1. The Pharmacy
Technician 4E
Chapter 2
The Pharmacy Technician

2. Chapter Outline
 The Pharmacy Technician
 Personal Standards
 Training & Competency
 Certification

3. Pharmacy Technician
 A pharmacy technician, also called the pharmacy
assistant.
 Works in a pharmacy.
 Works under the direct supervision of a licensed
pharmacist.
 Assists in pharmacy activities that do not require
the professional judgment of a pharmacist.

4. Pharmacist
 The pharmacist provides
 The final check on the original prescription with
the medication bottle and label.
 Patient counseling - has the regal responsibility.

5. Pharmacy Technicians Role
 Originally, many pharmacy techs were trained as
medics in the military.
 Returned after service to take positions in
hospitals.
 In community pharmacy, the pharmacy tech
evolved from clerk or cashier to a pharmacist’s
assistant.
 A pharmacy technician assists the pharmacist with
routine functions.
 Leaves professional decision making and
judgment calls to the pharmacist.

6. Pharmacy Technicians Role
 Receiving prescriptions
 Using computer
 Inventory control
 Taking patient information
 Filling prescriptions
 Ordering
 Compounding
 Working with a team of health care professionals

7. Evolution of the Pharmacy Technician’s
Role
 Without pharmacy technicians, pharmacists would not have
sufficient time for the duties involved in “pharmaceutical care.”
 Pharmacy technicians do not have the skill or the training or
the legal accountability to do them.
 Pharmaceutical Care functions include:
 Counseling patients and reviewing medication profiles.
 Monitoring for side effects and adverse reactions.
 Screening patients for disease.
 Discussing cost-effective drug therapy options with the
prescriber.

8. Pharmacy Technicians
As of 2008, there are 326,300 Pharmacy Technicians
employed in the U.S.
By 2018, the demand will increase by 31%.

9. Work Environments and Conditions
 Employment for Pharmacy Technicians
 Community pharmacies (i.e., drugstores) are the
most common workplace.
 Hospital pharmacies are the second most common
work place.
 Others
 Home healthcare and long-term care facilities .
 Specialized area of practice (e.g., nuclear pharmacy)
with additional training.
 Mail order and internet Rx.
 Pharmaceutical wholesale.

10. The Pharmacy Technicians
 Scope of practice
 What individuals may and may not do in their
jobs.
 Pharmacists dispense, counsel, and advice
physicians on drug related issues.
 Pharmacy Tech assist pharmacists in areas where
pharmacists skills or expertise is not required.
 Job Description is written a document that states
the specific responsibilities and tasks for pharmacy
technicians which differs by settings.

11. Personal Standards
 Dependable
 Performing the job as required.
 Showing up on time.
 Do what is required.
 Detail oriented
 Drugs are dangerous substances if not properly
handled.
 Small mistake can lead to death of a person.
 Trustworthy
 Confidentiality of patient information.
 Access to habit forming drugs/drug with abuse
potential.
 Access to expensive drug products.

12. Personal Standards
 Health
 Has to be in good health or ease of making mistakes,
contracting diseases.
 Hygiene
 Deals with several people, patients and customers
 Professional image.
 Appearance
 White lab jacket, grooming, badge, etc.

13. Characteristics
A successful pharmacy technician must possess a wide
range of skills, knowledge, and aptitudes.
Broad knowledge of pharmacy practice that includes:
 Good Mathematics and problem solving skills
 Language and medical terminology - excellent
communication skills
 Computer skills
 Interpersonal skills - dedication to providing a critical
healthcare service to customers and patients
 high ethical standards, willingness to follow
instructions
 eagerness to learn

14. Characteristics
A successful pharmacy technician must possess
a wide range of skills, knowledge, and
aptitudes.
 Good research skills.
 Ability to perform accurately and calmly in hectic
or stressful situations.
 Ability to multi-task or work on several projects at
the same time.

15. Health Insurance Portability &
Accountability Act (HIP AA) - 1996
 Refers to privacy and security of patient health
related data.
 Made health care providers responsible for the
privacy and security of all identifiable patient
health information
 Called Protected Health Information – PHI.
 Apply to various formats including
 Electronic data, computer files, electronic
transmission.
 Paper and hard copy documents.
 Oral communication, or billing and claims.

16. Health Insurance Portability &
Accountability Act (HIP AA)- 1996
 NO casual discussion with anyone about a patient
data.
 Includes patient’s family member, Patient’s
friends, etc. without the patient’s permission/
after signing a waiver.
 NO discussion regarding topics including Medications
and Health issues.
 Making sure files and documents are securely
stored where no unauthorized person can access
them.

17. Education and Licensing Requirements
 In the past, on-the-job training (training in the
workplace) was sufficient for the tech working in a
pharmacy.
 Now, formal technician training programs train
pharmacy technicians for their expanded roles.
 Initially centered in hospitals, now many programs
are offered by community colleges and vocational
and technical schools.

18. Education and Licensing Requirements
 ASHP (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists)
 Developed a model curriculum to meet the needs of all
practice settings.
 In some states pharmacy technicians must be certified to
practice.
 250 accredited schools and institutions by ASHP.
 Performance review
 A performance review by an employer based on the job
description.
 An employer is legally responsible for pharmacy tech
performance and competency.

19. Evolution of the Pharmacy Technician’s Role
 The essential differences in the duties of a
pharmacist and a technician involve:
 Accountability and legal responsibility.
 Making decisions about the patient’s healthcare.
 Most state boards of pharmacy recognize the
existence and importance of the pharmacy
technician.
 Each state board of pharmacy regulates:
 The activities of pharmacy technicians.
 The ratio of pharmacy techs to pharmacists .

20. Competency
Being qualified and capable and done in various ways.
 Testing – written test or/and practical demonstration
to show competency.
 Performance is evaluated by an employer.
 Includes performance reviews, comments by your
supervisor, and complaints.

21. Competency
 Continuing Education
 An instructional program on new drugs and other
pharmacy practice to keep knowledge updated.
 Probation Period
 The time the pharmacy tech is expected to learn
certain skills sets and is usually 6 months.
 Leads to either permanent employee or dismissal
from the job.

22. Certification
 A legal proof or a document that an individual meets
certain standards provided by a neutral professional
organization.
 Two certification bodies:
1. PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board)
offers a National Examination to become a CPhT
(Certified Pharmacy Technician).
2. ICPT (Certification of Pharmacy Technicians) offers
a National Examination to become ExCPT.

23. As of 2010,
PTCB certified 363,000 pharmacy
technicians.

24. Certification
 Certification must be renewed:
 Every 2 years just like the pharmacist license
 Certifications require “continuing Education”, 20
contact hours
 Of these, one hour in pharmacy law every 2 years.

25. The Pharmacy Technician Exam
(PTCE)
 Length – 90 minutes, all multiple questions, computerize
test.
 To take the examination, a pharmacy tech must
 Complete high school or have a GED.
 NEVER have been convicted of a felony.
 Tests in areas of:
 Assisting the pharmacist in serving patients (66%).
 Medication distribution (22%).
 Inventory control systems of pharmacy operations
(12%).
 Score – 650 out of 900 points.

26. The Exam for the Certification of
Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT)
 Contains 110 multiple choice questions.
 To take the examination, a pharmacy tech must
 Complete high school or have a GED.
 NEVER been convicted of a felony.
 Must be 18 years old.
 Test areas:
 Regulations and technician duties (25%).
 Drugs and drug products (23%).
 Dispensing process (52%).

27. Pharmacy Technician Examination
Contact Information
PTCE ExCPT
2536 S Old Hwy 94, Suite
2215 Constitution Ave, NW 224
Washington, DC 20037 St. Charles, MO 63303
(202) 429-7596 (314) 442-6775

28. Terms to Remember
1. Certification
2. Competent
3. Confidentiality
4. Inventory
5. Personal inventory
6. Professionals
7. Scope of practice
8. Technicians