Pharmacy Aid
Indian Health Service · Department of Health and Human Services
This job in plain English
This is a Pharmacy Aid job at the Indian Health Service, which serves American Indian and Alaska Native people. It is a full-time, permanent position with few openings in Warm Springs, Oregon and Toppenish, Washington, and occasional travel may be expected. The job is open to the public, but the agency must give absolute preference to qualified Native Americans with tribal affiliation under federal law.
It may close early. Applications are reviewed by cutoff dates: the first is listed as either 5 business days or 10 days after the announcement opens, and later cutoffs fall every Friday at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.
Can you apply?
Yes, if you are a U.S. citizen: this job is open to everyone.
- Native AmericansMembers of federally recognized tribes, through Indian preference.
- Open to everyoneAny U.S. citizen or national can apply. Some jobs also accept non-citizens; the announcement says so.
Other groups listed above may get extra consideration, for example veterans' preference.
The job is open to the public, but you must be a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national, or someone who owes allegiance to the U.S. Native Americans or Alaska Natives with tribal affiliation receive absolute preference for vacancies at IHS under federal law.
What you would do
- Prepare prescriptions by selecting, measuring, counting, and packaging medications.
- Set up orders for common medications that are already labeled and repackaged.
- Check stock for expiration dates, rotate inventory, and note shortages.
- Help patients and staff by locating prescriptions and processing refill requests.
- Give information on medication availability to patients and healthcare staff.
Do you qualify for GS-2 to GS-3 (up to GS-6)?
With experience: For GS-2, you need 3 months of general experience. For GS-3, you need 6 months of general experience. General experience means any work that shows you can do the job, or that gave you familiarity with pharmacy subjects or processes. Paid and unpaid work, volunteer work, and part-time work all count, but you must list duties and hours per week.
With education: For GS-2, you need successful completion of high school or an equivalent. For GS-3, you need one year of study above high school that included a course in biology, chemistry, or physics. At GS-3, you can also combine education and experience if the total equals at least 100 percent. Schools must be accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting institution. Foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.
How to apply well
What to send:
- Resume showing dates, duties, and total hours per week for each job
- Transcripts or a list of courses with titles, credit hours, and grades (strongly encouraged)
- Form BIA-4432 if you claim Indian preference, properly signed and dated
- DD-214 if you claim veterans' preference, plus SF-15 for 10-point preference
- Documents for CTAP or ICTAP if you claim those
- Certificate of Foreign Equivalency if you use foreign education
How you will be rated: Your resume and questionnaire are reviewed against the minimum qualifications, then rated Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified, with veterans' preference eligibles getting priority within each group. Four optional essay questions (200 words or less each) may be reviewed by hiring managers but are not scored, and you must certify they are your own words without a consultant or AI tool.
Tips for this job:
- List hours per week and clear duties for every job on your resume, or you may lose credit.
- Complete background and financial forms within 5 calendar days of receiving instructions.
- If you claim Indian preference, send a signed Form BIA-4432 with your application or it will not be given.
Good to know before you apply
Schedule: Full-time; on-call hours or standby duty may be required.
Incentives and relocation: Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized, with at least a 1-year service agreement. Relocation expenses are not reimbursed.
Conditions of employment:
- U.S. citizenship is required
- Selective Service registration required for males born after 12/31/1959
- You may be subject to a probationary period
- Federal background investigation required as a condition of employment
- Financial suitability review of your financial history
- Must follow the IHS Employee Immunization Policy for vaccine-preventable diseases
- Designated position requiring contact or control over Indian children; certain criminal convictions disqualify
- On-call hours or standby duty may be required
- Must set up direct deposit for pay
- Must pass the E-Verify employment check
- REAL ID required beginning May 7, 2025
We wrote this summary automatically from the official announcement. The announcement on USAJOBS is the only one that counts: read it before you apply.
Job details
- Salary
- $40,629 – $57,638 per year
- Pay scale and grade
- GS-2 to GS-3 (up to GS-6) · General Schedule
- Locations
-
- Toppenish, Washington
- Warm Springs, Oregon
- Appointment
- Permanent
- Work schedule
- Full-time
- Service
- Competitive
- Openings
- Few
- Security clearance
- Other
- Travel
- Occasional travel
- Drug test
- Not required
- Supervisory
- No
- Occupation
- Pharmacy Technician (0661)
- Announcement
- IHS-27-PA-13101127-DE
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