Department of Veterans Affairs

Pharmacy Technician

Birmingham, Alabama Full time

Pharmacy Technician

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Birmingham, Alabama

Salary Range: $58883 - $76549 Per Year

Job Summary: This position is for a certified pharmacy technician above the full performance level GS-7 at the Birmingham VA Healthcare System. Pharmacy technicians at this grade level are nationally certified by PTCB or ExCPT and can work autonomously, using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties.

Major Duties:

  • Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Accurately interpret, fills, and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification. Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition by assuring that all stock and equipment are in assigned places and all shelves and counters are free of dust and debris in order to create optimal work areas Assures drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured according to USP and VA guidelines, including the storage of high-risk, look a-like sound a-like, hazardous, controlled substances, corrosive chemical, flammable liquids, and refrigerated items. Receives, checks, rotates, and places in stock all items received from pharmacy procurement section and identifies and reconciles any discrepancies to assure correct items have been received. Utilizes automation dispensing equipment available to the pharmacy staff following all safety and QA procedures. Reports automation malfunctions timely the supervisor as appropriate. Records expiration dates in the automatic prescription dispensing system upon receipt. Perform monthly inspections to assigned areas to ensure proper storage of medications and soon to expired drugs are removed. Completes inspection reports in compliance with regulatory requirements. Complies with all VHA, Medical Center, and Pharmacy regulations, directives, policies, and procedures. Serves as a back up to GS8 technician level duties. Provides technical customer service over the phone or in-person related to Veterans medications needs. Assists in unloading and stocking medications, fluids, supplies in appropriate pharmacy inventory and ward stock areas within a reasonable time after receiving and regularly rotates stock. Maintains national certification with PTCB or ExCPT. May be assigned to work in other areas of pharmacy service as deemed necessary by the Chief, Pharmacy Service or Supervisor. Work Schedule: 8 hour shift between 6:00am and 6:00pm, with rotating WHEN (weekend, holiday, evening, and night) hours Telework: No Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 60072F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

Qualifications: Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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: 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: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). OR National Health career Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician, GS-07: Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. (e.g., filling and preparing medications using automated systems, sterile and non-sterile compounding support, inventory and automated dispensing equipment management, technical customer service to patients/clinicians, and compliance with pharmacy regulations/safety standards). Certification: For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either:PTCB as a CPhT.ORNHA as a ExCPT. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work. (b) Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent. (c) Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers. (d) Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students. (e) Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution. (f) Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases. 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). Preferred Experience: 2 years of Health-System Pharmacy Experience. Prior experience using ScriptPro and Pyxis automated systems. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7. 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.

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 05/20/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12948817. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-20