Summary: Pharmacy technicians work under licensed pharmacists and doctors. They are responsible for helping fill and refill prescriptions, helping customers get the medications they are prescribed and organizing the prescriptions in the pharmacy for systematic accuracy.
A pharmacy technician must know the ins and outs of the prescription process, to make sure that everything is handled with care and the right prescriptions are given to the right person. Working in pharmacies in various places such as hospitals, Target, CVS, Walgreens, and other pharmaceutical facilities, pharmacist technicians must work in a well organized, well lighted, and a clean and sterile environment.
Some prescriptions can hold dangerous chemicals that need to be handled with caution so working in a sterile environment prevents any contamination form occurring which requires training from an accredited school for pharmacy technicians.
While some pharmacies are open 24 hours, pharmacy technicians must be able to work any shift morning, day, or night. Pharmacy technicians are required to know medical names, prescription procedures, and correct medical policies. If a job in the pharmacy technician field interests take the first step and sign up for a program today.
Original Article: Pharmacy Technician
Overview
Pharmacy technicians work under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist and perform many pharmacy-related functions. They refer any questions regarding prescriptions, drug information, or health matters to a pharmacist. Pharmacy techs work in a wide variety of practice settings, including community pharmacies, hospitals, the military, in-home health care settings, long term care facilities, mail service pharmacies, managed health care organizations, and educational programs.
Working Conditions
Pharmacy technicians work in clean, organized, well-lighted, and well-ventilated areas. Most of their workday is spent on their feet. They may be required to lift heavy boxes or to use stepladders to retrieve supplies from high shelves. Technicians work the same hours as pharmacists. This may include evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Because some hospital and retail pharmacies are open 24 hours a day, technicians may work varying shifts. As their seniority increases, technicians often have increased control over the hours they work. There are many opportunities for part-time work in both retail and hospital settings.
Academic Requirements
Formal pharmacy-technician education programs require classroom and laboratory work in a variety of areas, including medical and pharmaceutical terminology, pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacy recordkeeping, pharmaceutical techniques, and pharmacy law and ethics. Technicians also are required to learn medication names, actions, uses, and doses. Many training programs include internships, in which students gain hands-on experience in actual pharmacies. Students receive a diploma, certificate, or an associate degree, depending on the program.
Source: http://explorehealthcareers.org/en/Career/15/Pharmacy_Technician#Tab=Requirements
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