Important Job Skills for Pharmacy Technicians

A pharmacy technician needs to have a well-rounded skill set to help patients with their medication needs.

A pharmacy technician assists the pharmacist in running the operations of the pharmacy, interacting professionally with customers, and complying with regulatory laws. Pharmacy technicians work in drugstores, grocery stores, hospitals, nursing homes, and other medical facilities.

Education and Training

Certification as a pharmacy technician (CPhT) is achieved by passing the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) and completing several hundred hours of training on-the-job comprising work with different prescription drugs, learning about pharmacy operations, and adherence to ethical standards.

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) accredits pharmacy technician programs, which are available at community colleges and vocational schools. Most certificate programs can be completed within a year or less; associate degree programs usually take two years.

Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy technicians help pharmacists dispense prescription medication to customers or health professionals. They work in retail pharmacies, hospitals and other medical facilities, and grocery stores. .

• Answering patients' questions and troubleshoot medication issues
• Processing and filling prescriptions
• Advocating for patients’ compliance with medication guidelines
• Reporting drugs' adverse reactions
• Maintaining relationships with physicians
• Assisting in facilitating communication between the patient and insurance companies, doctors, nurses, and labs
• Maintaining current notes and paperwork related to the patient’s drug therapy and pharmacy care plan
• Reviewing medication orders and prescriptions and organizing medications for dispensing; preparing labels; calculating quantities, and preparing intravenous solutions
• Checking pharmaceutical stock to assess inventory level; placing orders; removing outdated drugs
• Complying with state and federal laws

What Skills Do Pharmacy Technicians Need?

Important traits for pharmacy technicians range from dependability and integrity to attention to detail and sound reporting skills, supporting their ultimate goal of ensuring that drug therapy is carried out safely and successfully.

Personal Traits

There are a number of soft skills that pharmacy techs need to have. Technicians need to be able to follow the directions of their pharmacy manager and the pharmaceutical company, communicate with staff and customers, and be organized and able to multitask.

• Accuracy
• Adaptability
• Collaboration
• Communication
• Continual Learning
• Dependability
• Detail Orientation
• Displaying a Positive Outlook 
• Following Directions
• Friendly Interactive Style
• Listening
• Multitasking
• Mathematical Proficiency
• Organizational Skills
• Proficiency in Languages
• Prioritizing Tasks
• Problem Solving
• Stress Management
• Teamwork
• Time Management
• Verbal Communication
• Working Quickly

Task-Related

Insurance, MedPay, and prescription accuracy are examples of industry-specific knowledge that pharmacy techs must master. Being able to understand medical history, read prescriptions, and adhere to billing protocols can be complicated, but it is a key part of pharmacology.

• Calculating Insurance Coverage for Pharmacy Transactions
• Checking Prescriptions for Accuracy Prior to Dispensing
• Contacting Insurers to Clarify Coverage
• Counting, Pouring, and Mixing Pharmaceuticals
• Entering Medication Histories
• Filling Prescriptions Precisely According to Pharmacist's Specifications
• Ordering Supplies

Interpersonal

As a pharmacy technician, you will often be working with customers that are in pain or recently discharged from a medical procedure. If a patient is still a little foggy from anesthesia, you must be able to understand how to direct the customer. Often, you may be employing help from a close friend or family member assisting your customer. Strong interpersonal skills ensure that customers feel cared for and help customers understand instructions for taking medication.

• Customer Service
• Explaining Directions for Prescriptions to Customers
• Explaining Costs and Payment Options to Customers
• Identifying Customer Questions and Concerns about Prescriptions
• Maintaining a Professional Demeanor
• Learning Medical and Pharmaceutical Terms
• Preserving Patient Confidentiality
• Supporting the Appeals Process to Overturn Insurance Denials
• Referring Questions to Pharmacists

Technical

You must be able to read ingredients on a prescription, which requires a basic understanding of medicine and chemistry. Additionally, you will be using measuring equipment and industry-specific software. You are working with chemicals intended to heal the body or manage pain, and it is vital that you follow training guidelines and use equipment to accurately help customers.

• Knowledge of Brand and Generic Drugs
• Knowledge of Medical Terms, Abbreviations, and Pharmacy Calculations
• Maintaining Pharmacy Equipment
• Maintaining Records
• Monitoring Supply of Drugs
• Monitoring Prescription Inventory for Expired Drugs
• Preparing Labels for Drug Bottles
• Preparing Sterile Compounds
• Processing Customer Payments
• Reading and Interpreting Prescriptions and Pharmaceutical Literature
• Replenishing Automated Dispensing Cabinets
• Resolving Billing Discrepancies
• Reviewing Expiration Dates on Drugs
• Securing Inventory of Drugs
• Selecting Appropriate Packing Materials
• Staging Drug Deliveries
• Software Proficiency: OP Robot and Bar-Code Station
• Working with the TCG Packaging Machine

Pharmacy Technician Resume Sample

This is a sample resume written for pharmacy technician focusing on skills. You may simply read the sample below or download the Word template by clicking on the link.