Pharmacy Technician

Overview and Key Facts

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Pay

$43,460

Job Growth

6.40%

(Above US Average)

Jobs in 2034

521,799

What Do They Do?

 

Organize and take inventory of medications in the pharmacy to alert pharmacist of any shortages of medications.

Count, package and label prescriptions.

Assist customers in the pharmacy by answering phone calls, processing insurance claims, doing prescription intake, and answering medication questions and arranging for customers to speak with the pharmacist about health matters.

Measure correct doses of IV (intra-venous) medications in a timely manner for immediate need in a hospital operating room.

 

Overview Listen to this section

Pharmacy technicians play a very important role at a pharmacy. Pharmacy technicians help pharmacists in many different ways. They make sure a pharmacy runs smoothly every day. They may have a role in customer service by taking personal information, answering questions, and taking payments. A technician can measure or mix drugs and package and label containers. They may also count all of the medications to let the pharmacists know if there are low stock items. Pharmacy technicians can work in a hospital to make sure all patients are given the medications they need.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmQM3R-Ijj4

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Pharmacy Technician?

1. Active Listening: ? Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
2. Speaking: ? Talking to others to convey information effectively.
3. Reading Comprehension: ? Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
4. Critical Thinking: ? Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
5. Service Orientation: ? Actively looking for ways to help people.

6. Social Perceptiveness: ? Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
7. Judgment and Decision Making: ? Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
8. Complex Problem Solving: ? Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
9. Monitoring: ? Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
10. Active Learning: ? Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Core Tasks

• Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
• Enter prescription information into computer databases.
• Establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.
• Maintain proper storage and security conditions for drugs.
• Receive and store incoming supplies, verify quantities against invoices, check for outdated medications in current inventory, and inform supervisors of stock needs and shortages.
• Answer telephones, responding to questions or requests.
• Assist customers by answering simple questions, locating items, or referring them to the pharmacist for medication information.
• Operate cash registers to accept payment from customers.
• Mix pharmaceutical preparations, according to written prescriptions.
• Price and file prescriptions that have been filled.
• Order, label, and count stock of medications, chemicals, or supplies and enter inventory data into computer.
• Clean and help maintain equipment or work areas and sterilize glassware, according to prescribed methods.
• Prepack bulk medicines, fill bottles with prescribed medications, and type and affix labels.