Pharmacy Technician

VA Careers - Pharmacy: Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

As a Pharmacy Technician you will work within Pharmacy Customer Care under the direct supervision of the Supervisory Contact Representative for Pharmacy Customer Care. The incumbent accepts case referrals and provides guidance and assistance to Pharmacy Customer Care Contact Representatives. The Pharmacy Technician is responsible for Tier 2 activities associated with clinical medication questions that require clinical communications with staff such as physicians nurses pharmacists and other members of the health care team. The incumbent must perform pharmacy related clinical calculations associated with interpretation of physician instructions quantities dispensed days supply availability of refills and related calculations to identify inaccuracies oversights and misinterpretations of medication information. The incumbent will answer escalated Veteran inquires involving a broad range of topics related to medication refills medication renewals medication tracking backordered medications medication recalls emergency refills medications not received or on hold. The incumbent gathers evaluates analyzes data and applies management and leadership principles in researching the accuracy of Veteran medication inquiries. The incumbent evaluates clinical information from patient records and provide written communication to providers using progress notes that become a permanent part of the Veterans patient record.

Work Schedule: This call center operates 24/7/365 and your shift will be anytime between Sunday through Saturday including nights weekends and holidays. Hours are TBD.
Functional Statement #: 20681-A
Remote: This position is not authorized for Remote work.
Telework: This position may be authorized for Telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This position is not authorized for Virtual Work.
Definition of Virtual Work: Employee works outside of original hiring duty station at VA-owned or leased space.
Return to Office (RTO): RTO mandates are in affect and selectees will be required to report to in person work unless they have an approved exemption already in place.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• To be considered for this position you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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.
• 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.

• 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.

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. 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)

• Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07) and demonstrate the KSAs below.
• Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSA): In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  1. 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.) Note: See Specialized the Definitions Section of this qualifications standard.
  2. Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures.
  3. Ability to evaluate analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy.

1. Employees may be reassigned promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
2. Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/ registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/ certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.
3. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
4. Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
5. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.