Gaining Employment As a Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy Assistants help licensed pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with the administrative duties of running the pharmacy. For a career as a pharmacy assistant, one should enjoy working with the public, have strong customer service skills, be able to follow directions, have good mathematical and reading skills, computer skills, be mature, friendly, and dependable, and possess good general clerical skills.

As a pharmacy assistant you may answer phones, direct customers in locating items in the store, answer basic non-pharmaceutical questions, cash out customers, maintain patient profiles, verify insurance coverage, stock and clean shelves, maintain inventory, help with the maintenance of equipment and supplies, and work closely with pharmacy technicians and pharmacists.

The physical demands of the job may be walking or being on your feet for long periods of time, lifting heavy boxes, and climbing up and down a ladder to retrieve or replace stock.

There aren’t set educational, licensing, or training requirements for a pharmacy assistant, other than you cannot have a record of drug or other substance abuse – background checks are often performed for this reason. Having former customer service experience or experience in a healthcare setting may be desired, but not a requirement for employment. Informal training for a pharmacy assistant takes place on the job and often begins by observing another employee and learning in a hands-on setting.

Pharmacy assistants usually work the same hours as a pharmacist. Some pharmacies, such as those in hospitals are open 24 hours, so in this case, shift work would be required. It is common for pharmacies to be open evenings, weekends, and most holidays. Most pharmacies are in retail settings and the hours may be the same or less than typical retail operations. Pharmacy assistants may work full or part-time.

Pharmacy assistants often go on to become pharmacy technicians, which requires formal education and board certification.

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