Pharmacy Tech

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.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Accredited Pharmacy Technician; Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT); Chemotherapy Pharmacy Technician (Chemo Pharmacy Technician); Compounding Technician; OR Pharmacy Tech (Operating Room Pharmacy Tech); RPhT (Registered Pharmacy Technician)

Tasks

• 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.
• Maintain proper storage and security conditions for drugs.
• Receive and store incoming supplies, verify quantities against invoices, check for outdated medications in current inventory, and inform supervisors of stock needs and shortages.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.
• Prepack bulk medicines, fill bottles with prescribed medications, and type and affix labels.

Knowledge

• Customer and Personal Service
• Medicine and Dentistry
• Mathematics
• English Language
• Computers and Electronics
• Law and Government
• Administrative
• Production and Processing

Skills

• Active Listening
• Reading Comprehension
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Active Learning
• Monitoring
• Writing
• Mathematics

Abilities

• Oral Comprehension
• Written Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Near Vision
• Speech Recognition
• Problem Sensitivity
• Information Ordering
• Category Flexibility
• Speech Clarity
• Written Expression
• Deductive Reasoning
• Number Facility
• Perceptual Speed
• Finger Dexterity
• Inductive Reasoning
• Selective Attention
• Time Sharing
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Manual Dexterity