Pharmacy Technicians are invaluable support staff for licensed pharmacists. They assist licensed pharmacists in carrying out their primary role of providing medication and other prescribed products to patients. As part of a team, pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists in filling prescriptions for drugs and reviewing orders for drug allergies, dosing, interactions and incompatibilities.

They assist by measuring, mixing, packaging, labeling and delivering medications to patients while maintaining computerized lists of medications and working with a pharmacist to ensure that the right drugs are delivered. Pharmacy Technicians may also be responsible for calling doctors’ offices for prescription refills; cleaning and sterilizing dispensing bottles and instruments; answering questions regarding non-drug products; transporting medications, drug-delivery devices, and other pharmacy equipment from the pharmacy to nursing units and clinics.

Work Environment

Because technicians support pharmacists, they are required to work the same hours as pharmacists. This may include evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Because hospitals are open 24 hours a day, technicians may work varying shifts. As their seniority increases, technicians often have increased control over the hours they work.

An aging U.S. population and an increase in use of prescribed medications is driving the demand for pharmacy services which include pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

Because there is a shortage of pharmacists, the opportunity for better-educated pharmacy technicians to fill some of the pharmacist's historical duties, is driving employment potential.

Pharmacy technicians work in clean, organized, well lit, and well-ventilated work areas and spend much of their day on their feet. They may be required to lift heavy boxes or to use stepladders to retrieve supplies from high shelves.

What Pharmacy Technicians Do

• An efficient technician will ensure the location, quality, and quantity of poison antidotes and the phone numbers of the regional poison control center.
• Technicians also participate in drug utilization-evaluation and quality assurance programs and consistently review the pharmacy’s inventory of drugs expired, withdrawn, recalled, inadequately labeled, or otherwise non-usable.
• Pharmacy Technicians also perform routine tasks such as counting pills and accurately labeling bottles.
• Technicians may refer questions regarding patient medications or other health matters to the pharmacist.
• Technicians read patient charts and prepare and deliver the medicine to patients according to the pharmacist’s instructions.
• Technicians also may assemble a 24-hour supply of medicine for every patient. They package and label each dose separately. The package is then placed in the medicine cabinet of each patient until the supervising pharmacist checks it for accuracy. It is then given to the patient.
• Senior technicians can specialize, e.g. in analytical control for checking the quality of hospital medicines, or in the preparation of radioactive materials - under the supervision of a pharmacist, education and training of staff, management, IT, procurement, clinical trials, drug information services.

Pharmacy Technicians in the Community

Pharmacy Technicians also work in retail outlets. In this setting, pharmacy technicians may have the responsibility of ensuring that prescriptions are legal, accurate, and that the prescriptions have not been forged. Tasks delegated to Pharmacy Technicians in the community setting may include:

• Supplying oxygen services to nursing homes
• Technicians may have to sell over-the-counter medicines and other items stocked by the chemist, such as cosmetics, toiletries, baby food and photographic supplies.

Education

Although most pharmacy technicians receive informal on-the-job training, employers favor those who have completed formal training and certification. Employers often seek formally educated pharmacy technicians. Formal pharmacy-technician education programs require classroom and laboratory work in a variety of areas, including medical and pharmaceutical terminology, pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacy record keeping, pharmaceutical techniques, and pharmacy law and ethics. Technicians also are required to learn medication names, actions, uses, and doses.

Some hospitals, proprietary schools, vocational or technical colleges, and community colleges offer formal education programs. Many training programs include internships, in which students gain hands-on experience in actual pharmacies. Students receive a diploma, certificate, or an associate degree, depending on the program.

Prospective pharmacy technicians with experience working as an aide or volunteering in a hospital may have an advantage. Employers also prefer applicants with strong customer service and communication skills and with experience managing inventories, counting, measuring, and using computers. Technicians entering the field need strong mathematics, spelling, and reading skills. A background in chemistry, English, and health education also may be beneficial. Some technicians are hired without formal training, but under the condition that they obtain certification within a specified period to retain employment.

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board administers the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination. This exam is voluntary and displays the competency of the individual to act as a pharmacy technician. Eligible candidates must have a high school diploma or GED, and those who pass the exam earn the title of Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). The exam is offered several times per year at various locations nationally. Employers know that individuals who pass the exam have a standardized body of knowledge and skills.

There are only a few accredited Pharmacy Technician Programs in the State of Maryland

Anne Arundel Community College
101 College Parkway
Florestano 306B
Arnold, MD 21012
Program Director:
Stephanie Smith-Baker
Phone: 410-777-2490
Fax: 410-777-7099

Baltimore City Community College
Liberty Campus
2901 Liberty Heights Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21215
410-462-8000

Community College of Baltimore County
Catonsville Campus
800 South Rolling Road
Catonsville, MD 21228
410-455-6050

What does it take to be a Pharmacy Technician?

A successful pharmacy technician is alert, dedicated, observant and responsible. Because they support the work of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians must be able to accurately follow instructions. Precision and attention to detail are a must for pharmacy technicians because it sometimes means a matter of life and death. Although a pharmacist checks and approves the work of the pharmacy technician, pharmacy technicians should be able to work on their own without constant instruction from the pharmacist. Candidates interested in becoming pharmacy technicians cannot have prior records of drug or substance abuse. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are needed because there is a great deal of interaction with patients, coworkers, and healthcare professionals. Teamwork is very important because technicians are often required to work with pharmacists, aides, and other technicians.

Pharmacy Technicians are required to maintain patient confidentiality. The health care profession takes patient confidentiality very seriously. Patient confidentiality means that the discussion of a patients medical conditions, medications, therapy and personal information outside of the pharmacy is strictly prohibited. This information must never be overheard by other customers, by the non-pharmacy store staff or by pharmacy staff in a non-professional manner. The importance of patient confidentiality cannot be stressed enough.

Income Potential

A survey conducted by the Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) indicates that salaries for pharmacy technicians in hospitals is $17.30 per hour. Pharmacy technicians who work evenings, nights, or weekends and those who are experienced earned more. Hospitals also provide full benefits including paid vacation and sick leave, medical and dental insurance, and retirement plans.

Additional Information

For more information on certification and recertification or to receive a national Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination Candidate Handbook, contact:
Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
2215 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20037-2985
202-429-7576
www.ptcb.org

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