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What is a Pharmacy Technician?

Pharmacy technicians are part of a backbone of support for pharmacies, helping provide patients with needed medicines, and enabling busy pharmacists to better serve the needs of their clients.

Pharmacy technology is a unique field of study that offers pharmacy technicians the opportunity to work closely under the supervision of licensed pharmacists. Most pharmacy technicians are employed at one of the following job settings:

• Private or chain pharmacies
• Hospital pharmacies
• Assisted-living facilities
• Pharmaceutical manufacturers
• Nursing homes.
  
  

Explore more information on pharmacy technicians including job duties, skills, demand and programs below.

Job Duties

Pharmacy Technician Job Duties

On any given day, a pharmacy technician can be responsible for:

• Receiving prescription requests
• Counting tablets
• Labeling bottles
• Answering phones
• Customer service

Career Skills

Pharmacy Technician Skills

Pharmacy technicians need a variety of skills and characteristics to properly perform their job duties and excel in the field. Some of these skills include:

• Customer Service Skills: These professionals are responsible for providing outstanding customer service, so understanding customer service and adapting to a customer’s needs is crucial. Being helpful and polite are also required.
• Attention to Detail Skills: In pharmacy, even the smallest mistake can cause serious harm for a customer’s health. When filling prescriptions, pharmacy technicians need to pay attention to every detail no matter how small.
• Organizational Skills: Pharmacy technicians are constantly juggling multiple tasks at once. Being able to stay organized and complete the work needing done is essential to serving customers and assisting pharmacists.

Demand

Pharmacy Technician Demand

As the population continues to age, the career outlook for pharmacy technicians is expected to continue growing. Specifically, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the field to grow by 32 percent by 2020. That’s an increase of 108,300 pharmacy technician positions.*

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition, Pharmacy Technicians, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacy-technicians.htm. This is a national projection. Conditions in your location may vary.

Programs

Pharmacy Technician Training & Programs

Students who decide to take pharmacy technology courses can expect to study a board range of topics. Exact courses vary by the program, but many pharmacy technician schools offer students hands-on training opportunities.

Course subjects may include:

• Math
• Statistics
• Chemistry
• Label preparation
• Pharmaceutical calculations.

Can you picture yourself as a pharmacy technician? Are you interested in learning more about pharmacy technician training? Discover all the information you need by locating a pharmacy technician program at a healthcare school near you today. Start now.

Program availability and/or degree offerings subject to change. Employment and salary are not guaranteed.

Pharmacy Technology Schools

Sanford-Brown Institute - Iselin

Sanford-Brown is known throughout the healthcare industry as an educator of professionals who have acquired the real-world knowledge and practical skills to fill vi...
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Certificate
Advanced Massage Therapy, Anesthesia Technology, Cardiovascular Technology, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant , Medical Billing and Coding , Pharmacy Technician , Surgical Technology

Sanford-Brown Institute - Jacksonville

Sanford-Brown is known throughout the healthcare industry as an educator of professionals who have acquired the real-world knowledge and practical skills to fill vi...
Learn More!

Associate and Diploma
Medical Billing Administrative Specialist, Cardiovascular Sonography, Medical Assistant , Medical Billing Administrative Specialist, Nursing, Pharmacy Technician , Veterinary Technology, Veterinary technology