Pharmacy Technician; Outpatient Pharmacy

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

Education or Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower level.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following 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.

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.

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.

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.

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). Standards/.