Pharmacy Technicians

What the job really is

Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders.

At a glance

• Sector: Healthcare Practitioners
• O*NET-SOC code: 29-2052
• O*NET job zone: 3 — medium preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Maintain proper storage and security conditions for drugs.
• Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
• Enter prescription information into computer databases.
• Establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.
• Receive and store incoming supplies, verify quantities against invoices, check for outdated medications in current inventory, and inform supervisors of stock needs and shortages.
• Answer telephones, responding to questions or requests.
• Assist customers by answering simple questions, locating items, or referring them to the pharmacist for medication information.
• Operate cash registers to accept payment from customers.
• Price and file prescriptions that have been filled.
• Mix pharmaceutical preparations, according to written prescriptions.
• Order, label, and count stock of medications, chemicals, or supplies and enter inventory data into computer.
• Clean and help maintain equipment or work areas and sterilize glassware, according to prescribed methods.

Tools and technology

Apple Safari, MEDITECH software, Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Mozilla Firefox, Agar slides, Autoclaves, Automatic bottle filling machines

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Pharmacists
• Pharmacy Aides
• Medical Assistants
• Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
• Phlebotomists
• Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
• Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians
• Nursing Assistants

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 3 (medium preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Pharmacy Technicians — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.