What is a Pharmacy Technician?

A pharmacy technician is a healthcare professional who works with pharmacists to provide medication and other healthcare products to patients. Pharmacy technicians are responsible for a variety of duties, such as counting and measuring medications, labeling and filling prescriptions, and interacting with patients and healthcare providers.

What Does a Pharmacy Technician Do?

A pharmacy technician is responsible for a variety of tasks, from entering patient information into the pharmacy system to preparing medications for patients. They are often the first point of contact for patients, so they must be knowledgeable about basic medications and be able to explain their uses and side effects.

Pharmacy technicians must accurately measure and count medications, enter patient information into the pharmacy system, and accurately fill prescriptions. They must also verify insurance information and maintain patient records. Additionally, pharmacy technicians may work with insurance companies to obtain payment for medications, assist with billing and coding, and order medications from wholesalers.

In some states, pharmacy technicians may be able to administer vaccinations and provide basic health screenings. They may also be responsible for stocking shelves and organizing the pharmacy.

Education and Training Requirements

Most pharmacy technicians must complete an accredited pharmacy technician program. These programs typically take between six months and one year to complete and include courses in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, record-keeping, and pharmacy law. Many states also require pharmacy technicians to be certified, which may require passing a written and/or practical exam.

In addition to formal training, pharmacy technicians must have good communication and customer service skills. They must be able to work well with pharmacists, other healthcare professionals, and patients. They must also be detail-oriented and have excellent organizational skills.

Advancement Opportunities

Pharmacy technicians may choose to pursue additional education or certification in order to advance their careers. For example, some technicians may choose to pursue certification as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). Certification typically requires passing the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) and meeting any additional requirements, such as continuing education or work experience.

Experienced pharmacy technicians may also choose to pursue supervisory positions, such as lead pharmacy technician, pharmacy manager, or clinical pharmacy technician. These positions typically require additional education or certification, as well as more extensive work experience.

Salary and Job Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for pharmacy technicians was $32,700 in 2018. The job outlook for pharmacy technicians is positive, with the field projected to grow 7% from 2018 to 2028.

Conclusion

Overall, pharmacy technicians play an important role in the healthcare system, providing medication and other healthcare products to patients. They must have a strong knowledge of medications and be able to accurately measure and count medications, fill prescriptions, and interact with patients. Most pharmacy technicians must complete an accredited pharmacy technician program and may choose to pursue additional education or certification to advance their careers. The job outlook for pharmacy technicians is positive, with a projected 7% growth from 2018 to 2028.