Pharmacy Technician Skills

Pharmacy Technician Skills



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List of Pharmacy Technician Skills for Resumes, Cover Letters and Interviews

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BY ALISON DOYLE

 

Updated May 06, 2018

A pharmacy technician needs to have a well-rounded skill set to help patients with their medication needs. Important traits range from dependability and integrity to attention to detail and sound reporting skills, supporting their ultimate goal of ensuring that drug therapy is carried out safely and successfully. A pharmacy technician assists the pharmacist in running the operation of the pharmacy, interacting professionally with customers and complying with regulatory laws. Pharmacy technicians may find work in a drugstore, grocery store, hospital, nursing home or other medical facilities.

Pharmacy Technician Education

Certification as a pharmacy technician (CPhT) is achieved by passing the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) and completing several hundred hours of training on-the-job comprising work with different prescription drugs, learning about pharmacy operations and adherence to ethical standards.

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) accredits pharmacy technician programs which are available at community colleges and vocational schools. Most certificate programs can be completed within a year or less; associate degree programs usually take two years.

Pharmacy Technician Responsibilities

Answering patients' questions and troubleshoot medication issues





Processing and filling prescriptions





Advocating for patients’ compliance with medication guidelines





Reporting drugs' adverse reactions





Maintaining relationships with physicians





Assisting in facilitating communication between the patient and insurance companies, doctors, nurses, and labs





Maintaining current notes and paperwork related to the patient’s drug therapy and pharmacy care plan





Reviewing medication orders and prescriptions and organizing medications for dispensing; preparing labels; calculating quantities, and preparing intravenous solutions





Checking pharmaceutical stock to assess inventory level; placing orders; removing outdated drugs





Complying with state and federal laws



Here's a list of skills employers seek in a pharmacy technician. Skills will vary based on the job for which you're applying, so also review our list of skills listed by job and type of skill.

List of Pharmacy Technician Skills

Personal Traits

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Accuracy





Adaptability





Collaboration





Continual Learning





Dependability





Detail Orientation





Displaying a Positive Outlook 





Following Directions





Friendly Interactive Style





Multitasking





Mathematical Proficiency





Organizational Skills





Proficiency in Languages (especially Spanish and Mandarin)





Prioritizing Tasks





Problem Solving





Stress Management





Teamwork





Time Management





Verbal Communication





Working Quickly



Task-Related Skills

Calculating Insurance Coverage for Pharmacy Transactions





Checking Prescriptions for Accuracy Prior to Dispensing





Contacting Insurers to Clarify Coverage





Counting, Pouring and Mixing Pharmaceuticals





Entering Medication Histories





Filling Prescriptions Precisely According to Pharmacist's Specifications





Ordering Supplies



Interpersonal Skills

Customer Service





Explaining Directions for Prescriptions to Customers





Explaining Costs and Payment Options To Customers





Identifying Customer Questions and Concerns about Prescriptions





Maintaining a Professional Demeanor





Learning Medical and Pharmaceutical Terms





Preserving Patient Confidentiality





Supporting the Appeals Process to Overturn Insurance Denials





Referring Questions to Pharmacists



Technical Skills

Knowledge of brand and generic drugs





Knowledge of medical terms, abbreviations and pharmacy calculations





Maintaining Pharmacy Equipment





Maintaining Records





Monitoring Supply of Drugs





Monitoring Prescription Inventory for Expired Drugs





Preparing Labels for Drug Bottles





Preparing Sterile Compounds





Processing Customer Payments





Reading and Interpreting Prescriptions and Pharmaceutical Literature





Replenishing Automated Dispensing Cabinets





Resolving Billing Discrepancies





Reviewing Expiration Dates on Drugs





Securing Inventory of Drugs





Selecting Appropriate Packing Materials





Staging Drug Deliveries





Software Proficiency: OP Robot and Bar-Code Station





Working with the TCG Packaging Machine



 https://www.thebalancecareers.com/list-of-pharmacy-technician-skills-2062453