Who Are Pharmacy Technicians?
If you have landed at pharmacy technician job description, you could be either in this profession or you are aspiring to join it. You are actually at the right place because you will get the answers to all your questions.
A pharmacy technician or pharmaceutical technician is someone who works in health care industry under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist or any other registered health professional to do pharmacy related jobs. The work could be full-time or part-time and this will depend on where someone works.There are places where one will be expected to work on evenings and/or weekends. However, it is a very flexible and rewarding career whose demand is on an increase in the United States just like the rest of the medical fields.
Where Does a Pharmacy Technician Work?
Generally, pharmacy technicians working environments are very organized and clean although they spend most of their time on their feet. Some of the places where these professionals work include:- Medical stores
- Clinics and hospitals
- Pharmaceutical manufacturers
- Pharmacies both wholesale, mail and retail
- Personal care and health stores
- Nursing homes
- Facilities that home people who are assisted to live
What Roles and Responsibilities Does a Pharmacy Technician Perform?
The exact duties and responsibilities that a pharmacy technician does may vary slightly depending on the specific place where someone works. For instance, those who work in mailing pharmacies might do different tasks to those who work in hospitals and drug stores.It should be noted that pharmacy technicians could also extent to routine operations of the pharmacy and play roles that might be not related to medication. However, in general the duties and responsibilities of these professional are as follows:
- Receiving and filling the prescription request forms for patients that might come from clinics, physicians, hospitals, nursing homes and other medical care institutions.
- Measuring, mixing, weighting, counting and pouring medications and tablets as well as doing pharmacy math calculation to determine the right dosages
- Proper labeling and selection of container for prescription
- They could also help in crosschecking the various side effects of medications before they dispense medications
- Insurance forms preparation and maintenance of patients profiles
- Carrying out cash transactions and doing inventories for medications sold over the counter
- Receiving/answering phone calls in the pharmacy
- Continually updating themselves on the latest available medicines
- Arranging medicines in the medical stores and pharmacies
What Academic Qualification Should a Pharmacy Technician Have?
One of the important parts that should be mentioned in any pharmacy technician job description is academic qualification. Although some pharmacy technicians get training while on job, some states might require one to have a formal training in a pharmacy technician-training program.On average, it takes around less than two years for one to be a certified. In fact, 30 of the states in America require one to obtain a pharmacy certification and should be licensed to be allowed to work as a pharmacy technician.
During the certification, there are a minimum number of hours required for classroom training and internships. On average, one needs to undergo a classroom training of around 2 to 6 months depending on the specific training program taken then attend internships. Internship is required to give students real pharmacy experience.
Once course is completed, the pharmacy technicians must register with their relevant boards of pharmacy in their respective state and ensure that their names remain in this registry by paying an annual registration fee.
Other academic qualifications include:
- Pass a national examination given by Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
- GED or high school diploma
- Computer Skills
Some of the professional associations for pharmacy technicians include:
- Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
- National Pharmacy Technician Association
- Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians
What Skills Are Needed by Pharmacy Technicians?
For one to be a successful pharmacy technician, other than academic qualification, there are important skills that the person needs to have and they are:- Be very accurate and precise
- Keen to details and handle instruction carefully
- Have good interpersonal skills so as to relate with customers well
- Good cashiering skills will be an added advantage
- They should be familiar with handling inventories
- Be reliable and sociable