Pharmacy Technician
A pharmacy technician is a crucial support role within the healthcare system, primarily responsible for assisting licensed pharmacists with the preparation and distribution of prescription medications. These professionals calculate dosages, prepare various forms of medication, and package them with patient instructions. In addition to these technical duties, pharmacy technicians often handle administrative tasks such as inventory management, processing insurance paperwork, and providing customer service by addressing medication inquiries and concerns.
Typically working in pharmacies located in retail stores, hospitals, or clinics, pharmacy technicians may have varied shifts, including evenings and weekends. This career requires a high school diploma, and while formal education or training programs can be beneficial, they are not always mandatory. The job market for pharmacy technicians is growing, with an expected employment growth rate of 6%, indicating strong demand in the field.
To succeed, individuals in this role should possess strong attention to detail, good problem-solving skills, and a capacity for empathy when interacting with patients and healthcare professionals. Familiarity with medical terminology and processes is also advantageous, alongside a commitment to confidentiality as mandated by privacy regulations. Overall, pharmacy technicians play a vital role in ensuring patient care and medication safety in various healthcare settings.
Pharmacy Technician
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Health Science
Interests: Pharmacology, pharmaceutical science, health science technology, chemistry, patient care
Earnings (Yearly Median): $40,300 per year $19.37 per hour
Employment & Outlook: 6% (Faster than average)
Entry-Level Education High school diploma or equivalent; possible formal education or training program; passing exam
Related Work Experience None
On-the-job Training Moderate-term on-the-job training
Overview
Sphere of Work. Pharmacy technicians assist with the filling and distribution of prescription medications under the supervision of licensed pharmacists. They are trained to calculate medication dosages, assist with the preparation of prescription capsules, creams, and intravenous solutions, and package the correct quantities of medication along with patient instructions. Pharmacy technicians may also be responsible for many administrative and customer service tasks, which may include handling inventory, processing paperwork, and completing sales.
Work Environment. Pharmacy technicians spend their workdays in pharmacies, which may be freestanding or located within larger stores, hospitals, medical clinics, hospices, insurance companies, or mail-order businesses. They generally work forty-hour weeks and may work day, evening, and weekend shifts, with the possibility of working on major holidays. Technicians may risk exposure to infectious diseases and harmful chemicals.
Occupation Interest. Individuals drawn to the profession of pharmacy technician tend to be intelligent and detail-oriented. They should have good hand-eye coordination and be adept at quickly identifying and solving problems. Pharmacy technicians must enjoy working in a medical environment and remain calm and tactful when dealing with sensitive medical issues.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. Pharmacy technicians are responsible for assisting in the daily operation of the pharmacy in which they work. Technicians read and process prescriptions, verifying that they are accurate and complete. They keep work areas and equipment clean and sterilized, and they assist the supervising pharmacists with the filling or refilling of prescriptions. This may include preparing daily medication regimens or dosages for patients in hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, or nursing homes, as well as preparing medication for customers. Pharmacy technicians calculate medication dosages using prescription reference guides and dosing charts and weigh, measure, and count out prescribed medications. When medications other than standard pills or liquids are needed, technicians assist in the preparation of prescription capsules, creams, and intravenous solutions. They bottle or bag the medication, label each prescription, and determine the price based on insurance coverage.
Pharmacy technicians may also be responsible for fulfilling administrative and customer service duties. They may greet customers, ask about possible allergies to medications, respond to questions about medications and prescriptions, and complete sales of medications. They may also order and stock inventory, maintain patient records, and submit paperwork to physicians and health insurance providers.
Technicians may choose to specialize in inventory and organizing, mail order prescription fulfillment, prescription preparation, patient record keeping, or insurance billing. Regardless of specialty or the type of pharmacy in which they work, all pharmacy technicians are responsible for educating themselves about the administrative, physical, and technical patient privacy safeguards included in the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. Pharmacy technicians work in pharmacies, which may be located in hospitals, medical clinics, hospices, retail stores, mail-order businesses, or insurance companies. Pharmacies tend to be bright, well-ventilated, and clean.
Human Environment. Pharmacy technicians should be comfortable interacting with supervising pharmacists, other pharmacy staff, physicians, laboratory technicians, insurance providers, and customers. Due to the sensitive nature of medical care and illness, pharmacy technicians should be empathetic, tactful, and committed to customer confidentiality.
Technological Environment. Pharmacy technicians use a wide variety of tools and equipment to complete their work, including measuring and dosing equipment, scales, syringes, counting trays, cold storage areas, and mortars and pestles. They also consult drug reference guides and work with computers and specialized software for prescription processing, patient records, label making, inventory management, and billing.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. High school students interested in pursuing a career as a pharmacy technician should study chemistry, biology, anatomy, physiology, and mathematics. Students interested in this career path will benefit from seeking volunteer opportunities, internships, or part-time work in pharmacies or medical settings.
Postsecondary. Postsecondary students interested in becoming pharmacy technicians should work toward an associate’s degree in pharmaceutical science or a related field. Training programs cover subjects such as pharmaceutical mathematics, organizational structures in pharmacies, drug classifications, pharmaceutical nomenclature, drug dosages, and drug side effects. Coursework in chemistry, computer skills, clinical science, and medical ethics may also prove useful. Postsecondary students can gain work experience and potential advantage in their future job searches by securing internships or part-time employment in pharmacies or medical settings. Some pharmacy technicians will be responsible for passing an exam and receiving a license.
Related Occupations
− Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
Bibliography
"Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023 29-2052 Pharmacy Technicians." US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 3 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292052.htm. Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.
"Pharmacy Technicians." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 17 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacy-technicians.htm. Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.