Do you want a medical career that focuses on customer service more than direct care?

Detail, accuracy and client relation skills are key traits of pharmacy technicians. If you possess this skill set and enjoy a flexible schedule, becoming a pharmacy technician offers a stable career path as medical demands in the United States continue to grow.

A pharmacy technician's job may vary slightly depending on the type of facility they work in. Pharmacy technicians who work in hospital or drug store pharmacies perform different tasks than those who work in mail-order fulfillment. And technicians who work in nursing homes, hospitals or care facilities have additional duties than those who work in other arenas. In general, a pharmacy technician performs these duties:

• Receive and verify prescriptions
• Prepare medication for clients through mixing, counting pills and labeling bottles
• Price and fill prescriptions
• Obtain approval from the pharmacist
• Patient paperwork
• Insurance claims
• Inventory and stock medication

Additionally, retail pharmacy technicians may inventory and stock over the counter medications and supplies and act as cashier. In some states, pharmacy aides or pharmacy assistants perform these duties. Sometimes the duties of a pharmacy assistant overlap with those of a pharmacy technician, however, the critical part of the prescription process - mixing, filling, and verifying a prescription with a pharmacist is always the responsibility of the pharmacy technician or pharmacist.

Pharmacy technicians who work in patient care facilities are responsible for reading patient charts, then preparing the medication, verifying the prescription and delivering it to the patient. Technicians also consult doctors, nurses and other health care professionals regarding patient information, allergies, etc. to determine optimal patient care.

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