What Is a Pharmacy Technician and How to Become One
Table of Contents
What Do Pharmacy Technicians Do?
Pharmacy technicians work under pharmacists, fulfilling several important duties. They are responsible for distributing prescription and nonprescription medications and providing patients with important information regarding their medicine. They may also be responsible for putting orders together, supervising other staff members, and managing the dispensary.
What Is a Pharmacy Technician?
A pharmacy technician is a health care provider in the pharmaceutical industry. They work alongside the pharmacist to help ensure that patients are given the correct medications and that they know how to use them safely and effectively.
What Are Pharmacy Technician Requirements?
Requirements for pharmacy technicians vary by state and country. The most common are a high school diploma or equivalent and completing an approved pharmacy technician training program. Many states require a certification or license from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), which requires passing a certification exam. These certifications must be renewed every two years to remain valid.
How Do You Become a Pharmacy Technician?
The requirements to become a pharmacy technician vary widely by state. Most states require pharmacy technicians to register with the state pharmacy board. Many states additionally require you to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or complete a training or education requirement. Usually, the training requirement will be completing a pharmacy technician program approved by the state pharmacy board or American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Some states allow on-the-job training for aspiring pharmacy technicians.
Pharmacy Technician Job Description Sample
With this Pharmacy Technician job description sample, you can get a good idea of what employers are looking for when hiring for this position. Remember though, every employer is different and each will have unique qualifications when they hire for their Pharmacy Technician position.
Job Summary
We are seeking an experienced, organized, and detail-oriented pharmacy technician to join our growing healthcare team. In this position, you will be responsible for retail transactions and prescription filling at the pharmacy counter. You should be comfortable working with other technicians, as well as handling all over-the-counter, FDA-regulated medications.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Greet customers and answer any and all questions regarding personal medications or general pharmacy products
- Perform opening and closing duties, including acting as keyholder, turning the alarm system on and off, and sterilizing surfaces
- Receive, validate, and process prescription orders
- Speak to doctors and insurance agencies to resolve prescription cost discrepancies
- Select, measure, and label appropriate prescriptions for patrons
- Monitor inventory, both behind the counter and in the general pharmacy area
- Perform administrative duties such as answering calls and voicemails
- Keep records of all transactions
- Comply with all safety and security regulations
Requirements and Qualifications
- Familiarity with pharmacy law and medical terminology
- 1+ years of experience in a pharmacy setting
- Excellent customer service skills; strong interpersonal communication skills
