Certified Pharmacy Technician Job Description

The Growth of Pharmacy Technicians in Healthcare Systems

Pharmacy technicians in hospitals and health care facilities are often responsible for filling and delivering prescriptions. In hospitals, technicians are more likely to take care of IV medications. College education is the most important factor in determining how long it will take to become a pharmacy technician.

The pharmacy technician certification programs typically last around a year and focus on what you need to know to become a pharmacy technician. They typically finish with an externship to give you some experience on your resume and introduce you to the daily life of technicians. You must register with your state within a short time of your first official role as a pharmacy tech to officially become a CPhT.

You need a high school diploma or GED to complete a training or certificate program in a state. You may need to work at a pharmacy. There is a lot of expected growth for pharmacy technicians due to the increasing use of medications.

The elderly and middle-aged groups are likely to be the main drivers of the growing demand. Between 2016 and 2026, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics estimated that pharmacy technicians would see job growth of about 12 percent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the median salary of pharmacy technicians was $33,060 in the year.

The highest 10 percent of technicians earned more than $46,980 and worked in surgical hospitals. The median salary was $30,920 in 2016 and it showed some growth within a short time. Pharmacy technicians work in drug stores or pharmacies more often than surgical and general medicine hospitals, and 13 percent of them work in hospitals.

The Role of Computer Skills in Pharmacy Technicians

Pharmacy technicians are the ones who run the pharmacy. Their job description includes many important duties and no two days are the same. The pharmacy can run like a well oiled machine thanks to the support of pharmacy technicians.

The pharmacy technician is the main person in the store. They greet the patient and accept their prescription. They input the prescription date into the computer and process the patient's insurance.

The pharmacy technician will then sell the prescription to the patient. Administrative and bookkeeping tasks, inventory control, stocking shelves, and data entry are some of the other duties that the pharmacy technician performs. Pharmacy technicians are detail oriented.

They work well in fast-paced environments and have good customer service skills. There are many things that can cause an insurance claim to be denied. The pharmacy technician can look for clerical mistakes.

The prescription is not up for refill yet. The pharmacy technician will need to call the insurance company. In many cases, the pharmacy technician can get to the root of the problem and get the insurance claim approved.

A Guide to Hiring a Certified Pharmacy Technician

The differences between a certified and registered technician are important to understand when choosing a good one. The guide below explains the factors you should consider when hiring. Most states require a high school or GED to be eligible to practice as a pharmacy technician.

The accreditation council for pharmacy education accredited several of the others. Some states have no requirement for education at all. Do you want your technician to be able to accept verbal orders for non-controlled drugs from a prescriber?

Is it important that you have someone who can make sterile products? You will want to understand what duties a certified or registered technician is capable of, or even allowed to perform, based on your specific requirements. Certified technicians have more advanced skills than their non-certified counterparts.

Pharmacy Technicians: A Job Description

A minimum of a high school diplomand a certified pharmacy technician certification is required for pharmacy technicians. Vocational schools and community colleges offer pharmacy technician training. Most pharmacy technicians get their skills through on-the-job training.

Pharmacy technicians work in retail stores. Some technicians work in nursing homes, hospitals, prisons, residential treatment facilities, mail order pharmacies and grocery stores. A pharmacy technician's place of employment will affect their daily duties and required level of experience.

Pharmacy technicians are expected to assess and understand potential drug interactions. The higher the potential for a drug interaction, the more medications a patient is on. Keeping accurate patient medication records and checking drug interactions when taking medication is important to inform and protect patients.

Pharmacy technicians are responsible for managing the inventory in the pharmacy. Keeping track of the pharmacy inventory includes assessing the availability of the medications in the pharmacy, placing orders to medications that are running low and ordering specialty medications when needed for patients. It also includes looking for expired drugs and removing them.

Quality standards must be met when storing prescriptions. In a temperature-controlled environment, some prescriptions need to be stored. Only authorized individuals can assess the medications if they are stored in a locked safe.

The Job Description of a Pharmacy Technician

A pharmacy technician is in charge of the operations of the pharmacy, interacts with customers, and complies with regulatory laws. Pharmacy technicians work in hospitals, grocery stores, and other medical facilities. Pharmacy technicians have important qualities that support their ultimate goal of ensuring that drug therapy is carried out safely and successfully.

Soft skills are what pharmacy techs need to have. The technician needs to be able to follow directions, communicate with staff and customers, and be organized. Pharmacy technicians must master specific knowledge in order to work in the industry.

Being able to understand medical history, read prescriptions, and follow billing protocols can be difficult, but it is a key part of pharmacology. You will often be working with customers that are in pain or have just been discharged from a medical procedure. If a patient is still foggy from anesthesia, you need to know how to direct the customer.

You may be using help from a close friend or family member. Strong skills ensure that customers feel cared for and that they understand instructions for taking medication. The pharmacy technician has solid knowledge of brand generic drugs.

Become an Effective Pharmacy Technician

A lot of learning can happen from your team members. Try to observe their strengths and weaknesses in order to learn from them. You need certain skills in order to be a pharmacy technician.

Being a pharmacy tech has inherent skills such as high levels of integrity and accuracy, attention to detail, dependability and empathetic communication. The technical skills which come to the fore in a pharmacy technician's career are vital to the success of his career. You are expected to know the basics of chemistry, pharmacology, medical terminology and mathematical calculations as a pharmacy technician.

Technology is being used to support busy pharmacy operations. A pharmacy technician is expected to overlook the automation process. Technical skills need constant updation to keep up with the latest developments in the pharmaceutical world.

Pharmacy Technicians: A Skillset in the Field

The pharmacy technician is a healthcare professional who works under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist, and is able to assist the pharmacy with advisory services. 2. Problem Solving Skills

Pharmacy technicians should be able to identify problems and find a solution. They can use past information and evaluate optional solutions to make the right decision. 7.

Customer service skills are required. Pharmacy technicians are often seen by healthcare professionals. Customer service skills are important in the regular phone services.

The pharmacy technicians take all the information to the pharmacy. There are 9. Pharmaceutical literacy.

Pharmacy technicians should be able to read and interpret literature. They need to be familiar with pharmaceutical and medical terms so that they can understand written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents and translate information for customers. 10.

Preparing for a Pharmacy Technician Job Interview

Before applying for a pharmacy technician job, you should be aware of your job requirements and be prepared to answer any questions that come up during the interview. You should tell the interviewer that you understand that as a Pharmacy Technician you will always be under the supervision of a pharmacy technician and that you will fill prescriptions in the prescription intake area. It is important to know that you need to be at least 18 years old and have a high school degree in order to work in a pharmacy.

Proper preparation for a Pharmacy Technician job interview is necessary in order to have the best chance for the job. Knowledge of and preparation for potential interview questions can help you to put your best foot forward and give you an advantage over other well qualified competing candidates. There are many questions that Pharmacy Technician job interviews ask, and sample answers, so learn how to prepare for your interview, and read about the questions and sample answers.

If you are leaving a current job and looking for a new position with a new company, you can suggest that it will allow you to advance your career and develop your Pharmacy Technician skills. Dressing professionally, arriving on time, and preparing properly can all help you get the job you want. Anticipating questions and rehearsing answers can help you maintain a positive attitude.

The Employment of Pharmacy Technicians and Aided Workers in the United States

Pharmacy technicians help licensed pharmacists prescribe and provide customer service in the pharmacy. There are a variety of services provided by pharmacy technicians. Depending on the rules and regulations of the State, pharmacy technicians have different responsibilities.

Patients write prescription requests to technicians. They can receive prescriptions electronically from doctors' offices and can also process requests by phone. They must verify that the information the prescription is correct.

To prepare a prescription, technicians retrieve, count, pour, weigh, measure, and sometimes mix the medication. In hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted-living facilities, technicians have more responsibilities. The information about the medication may be recorded by technicians.

Pharmacy aides work with pharmacy technicians. They answer telephones, operate cash register, and stock shelves. They may also prepare insurance forms.

Pharmacy aides do not mix or prepare prescriptions. The work environment is very nice. Pharmacy technicians and aides work in clean, organized, well-lighted, and well-ventilated areas.

A Course on Pharmacy Technicians

A pharmacy technician is assisting a licensed pharmacist. The growth of employment for pharmacy technicians has been the result of an expanding healthcare industry, a large population of the elderly, new drug discoveries, and the rise of awareness about health and well being. The job description of a pharmacy technician has increased career opportunities.

If you want to get into the workforce quickly, you should get a certificate or a degree. The course lasts for nine months and the curriculum is intended to teach the skills needed to work as a pharmacy tech. An associate degree program is more broad and includes general education such as college and psychology for 2 years.

Formal training includes how to prepare and help with patient care. You will be taught how to maintain the pharmacy apparatus and how to apply federal, state and local laws. A quality program is necessary for taking a pharmacy certification exam.

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists accredited the course. To become a pharmacy technician, you need a high school diplomand then you need to enroll for training to get a certificate or associate's degree, which is preferred by employers. Some pharmacy technicians learn on the job.

Most states make license mandatory, while some require certification. Each state has its own requirements for education, certification, continuing education, exams, licensure and fees. Soon-to-be pharma technicians need to be trained, certified, and licensed.