Pharmacy Technicians work under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist in preparing medications to dispense to patients. In order to do this, pharmacy technicians need to demonstrate proper pharmaceutical techniques and possess the interpersonal skills necessary to communicate effectively with patients as well as the pharmacist. Pharmacy Technicians need to learn medication names, actions, uses, and doses. They need to have a working knowledge of medical and pharmaceutical terminology, pharmaceutical calculations, data entry and recordkeeping, and pharmacy law and ethics.
Types of Work Environments
- Retail
- Hospitals
- Long-term care facilities
Education and Training Requirements
Pharmacy technicians earn a diploma, certificate, or associate's degree from an accredited program. At this time, the national examination is separate and voluntary. However, employers favor applicants who have had formal training and have passed the national examination.
Salary
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (2022), the median salary of a pharmacy technician is approximately $40,260 per year.
Professional Organization
The National Pharmacy Technician Association
Learn More
- Meet a Professional Pharmacy Technician: Denise
- Explore what Pharmacy Technology programs the Cleveland Clinic is affiliated with.
- If you are interested in being trained as a pharmacy technician, learn more about Cleveland Clinic School of Pharmacy Technology.
- For questions or inquiry, contact Oanu Banu, Program Manager, at banuo@ccf.org