Technician (Outpatient) to support high-quality pharmaceutical care for Veterans under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. Duties include preparation, dispensing, distribution and med supplies management in/outpatient settings.

Eligible applicants may be considered pending licensure; appointment is contingent on meeting all requirements, with a GS-6 grade at full performance.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of Federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice.
• Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment.
• Knowledge of preparation, storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation.
• Knowledge of basic inventory procedures.
• Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel.

Responsibilities

• Fill orders and dispense/deliver medications using automated systems.
• Provide technical customer service to Veterans related to prescription needs.
• Assist with basic inventory management and stock handling.
• Check for expired medications and ensure proper storage and handling.
• Prepare sterile products when applicable and support pharmacist review.

Job description

The Pharmacy Technician (Outpatient) serves as an integral member of the Pharmacy Service at the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System, supporting the delivery of high-quality pharmaceutical care to Veterans. Working under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist, the incumbent performs a broad range of technical pharmacy duties involving the preparation, dispensing, distribution, and management of medications and pharmaceutical supplies.

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 with38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).

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.

Foreign Education.

To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.

Grandfathering Provision.

Pharmacy technicians employed in VHA on the effective date (11/07/23) of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.

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-06.

Education or Experience.

One year of experience equivalent to the next lower level.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs).

• Knowledge of Federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice.
• Knowledge of preparation, storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation.
• Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment.
• Knowledge of basic inventory procedures.
• Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel.

Assignments.

Pharmacy technicians at the full performance level may fill orders, dispense/deliver medications using automated systems or provide technical customer service to Veterans related to prescription needs. Duties will include delivery of medications to floors/patients, filling medications for the pharmacist to review, checking for expired medications, answering phones with appropriate disposition, preparing sterile products (when applicable) and assisting with basic inventory management such as putting up stock and identifying when medications need to be ordered.

Preferred Experience:

• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in a retail pharmacy, and outpatient pharmacy.
• Current Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) certification preferred.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-6.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service

Reference:

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