Pharmacy Technician

Table of Contents

My Responsibilities
Required Skills
Qualifications
Training
Work Experience
Employment
Working Hours
Salary
Career Progression
Contacts
Video(s) from a Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy technicians work in pharmacies alongside pharmacists and pharmacy assistants. Pharmacy is the science and practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, and reviewing medications, aiming to ensure the safe, effective, and affordable use of medicines. A pharmacy is where medicines are stored, prepared (labelled etc) and dispensed.  Pharmacy technicians work alongside pharmacy assistants, under the supervision of a registered pharmacist, in either a hospital or community setting and they help pharmacists  in the preparation and dispensing of drugs and medicines.

My Responsibilities#

The range of duties is broad and varies depending on the post, but may include the following:

Checking stock levels, ordering new stock from pharmaceutical companies and ensuring that drugs are stored appropriately
Advising patients (hospital) or customers (community) on the use of drugs prescribed or medication purchased over the counter
Referring customers to the pharmacist if need be
Handling cash
Maintaining records of prescriptions received and drugs issued
Labelling and checking items prior to dispensing
Preparing specialised, tailor-made drugs for intravenous administration by hospital medical staff
Preparing drugs and medicines under the supervision of a pharmacist
Checking received prescriptions for legality and accuracy.

Required Skills#

In order to be a good pharmacy technician, you will need to have:

good interpersonal skills
the ability to read and carry out instructions
the ability to pay attention to detail
an interest in science and people’s health
the ability to clearly explain instructions to customers
the ability to work well within a team

Qualifications#

In order to become a pharmacy technician, you will need to have scored good grades in your GCSEs

GCSEs at grade C/4 or above (or equivalent) – some posts may require specific GCSE grades or (equivalent)

There are apprenticeships available to become a pharmacy technician, just have a look on the government or NHS websites.

Training#

You get trained to become a pharmacy technician on the job, undertaking a level 3 pharmacy technician course.

Work Experience#

Previous experience working in a customer service role or as a pharmacy assistant would be really useful for this career.

Employment#

Employers of pharmacy technicians include:

community pharmacies (on the high street or in supermarkets) where hours are regular and may include weekends or evenings
NHS and private hospitals and may have to work shifts (in the NHS, pharmacy technicians start at band 3 and can reach band 6 as a lead pharmacy technician)
primary care organisations
pharmaceutical companies=

All pharmacy technicians have to wear a white lab coat or other protective clothing.

Some pharmacy technicians may undertake locum roles where they are self-employed and work in short-term roles.

Working Hours#

Pharmacy technicians typically work a 9-5pm shift.

Salary#

In NHS hospitals, band 3 pharmacy technicians can earn from £18,000 to just over £19,000. Band 4 can earn just under £24,000 to just under £26,000 a year. This can rise to Band 5 earning around £26,000 to just under £33,000.

Career Progression#

With experience and undertaking the relevant qualifications, it is possible to progress to a senior pharmacy technician role and then onto a lead pharmacy technician role.

Contacts#

The following organisations may be able to help provide you with further information:

General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)#

Telephone: 0203 713 8000
E-mail: info@pharmacyregulation.org
Website: http://www.pharmacyregulation.org
Twitter: @TheGPhC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGPhC

National Pharmacy Association (NPA)#

Telephone: 01727 858687
E-mail: npa@npa.co.uk
Website: http://www.npa.co.uk/
Twitter: @NPA1921
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Supportyourlocalpharmacy/

NHS Scotland Careers#

Website: http://www.careers.nhs.scot
Website (2): https://jobs.scot.nhs.uk/
Twitter: @NHSScotCareers

Royal Pharmaceutical Society Scotland#

Telephone: 0845 257 2570
E-mail: scotinfo@rpharms.com
Website: http://www.rpharms.com
Twitter: @rpharms
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/royalpharmsoc/