​Job Overview Transcript

 

Pharmacy technicians work under the supervision of a pharmacist, performing the duties necessary to keep a pharmacy running. While becoming a pharmacist can require years of schooling, training to be a pharmacy technician takes only a few months.

In the normal course of their day, pharmacy technicians will fill prescriptions, communicating with doctors or patients to ensure that the right medicine goes to the right person. They will also mix compounds, carefully measuring out precise quantities for blended ointments or creams.  Managing inventory, processing insurance claims, cashiering, and taking calls also fall into a technician’s daily responsibilities. By performing these essential but routine tasks, pharmacy technicians free up pharmacists to concentrate on other vital duties.

The majority of pharmacy technicians work in drugstores, but there are also job possibilities in hospitals and increasingly in grocery or department stores. Pharmacy technicians working in hospitals or all-hours stores can expect to work evening shifts, especially as they first enter the workforce.

In order to work effectively, pharmacy technicians must possess certain key skills. Perhaps most importantly, they must have the customer service skills necessary to interact politely and professionally with customers and other healthcare personnel, both in person and over the phone. They should have the teamwork experience to work well with their pharmacist, and the self-direction to act individually when necessary. Pharmacy technicians must also be very organized and detail-oriented, as any sort of mistake when dealing with medications can have serious side effects.

You should be able to stand for long periods of time, as most of the workday is spent on your feet. If you have any concerns, contact LBCC’s pharmacy technician adviser before applying for admission to this program.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career as a pharmacy technician, follow the links on the sidebar to continue the orientation.