Pharmacy Technician - Inpatient

This position is for a certified inpatient pharmacy technician (GS-0661-07) at the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System. The incumbent functions autonomously under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist to provide optimal patient care, mentoring lower-grade technicians in the process.

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws

Primary Duties

• The incumbent is expected to accomplish all duties related to stocking, delivering, inventory, inspections, assembling ward orders, prescription assembly, controlled substances distribution, sterile compounding (including hazardous drugs), unit-dose drug packaging, dispensing, distribution, and any other function related to pharmaceutical practices.
• Performs compounding of sterile preparations, including hazardous drugs, following USP 797/800 guidelines and performing necessary calculations for IV solutions.
• Manages and operates complex pharmacy equipment (e.g., ADCs, Pyxis, ATP Profile) to fill, package, and dispense unit-dose medications, ensuring accuracy through final reviews and proper documentation.
• Monitors, replenishes, and inspects medication storage areas and automated dispensing stations in wards, ensuring drug security and compliance with TJC requirements.
• Receives and stores pharmaceuticals, manages stock rotations for expiration, communicates shortages, and coordinates the disposition of unusable products.
• Assists in the orientation and training of new technicians, interns, and students while maintaining accurate records and providing professional customer service.
• Maintains strict pharmacy security, handles hazardous materials according to OSHA/TJC policies, and adheres to infection control procedures.

Work Schedule: Rotating Tours (days, evenings, overnights, holidays, and weekends)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 41219F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

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).
• 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).
• 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).

• Grandfathering Provision. Pharmacy technicians employed in VHA on the effective date 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.
• 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.

Grade Determinations:
In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-6 you must possess at least 1 year of experience at the next lower level (GS-5), and must fully meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs), which are:

• Knowledge of basic pharmacy operations.
• Knowledge of pharmaceuticals to perform duties in pharmacy functional areas.
• Knowledge of pharmaceutical nomenclature (including generic, chemical and proprietary names of drug).
• Ability to fill prescriptions.
• Ability to use pharmacy information systems or basic pharmacy dispensing equipment with oversight.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience/KSAs above, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs at the GS - 6 level:

• 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.
• Preferred Experience: Inpatient pharmacy technician experience of at least 3 years and familiar with sterile and non-sterile compounding, working with Automated Dispensing Cabinets, medication tray replenishment, and unit dose medication preparation.

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-7.

Preferred Experience: at least one year of related work experience that demonstrates the skills and abilities needed for successful performance in this position.

Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, typing, walking distances within the medical center, lifting/carrying (up to 50 pounds) of pharmaceutical supplies, and ending/stooping/stretching. Requires ability to sit in front of a computer performing searches and data entry for hours at a time..

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).

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS7.

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.