Pharmacy Technician

This position is for a certified pharmacy technician at the full performance level GS-8 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.

• Performs essential role in preparation, compounding, dispensing, and distribution of sterile and
• nonsterile hazardous medication within designated sterile compounding areas.
• Receives, reviews, and prepares physician order for cytotoxic agents and
• pre-medication.
• Performs accurate product identification labeling dosage calculation, and compounding of agents
• by utilizing package literature, written procedural guidelines and application of specialized
• knowledge.
• Successfully complete assignments and maintain annual competencies to compound hazardous and
• non-hazardous IV sterile preparations according to USP <795><797> and <800> standards.
• Follows proper aseptic preparation techniques when compounding
  hazardous and non-hazardous medications.
• Reviews anticipated inventory needs and notifies procurement technician in a timely manner of
• products required.
• Assists in maintaining all required records related to sterile compounding.
• Receives hazardous IV chemotherapy inventory stock according to the National Institute for
• Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) guidelines placing in proper storage areas, rotating stock
• on shelves, and removing/replacing outdated items.
• Maintains Chemo/lV room medication inventory, compounding supplies and cleaning products to
• ensure availability and minimize waste.
• Conducts daily, weekly, and monthly IV room cleaning to include check for soon to expire
• medications.
• Manufactures uncomplicated and/or complicated parenteral admixtures to be delivered in the form
• of large volume, small volume, infusion syringe or other as required.
• Prepares sterile ophthalmic preparations and other complex sterile pharmaceuticals such as
• total parenteral alimentations and cardioplegia solutions.
• Assist in the central IV sterile suite as needed.
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of USP 795/797/800 chapters and hazardous drug
• handling to assist in management, compliance, staff education activities, training, and room
  certifications.
• Participate in glove fingertip and media fill testing, maintain competences passing didactic
  practical skill assessment initially and annually thereafter.
• Assists in airborne particulate and microbial testing and surface testing to ensure cleaning
  schedules are met.
• Ensures full compliance with all regulatory requirements (VHA, Joint Commission, USP
  <795><797><800>, EPA, OSHA, NIOSH, and FDA).
• Assists in maintaining a training/education manual for the focus area assigned.
• Provides training for new or existing staff so that these competencies are maintained.
• Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow independently in the assigned area.
• Performs all the duties of lower grade technicians, if required.

Work Schedule: 8-hr shift between 6a and 6p with rotating weekend, holidays, evening, and nights (WHEN) hours
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
Telework: Not Available
Functional Statement #: 60069F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

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: Successful completion of four years post-secondary education with courses related to pharmacy (e.g., 48 semester hours of science, mathematics, pharmacy) or a bachelor's degree. OR (b) An associate's degree in pharmacy technician or technology (48 semester hours of concentrated pharmacy technician training). OR (c) One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. 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).

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) And demonstrate the KSAs below.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

(a) 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.) Note: See Specialized Area in the Definitions Section.
(b) Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on
proper policies and procedures.
(c) Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized
area or section of the pharmacy.

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

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-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.

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/.

• 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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.