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Pharmacy Technicians Occupation Detailed Description

Pharmacy Technicians career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Pharmacy Technicians

The main tasks and work activities of Pharmacy Technicians are to perform clerical work in medical settings, verify accuracy of patient information, maintain inventory of medical supplies or equipment, clean medical equipment or facilities. In general, for the Pharmacy Technicians, active Listening, reading Comprehension, speaking, critical Thinking and other 9 skills are required.
Pharmacy Technicians Job Description
EducationMost occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Related ExperiencePrevious work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Pharmacy Technicians jobs. 59.63% of Pharmacy Technicians have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 13.74% of Pharmacy Technicians have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
4.61%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
59.63%
Post-Secondary Certificate
13.74%
Some College Courses
12.78%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
5.06%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
4.18%

Tasks and Work Activities of Pharmacy Technicians

  • Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
  • Maintain proper storage and security conditions for drugs.
  • Answer telephones, responding to questions or requests.
  • Assist customers by answering simple questions, locating items, or referring them to the pharmacist for medication information.
  • Price and file prescriptions that have been filled.
  • Clean and help maintain equipment or work areas and sterilize glassware, according to prescribed methods.
  • Establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.
  • Order, label, and count stock of medications, chemicals, or supplies and enter inventory data into computer.
  • Transfer medication from vials to the appropriate number of sterile, disposable syringes, using aseptic techniques.
  • Supply and monitor robotic machines that dispense medicine into containers and label the containers.
  • Prepare and process medical insurance claim forms and records.
  • Mix pharmaceutical preparations, according to written prescriptions.
  • Operate cash registers to accept payment from customers.
  • Compute charges for medication or equipment dispensed to hospital patients and enter data in computer.
  • Deliver medications or pharmaceutical supplies to patients, nursing stations, or surgery.
  • Price stock and mark items for sale.
  • Maintain and merchandise home healthcare products or services.
  • Prepack bulk medicines, fill bottles with prescribed medications, and type and affix labels.
  • Receive and store incoming supplies, verify quantities against invoices, check for outdated medications in current inventory, and inform supervisors of stock needs and shortages.
  • Restock intravenous (IV) supplies and add measured drugs or nutrients to IV solutions under sterile conditions to prepare IV packs for various uses, such as chemotherapy medication.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Interacting With ComputersUsing computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the PublicPerforming for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Processing InformationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Assisting and Caring for OthersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Documenting/Recording InformationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Perform clerical work in medical settings.
  • Verify accuracy of patient information.
  • Maintain inventory of medical supplies or equipment.
  • Clean medical equipment or facilities.
  • Sterilize medical equipment or instruments.
  • Maintain medical equipment or instruments.
  • Record patient medical histories.
  • Enter patient or treatment data into computers.
  • Prepare medications or medical solutions.
  • Process medical billing information.
  • Merchandise healthcare products or services.

Skills and Abilities for Pharmacy Technicians

  • Active ListeningGiving 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.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
  • MathematicsUsing mathematics to solve problems.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
  • Number FacilityThe ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
  • Mathematical ReasoningThe ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
  • Far VisionThe ability to see details at a distance.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Visual Color DiscriminationThe ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
  • Microscope slidese.g. Agar slides
  • Steam autoclaves or sterilizerse.g. Autoclaves
  • Sterile or aseptic processing or filling machinese.g. Automatic bottle filling machines
  • Filling or sealing auger dose machinese.g. Automatic unit dose strip packaging machines
  • Laboratory millse.g. Benchtop colloid mills
  • Laboratory blenders or emulsifierse.g. Blending/agitating machines
  • Gas burnerse.g. Bunsen burners
  • Cash registerse.g. Cash registers
  • Benchtop centrifugese.g. Centrifuges
  • Laboratory millse.g. Colloid mills
  • Laser printerse.g. Computer laser printers
  • Sterile or aseptic processing or filling machinese.g. Computer-based dispensing equipment
  • Bar code reader equipmente.g. Data input scanners
  • Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
  • Laboratory balancese.g. Double-beam balances
  • Digital pene.g. Electronic signature capture equipment
  • Laboratory balancese.g. Equal-arm balances
  • Vacuum blood collection tubes or containerse.g. Evacuated blood collection containers
  • Pharmaceutical filters or ultra filterse.g. Filtering devices
  • Laboratory washing machinese.g. Flask washers
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Medicine and DentistryKnowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
  • ClericalKnowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.