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Pharmacy Technicians - 29-2052.00

O*NET-SOC Description

Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • Pharmacy Technician
  • Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
  • IV Certified Pharmacy Technician
  • Pharmaceutical Care Associate

SOC Occupation Groups

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Answer telephones, responding to questions or requests.
  • Assist customers by answering simple questions, locating items, or referring them to the pharmacist for medication information.
  • Clean and help maintain equipment or work areas and sterilize glassware, according to prescribed methods.
  • Compute charges for medication or equipment dispensed to hospital patients and enter data in computer.
  • Deliver medications or pharmaceutical supplies to patients, nursing stations, or surgery.
  • Establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.
  • Maintain and merchandise home healthcare products or services.
  • Maintain proper storage and security conditions for drugs.
  • Mix pharmaceutical preparations, according to written prescriptions.
  • Operate cash registers to accept payment from customers.
  • Order, label, and count stock of medications, chemicals, or supplies and enter inventory data into computer.
  • Prepack bulk medicines, fill bottles with prescribed medications, and type and affix labels.
  • Prepare and process medical insurance claim forms and records.
  • Price and file prescriptions that have been filled.
  • Price stock and mark items for sale.
  • Receive and store incoming supplies, verify quantities against invoices, check for outdated medications in current inventory, and inform supervisors of stock needs and shortages.
  • Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
  • Restock intravenous (IV) supplies and add measured drugs or nutrients to IV solutions under sterile conditions to prepare IV packs for various uses, such as chemotherapy medication.
  • Supply and monitor robotic machines that dispense medicine into containers and label the containers.
  • Transfer medication from vials to the appropriate number of sterile, disposable syringes, using aseptic techniques.

Detailed Work Activities

  • accept prescriptions for filling
  • adhere to safety procedures
  • answer customer or public inquiries
  • clean rooms or work areas
  • collect payment
  • communicate technical information
  • compound pharmaceuticals or medical preparations
  • compute financial data
  • deliver or obtain mail, messages, records, food or other items
  • dispense prescribed medications and pharmaceuticals
  • distinguish colors
  • follow safe waste disposal procedures
  • interpret prescriptions
  • inventory medical supplies or instruments
  • inventory stock to ensure adequate supplies
  • label pharmaceutical supplies
  • maintain customer records
  • maintain dental or medical records
  • maintain established procedures concerning quality assurance
  • maintain record of medication or equipment dispensed to patient
  • maintain records, reports, or files
  • measure, weigh, or count products or materials
  • mix paint, ingredients, or chemicals, according to specifications
  • monitor production machinery/equipment operation to detect problems
  • obtain information from clients, customers, or patients
  • order or purchase supplies, materials, or equipment
  • post medical insurance billings
  • prepare sterile solutions, infusions, or intravenous packs
  • price merchandise
  • process medical records
  • provide customer service
  • sell merchandise
  • sterilize or clean laboratory or healthcare equipment
  • stock or organize goods
  • store pharmaceutical supplies or filled prescriptions
  • understand drug products
  • understand government health, hotel or food service regulations
  • understand properties or composition of drugs
  • use cash registers
  • use clinical sterilizing technique
  • use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
  • use health or sanitation standards
  • use interpersonal communication techniques
  • use knowledge of medical terminology
  • use knowledge of metric system
  • use laboratory equipment
  • use precision measuring tools or equipment
  • use quality assurance techniques
  • use sanitation practices in health care settings
  • use telephone communication techniques
  • verify completeness or accuracy of data

Military Crosswalk Titles

  • Pharmacy Specialist (Army - Enlisted)
  • Pharmacy Technician (Navy - Enlisted)

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

  • Level I Pharmacy Service Associate
  • Level II Pharmacy Support Technician
  • Level III Lead Pharmacy Technician
  • Pharmacist Assistant
  • Pharmacy Support Staff

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Pharmacist Assistant
  • Pharmacy Technician