Pharmacy Technician (Outpatient Pharmacy)

Veterans Health Administration • Long Beach, CA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Long Beach VA Health Care System is recruiting one Pharmacy Technician for its outpatient pharmacy. The incumbent prepares prescriptions by counting, pouring, weighing, measuring, mixing, packaging, and labeling medications, and performs other functions related to pharmaceutical practices.

The Pharmacy Technician verifies that patients receive the correct prescriptions using electronic systems such as VISTA, CPRS, and ScriptPro barcode scanning, and confirms that batched medication has an active prescription status. The technician reviews prescriptions for accuracy, selects products by trade or generic name, checks expiration dates, and assembles orders for pharmacist review. The role also provides prescription processing and status information to internal and external customers, including the pharmacy clinical contact center.

The position uses local mail-shipping programs, maintains rolling controlled-substance inventory and completes 72-hour inventory counts for outpatient vault and emergency cache inventories. It ensures drugs and supplies are stored and secured according to USP and VA guidelines, including high-risk, look-alike/sound-alike, hazardous, controlled, corrosive, flammable, and refrigerated items. The technician may assist with revising and implementing section procedures, assume a leadership role within the assignment, prioritize work, and support other pharmacy operations when workload permits.

This is a GS-07 position. The full-performance-level technician is nationally certified and may work autonomously using independent judgment, mentor and train lower-graded technicians, assist advanced or specialized technicians, participate in performance-improvement initiatives, and perform staff duties in varied pharmacy settings with minimal oversight. The work schedule has variable shifts. Telework is unavailable, and the position is not virtual.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required, subject to the stated statutory exception when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• For GS-07, one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
• For positions above the full-performance level, active national certification through either the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) or the National Healthcareer Association as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).
• Demonstrated knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts, and theories sufficient for sound independent work.
• Knowledge of computerized prescription processing and prescription or medication-order entry, or the electronic equivalent.
• Ability to resolve pharmacy or medication issues with healthcare-team members, Veterans, and external customers.
• Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students.
• Ability to dispense medications or sterile products in compliance with applicable regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment or technology platforms and databases.
• Ability to sustain standing, walking, lifting, typing, and other procedures needed to procure or deliver medications and supplies; work includes prolonged movement, standing, and pushing carts, recurring bending, stooping, stretching, and lifting or carrying supplies up to 40 pounds.
• Selected applicants must complete required pre-employment screening, onboarding, and background or security investigation, and serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• Applicants using foreign education to qualify must provide the required foreign-credential equivalency documentation; qualifying education must be from an appropriately accredited institution.

Nice To Haves

• Experience as a pharmacy technician providing direct patient care in an outpatient setting.

Responsibilities

• Prepare prescriptions by counting, pouring, weighing, measuring, mixing, packaging, and labeling medications.
• Use electronic systems, including VISTA, CPRS, and ScriptPro barcode scanning, to verify prescriptions and confirm active prescription status for batched medications.
• Review prescriptions for accuracy, select the appropriate trade-name or generic drug product, check expiration dates, and assemble orders for pharmacist review and checking.
• Provide internal and external customers, including the pharmacy clinical contact center, with information about prescription processing and status.
• Use local mail-shipping programs such as Endicia and FedEx.
• Maintain rolling controlled-substance inventory using the pharmacy automation system and complete 72-hour inventory counts for outpatient vault and emergency cache inventories.
• Store and secure drugs and supplies according to USP and VA guidelines, including high-risk, look-alike/sound-alike, hazardous, controlled, corrosive, flammable, and refrigerated items.
• Assist with revising and implementing section management procedures and assume a leadership role within the assignment when applicable.
• Prioritize workload to complete assignments on time and support additional pharmacy operation areas when workload is low or complete.
• At the full-performance level, mentor and train lower-graded pharmacy technicians, assist advanced or specialized pharmacy technicians, and participate in performance-improvement initiatives.
• Troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment or technology platforms and databases.
• Dispense medication or sterile products in accordance with regulations, policies, and procedures for safe medication distribution.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific eligibility depends on position type, and applicants are directed to contact the hiring agency for details.

What This Job Offers

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