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What Does A Pharmacy Technician Do

Why Should I Become a Pharmacy Technician?

Learn about the roles and responsibilities of becoming a pharmacy technician and how to become certified completely online with Advanced eClinical Training. 

After opening the door to a drugstore, feelings of nervousness and anxiety begin to take over. Whether it is for a refill of a medication that you have taken for the past three years or if it is for a new prescription that your physician has sent in, you have questions about a medication that you can barely pronounce. 

Is my prescription ready? 

Did my doctor send it in? 

Will my insurance cover it? 

You work up the courage to ask for more information regarding the medication as you stand in line and other patients are checking out. As you step up to the counter, you are greeted with a large, welcoming smile. In a rush to get it over with, you ask for the pharmacist. The person that greeted you asks, “Is there anything that I can help you with?” and you explain your situation. After speaking, you understand that this is the pharmacy technician assisting the pharmacist for the day. This person eloquently explains to you the steps of the prescription process and the stages of billing. Somehow, this pharmacy technician made you feel less nervous and more comfortable asking all the questions you originally had. 

Pharmacy technicians are more than the duties listed in their job description. Pharmacy technicians are most commonly the first person encountered in a pharmacy; therefore, technicians require qualities of great personal skills such as communication skills, listening skills, attention to detail, and cultural awareness. 

What is a Pharmacy Technician? 

Pharmacy Technicians assist in improving pharmacy workflows and communicating important information to patients. The workflow of a pharmacy includes prescription intake, data entry, information/medication history collection, compounding prescriptions, and dispensing medications. Pharmacy Technicians also aid in the distribution of information to patients and other healthcare personnel. 

Pharmacy Technicians, now more than ever, are a vital element to successful healthcare systems. They are integral in improving patient outcomes.

Learn how to earn your Pharmacy Technician Certification completely online with Advanced eClinical Training! 

What can Pharmacy Technicians do? 

Pharmacy technicians have flexible roles. Once in the pharmacy field, there are multiple disciplines that pharmacy technicians can excel in. The most common field is retail or community pharmacies, such as the traditional brick-and-mortar pharmacy. Pharmacy technicians play an important role in other facets of pharmacy, too. They are involved in compounding unique medication formulations at a compounding pharmacy, handling radiopharmaceuticals at a nuclear pharmacy, and preparing IV bags in a hospital pharmacy. After the start of the pandemic, many companies have expanded the role of a pharmacy technician. In some states, technicians are now able to administer COVID-19 vaccinations. Pharmacy technicians are also available to work for pharmaceutical companies or in hospital administration as prior-authorization technicians or pharmacy purchasers, which can be performed remotely from home. The opportunities in pharmacy are growing each year! 

Which skills are required as a Pharmacy Technician? 

In order to become a pharmacy technician, certification is required for most states. Most importantly, there are interpersonal skills required to become a successful pharmacy technician. Being the first face of a community pharmacy, one must possess both communication and listening skills. Cultural awareness is also vital when working with the community and coworkers. Medicine is not limited to one group of people and therefore, a technician must be adaptable and flexible in their delivery and intake with patients. 

How do I become a Certified Pharmacy Technician?

Some states require pharmacy technicians to be certified in order to work in pharmacy roles. A Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) license is achieved by passing a national exam with the National Healthcare Association (NHA) or the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). In order to prepare for the exam, Advanced eClinical offers a complete, comprehensive course and review that can be accomplished in as little as 12 weeks from your home computer! This online course offers pharmacy technician study guides, practice exams, and more test prep. Enroll now to get started! 

About Advanced eClinical Training

Advanced eClinical creates a supportive community where pre-health students could interact with other like-minded and passionate students from all over the country- to learn from one another, provide mentorship, advice, and motivation. The founders sought to create flexible and affordable clinical certification courses for pre-health students, allowing them to easily gain the healthcare experience they need without prolonging or complicating their educational journey to medical, PA, pharmacy, or nursing school. 

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