Pharmacy Technician

Description:

This Pharmacy Technician position is located at Cape Coral, FL. At this grade level, technicians are nationally certified by PTCB or ExCTP and can work independent judgement to perform a full range of duties. Pharmacy technicians at the GS-7 level can mentor or train lower grade technicians in the practice setting. Assigned work areas are not restricted to the inpatient or outpatient pharmacies. The technician may be assigned to expanded Pharmacy Service areas as deemed by the Chief.

Requirements:

Applicants must meet the requirements by the closing date of this announcement 09/15/2025

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

• 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 VA policy.)
• English Language Proficiency. Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a of VA Handbook 5005.
• Experience and/or Education . None required.
• Certification. For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either:
  • Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
  • OR
  • National Health career Association (NHA) as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).
  • MUST SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION.

Pharmacy Technician, GS-07 GRADE DETERMINATIONS In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.

Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6) Examples of experience include filling orders, dispense/deliver medications using automated systems or provide technical customer service to Veterans related to prescription needs. Duties will include 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.

Certification. For this grade level, all applicants must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either:

• Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT),

OR

• National Health career Association (NHA), as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).

MUST SUBMIT DOCUMENTS WITH APPLICATION.


While we no longer require essay-style responses to our Knowledge's Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics (KSAOs), you must be able to demonstrate that you possess the (below) competencies which are necessary to perform the work of the position. Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training; otherwise, we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim. If selected, you may be required to submit narrative responses then. These are the KSA's for this position and grade level:

• 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.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience compounding sterile products using aseptic technique. Demonstrated competency in preparing sterile medications accurately and safely, following stringent aseptic guidelines.
• Experience filling and troubleshooting Pyxis. Proficiency with Pyxis automated dispensing systems, including the ability to effectively fill, pend, load, manage inventories, utilize reports, and troubleshoot any operational issues.
• Experience working in a large, complex hospital medical center as a pharmacy technician, with outpatient experience.
• Experience preparing and dispensing medications.
• Current active Florida Pharmacy Technician License
• Competence in preparing and dispensing unit dose medications accurately and efficiently. This includes ensuring proper labeling, prepackaging, and adherence to protocols and regulations.

Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 pounds and over), Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds), Light lifting (under 15 pounds), Heavy carrying (45 pounds and over), Moderate carrying (15-44 pounds), Light carrying (under 15 pounds), Straight pulling (2 hours), Pushing, Reaching above shoulder, Use of fingers, Both hands required, Walking (up to 4 hours), Standing (prolonged), Repeated bending, Climbing, use of legs and arms (infrequent), Operation of motor vehicle, Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, Specific visual requirement (Ability to read fine print on labels), Depth perception, Ability to distinguish basic colors, Hearing (aid permitted), Clear Speech, Emotional Stability, Good Dexterity

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7 . The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7 .

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ .