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Pharmacy Technician

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Birmingham VA Healthcare Service

Summary

The position is for a nationally certified Pharmacy Technician who is highly specialized, efficient, motivated and customer-friendly, who can work autonomously under the guidance of a registered pharmacist, using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties. The incumbent will serve as a subject matter expert and key resource in the day-to-day technician duties of the specialized area.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/30/2026 to 05/11/2026
Salary
$65,210 - $84,770 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 8
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Birmingham, AL
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
CBTB-12948341-26-JD
Control number
867354100

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This job is open to current VHA employees only. First consideration will be given to current Birmingham Pharmacy Service employees.

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Duties

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Major duties for the Pharmacy Technician include but not limited to:

  • Provide support to clinical pharmacist practitioners as assigned according to approved clinical pharmacy protocols.
  • Utilizes population management (eQM) reports to identify patients who may benefit from PharmD Medication Management services.
  • Communicates lab results to patients as deemed appropriate by clinical pharmacist practitioner(s).
  • Conducts patient interviews, including medication history, anticoagulation history, and effectiveness of anticoagulation, need for medication refills, and investigating causes of therapeutic irregularities.
  • Routinely review computer medication profile for prescription duplication, therapeutic duplication, prescription noncompliance, and allergies/adverse drug reactions. Reports identified issues to a pharmacist for further action.
  • Routinely reviews laboratory monitoring reports for selected disease states and identifies patients with lab values beyond normal limits. Reports identified issues to a pharmacist for further action.
  • Places orders for CPS verification.
  • Routinely performs patient medical chart, medication profile, and action profile reviews to identify poly-pharmacy situations. Reports identified issues to a pharmacist for further action. Documents all patient specific clinical decisions (in consultation with the clinical pharmacist) in the patient's electronic record.
  • Collects and documents patient vital signs.
  • Provides DOAC Dashboard management as assigned.
  • Manages technical assignments of PACT & anticoagulation clinics in order to assure continuous and consistent coverage of the clinic.
  • Monitors patient scheduling to assure appropriate patient follow-up and time to next clinic availability.

Work Schedule: 8 hour shifts between 6:00am and 6:00pm, with rotating weekends, holidays, evenings and night hours.
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 60837F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
  • All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
  • Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
  • Subject to background/security investigation.
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
  • Must pass pre-employment medical evaluation.
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
  • Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the agency;
  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

  • United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
  • Education or Experience.
    • (1) None required.
    • (2) 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.
  • Certification. For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either:
    • 1) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT), OR
    • 2) National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations: GS -08
  1. Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below.
  2. Certification. For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either:
    (a) PTCB as a CPhT.
    OR
    (b) NHA as a ExCPT.
  3. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs for all GS-08 assignments and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated:
    • Comprehensive knowledge of concepts, principles, methodology and policies in a specialized area or section of pharmacy (such as sterile compounding, controlled substances, automation, clinical pharmacy, contact center, etc.).
    • Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures.
    • Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy.

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08.

Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, typing, walking distances within the medical center, lifting/ carrying (up to 40 pounds) of pharmaceutical supplies, and bending/stooping/stretching.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information


During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Veterans Health Administration

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?

Agency contact information

Jacqueline Dunn
Phone
404-321-6111 X122098
Email
Jacqueline.Dunn1@va.gov
Address
Birmingham VA Medical Center
700 South 19th Street
Birmingham, AL 35233
US

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https://www.va.gov/jobs/

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