Pharmacy Technician (Outpatient Pharmacy)

Veterans Health Administration • West Palm Beach, FL

6h • Onsite

About The Position

The Pharmacy Technician (Outpatient) serves as an integral member of the Pharmacy Service at the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System, supporting high-quality pharmaceutical care for Veterans. Under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist, the technician performs technical duties involving the preparation, dispensing, distribution, and management of medications and pharmaceutical supplies. The role supports outpatient prescription processing, patient service, inventory control, pharmacy technology operations, documentation, and medication safety.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen, subject to the stated exception for non-citizen appointments when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Must pass a background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants must complete an online onboarding process and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical examination.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Applicants tentatively selected for a testing-designated position are subject to urinalysis for illegal drug use; refusal results in denial of VA employment.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.
• For GS-6: one year of experience equivalent to the next lower level.
• Knowledge of federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice.
• Knowledge of medication preparation, storage, and distribution, including products 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.

Nice To Haves

• At least two years of experience in a retail pharmacy and outpatient pharmacy.
• Current Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) certification.

Responsibilities

• Review, interpret, and process outpatient prescriptions received from authorized healthcare providers in accordance with pharmacy policies and procedures.
• Dispense medications and supplies after a pharmacist's final verification, ensuring proper patient identification and compliance with applicable regulations.
• Deliver finished prescriptions to patients and caregivers using established identification procedures and customer service standards.
• Package and prepare prescriptions and pharmaceutical products for mailing and distribution.
• Receive, unpack, stock, rotate, and organize medications and pharmaceutical supplies.
• Maintain cleanliness, organization, and operational readiness of assigned pharmacy work areas.
• Identify, report, and help resolve equipment malfunctions, automation issues, and workflow concerns.
• Fill prescriptions using robotics, prescription packaging systems, automated dispensing equipment, and other pharmacy technology as assigned.
• Compound or reconstitute oral or external medications that do not require pharmacist review, and perform necessary calculations and conversions.
• Answer routine inquiries about medication availability, prescription status, and pharmacy services; refer clinical questions to a pharmacist when appropriate.
• Respond to patient telephone inquiries and prescription-related questions using established procedures and customer service practices.
• Assist in training and orienting lower-graded technicians, students, and new staff in the outpatient pharmacy.
• Process prescription refill requests using VistA and other VA pharmacy information systems, ensuring data accuracy and completeness.
• File, retrieve, and maintain prescription records and related documentation in accordance with record management requirements.
• Manage pharmaceutical inventory, including receipt, storage, stocking, rotation, and monitoring of inventory levels.
• Communicate stock shortages, backorders, and inventory concerns to procurement personnel and pharmacy leadership.
• Store pharmaceuticals according to manufacturer requirements, federal regulations, and VA policy.
• Remove unusable, expired, recalled, or deteriorated stock from active inventory and coordinate its appropriate disposition.
• Conduct and document monthly inventory inspections, including stock rotation, outdate reviews, and inventory control activities.
• Use automated pharmacy systems and software to support prescription processing, inventory management, reporting, and workload documentation.
• Protect sensitive patient information and comply with privacy, information security, and confidentiality requirements.
• Comply with VA policies, Pharmacy Service procedures, federal and state regulations, OSHA requirements, DEA regulations, and medication safety standards.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives, patient safety activities, and pharmacy service performance improvement efforts.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of pharmacy operations and the Department of Veterans Affairs mission.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to the employee and family, subject to position and eligibility rules.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal work or military service, if requested and approved before appointment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed