How to Become a Pharmacy Technician

Do you like working in a team? Are you interested in health care? Do you still want to interact with customers and people every day? If you said yes, an exciting career as a pharmacy technician may be right for you. This useful guide explains why to become a pharmacy technician, how to do so, and how to choose the right pharmacy technician training for you.

Why Become a Pharmacy Technician?

Pharmacy technicians hold a unique place in health care in that they can work in a variety of settings. They get to interact with customers as well as doctors, pharmacists, and other medical professionals.

According to the BLS, pharmacy technicians will also play an important role as the role of the pharmacist changes. Pharmacists are more frequently working with patients and reviewing prescriptions before they are given to patients. As such, technicians can perform tasks—such as collecting patient information, handling prescription transfers, and verifying the work of other technicians—that were previously done by pharmacists.1

Where Do Pharmacy Technicians Work?

While many have likely interacted with a pharmacy technician at a retail pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens the last time they were sick, there are other places pharmacy techs can work.12 Some of those options can include:

• Pharmacies, including specialty pharmacies12
• Pharmaceutical companies12
• Hospitals and other medical facilities5

Compounding pharmacies differ from retail drugstores in that they create medications tailored to individual patients.2 A doctor may refer a patient to a compounding pharmacy for specific medication that is tailored to a patient’s needs. Or, if a patient is allergic to certain ingredients like gluten, their doctor may refer them to a compounding pharmacy.

Meanwhile, pharmacy technicians work in drug-dispensing departments of larger organizations, such as hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, assisted living communities, and memory care facilities. At these sorts of facilities, pharmacy technicians may help with medication administered in IV bags or syringes.13

Overall, pharmacy technicians in all settings typically work full-time and indoors. Because pharmacy hours are typically longer, pharmacy technicians may need to work nights or weekends.3

Major Pharmacy Technician Employers

If you’re looking for pharmacy technician jobs, there are a number of major retailers nationally. The 15 largest pharmacies in order of estimated prescription revenues in 2022 were:4

1. CVS Health Corporation
2. Walgreens Boots Alliance
3. Cigna (Evernorth/Express Scripts)
4. UnitedHealth Group (OptumRx)
5. Walmart Stores, Inc.
6. The Kroger Company
7. Rite Aid Corporation
8. Humana (CenterWell)
9. Albertsons Companies
10. Publix
11. Costco Wholesale Corporation
12. BrightSpring Health Services
13. Centene (Evolve Health)
14. Ahold Delhaize
15. CarepathRx

These chains primarily consist of retail pharmacies and food and beverage stores that may have pharmacies inside them.

What Does a Pharmacy Technician Do?

Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists and interact with patients, helping people get the medications they need. Some common job duties of a pharmacy tech may include:5

• Collect information needed to fill a prescription from customers or health professionals
• Measure amounts of medication for prescriptions
• Package and label prescriptions
• Organize inventory and alert pharmacists to any shortages of medications or supplies
• Accept payment for prescriptions and process insurance claims
• Enter customer or patient information, including any prescriptions taken, into a computer system
• Answer phone calls from customers
• Arrange for customers to speak with pharmacists if customers have questions about medications or health matters

Overall, pharmacy technicians work under the supervision of a pharmacist who reviews medication before it is delivered to a patient. Exact duties of pharmacy technicians are regulated by individual state laws and store policies. Most states allow technicians to compound or mix some medications and call physicians for prescription refill authorizations.5

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician

There are different paths to becoming a pharmacy technician depending on the state in which you live and wish to work. Many states regulate pharmacy technicians in some way. Consult state Boards of Pharmacy for particular regulations. “Even where it is not required, certification may make it easier to get a job”.6–

Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)

Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) CPhT Certification is an important step toward a rewarding career. As a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT),  technicians demonstrate their knowledge and commitment in medication safety and effective patient care across pharmacy settings.11 Some states and employers require pharmacy technicians to be certified.6

Eligibility Requirements

Are you eligible to earn your PTCB CPhT certification?

✔  Reside in the United States of America or its territories (US)

✔  Completion of a PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Program or equivalent work experience

✔  Full disclosure of all criminal and State Board of Pharmacy registration or licensure actions

✔  Compliance with all applicable PTCB Certification policies

✔  Passing score on the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam® (PTCE®)

Candidates must complete a PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Program OR equivalent work experience in order to be eligible. To be eligible for the PTCE, a candidate must complete one of the following two pathways:

Pathway 1: A PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Program (or completion within 60 days). Candidates choose from more than 1,400 recognized programs.

Pathway 2: Equivalent work experience as a pharmacy technician (min. 500 hours).* This alternative secondary path serves experienced technicians who were not in a position to attend a PTCB-recognized program. PTCB accepts work experience across pharmacy practice settings that pertains to certain knowledge requirements.

*500 hours must be complete at the time of application.