Pharmacy Technician

What is a Pharmacy Technician?

Pharmacy technicians are professionals who work under the direct supervision of pharmacists to help distribute and prepare medications. They are not as highly trained as the pharmacist is, but they are well-versed in local laws and procedures regarding the sale of prescriptions. They are an important part of the pharmacy staff, and pharmacists would be stretched thin without them.

Job Responsibilities of Pharmacy Technicians

Pharmacy technicians perform many responsibilities to help a pharmacy run smoothly. They must have a strong attention to detail and be able to run basic mathematical calculations easily. They also must feel comfortable measuring medications to ensure proper dosages. Pharmacy techs are also often on the customer-facing side of the pharmacy, so a friendly demeanor is helpful in this career. 

In the course of their workday, a pharmacy technician may need to: 

• Read medication prescriptions from physicians 
• Interpret medication orders 
• Prepare medications according to the doctor’s requirements and based on the special handling required for that medication 
• Fill prescriptions 
• Dispense, and process medication 
• Label prescription medications properly with dosage instructions 
• Practice all necessary safety procedures to ensure medications are shared safely with patients 
• Research medication ingredients for patients 
• Call pharmacy customers and answer questions over the phone 
• Organize the pharmacy shelving, checking to ensure medication is within its date 
• Maintain inventory to ensure medications are in stock when patients need them 
• Learn to prioritize prescription requests in order to serve customers in a timely manner 
• Understand local and federal rules and regulations required to keep pharmacy facilities safe and clean 
• Maintain patient records and submit information to insurance providers 
• Take payments from customers and work the checkout counter 

This job will require you to be on your feet in a fast-paced environment, so if you perform well under pressure, you might be a good pharmacy tech. While a pharmacy technician has a number of responsibilities, all of these must be overseen by a licensed pharmacist. 

Career Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of pharmacy technicians is projected to grow 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.  

About 44,900 openings for pharmacy technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.  

Demand for pharmacy services is expected to increase because of the large number of older people, who typically use more prescription medicines than younger people. Higher rates of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, among all age groups also will lead to increased demand for prescription medications.  

In addition, pharmacy technicians will be needed to take on a greater role in pharmacy operations because pharmacists are increasingly performing more patient care activities. Technicians will need to perform tasks—such as collecting patient information, handling prescription transfers, and verifying the work of other technicians—that were previously done by pharmacists. 

Additional Training and Requirements

A high school diploma or equivalent is the starting requirement for most entry-level pharmacy technicians, but some employers require additional training. This is done through a vocational school or certification program, and the Bryant & Stratton pharmacy technician certificate program fulfills this requirement. This educational experience will ensure you have the right mathematics skills and record-keeping training to do your job well. 

Working as a pharmacy technician can be a rewarding career path. However, some pharmacy technicians will start their careers as a pharmacy tech, then continue working on their education to become a pharmacist. The pharmacy technician training puts them in a good position to start working even while continuing their education to enjoy a more profitable career in the future. 

Start Your Journey Today! 

If you are interested in working in the world of pharmacies, a career as a pharmacy technician could be the right fit. Bryant & Stratton College’s pharmacy technician program is an excellent choice. With its self-directed pace, you can complete your training as quickly as you need to, then take the certification exam to launch your career. Because the program is fully online or on campus, you have the flexibility to continue working and choose what fits your needs.