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Pharmacy Technician

Veterans Health Administration

Job Location:

Chillicothe, IL - USA

Yearly Salary: USD 57503 - 57503

Posted: 6 October 2026 (4 days ago)

Application Deadline: 3 January 2027

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Summary

The Pharmacy Technician position is located at the Chillicothe VA Medical Center in the Pharmacy Service Line. The Pharmacy Technician will assist the pharmacist in providing optimal care and timely service in accordance with the mission vision and goals of the Chillicothe VA Medical Center and Pharmacy.

Duties

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Accurately interpret fills and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification.
Assures drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured according to USP and VA guidelines including the storage of high-risk look a-like sound a-like hazardous controlled substances corrosive chemical flammable liquids and refrigerated items.
Follow USP 797/800 Guidelines for the compounding of all sterile preparations.
Inspects packaged items for accuracy and suitability before submitting for final check prior to distribution to hospital areas.
Assures repackaged dosage forms are labeled according to USP and VA standards and attains a final review by pharmacists.
Maintains repackaging records that assures all regulatory and review standards are met.
Receives checks rotates and places in stock all items received from pharmacy procurement section and identifies and reconciles any discrepancies to assure correct items have been received.
Utilizes automation dispensing equipment available to the pharmacy staff following all safety and QA procedures. Reports automation malfunctions timely the supervisor as appropriate.
Records expiration dates in the automatic prescription dispensing system upon receipt.
Performs monthly inspections to assigned areas including Community Based Outreach Clinics (CBOCs) as requested to ensure proper storage of medications and soon to expired drugs are removed.
Assists in training and orientation of new staff technicians interns and students.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Weekend and Holiday shifts 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. rotated amongst staff.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
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). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience.
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 $144000 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 #: 92662-A
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Conditions of employment

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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
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 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.

Qualifications

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: Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized 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: 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-07
Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements you must possess at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-06).
Certification: 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.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07.

Physical Requirements: Work is performed primarily in the inpatient pharmacy and outpatient care areas where there is potential for exposure to communicable diseases. Such areas are adequately heated and ventilated and safety precautions are some cases dealing with anti-neoplastic drugs may expose the incumbent to hazardous and toxic agents. The incumbent works with drugs/chemicals and must exercise precautions to avoid accidental contact to the skin eyes and lungs.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Additional information

VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care you will operate in a model with three core elements seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veterans community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor Americas Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38 and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations Security and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Required Experience:

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