41 Pharmacy Technician Interview Questions (Plus Answers)

Pharmacy technicians work under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist, and they play an important role in ensuring the pharmacy operates effectively and ethically. If you're entering your career as a pharmacy tech, a hiring manager may contact you to schedule an interview. You can prepare for a pharmacy technician job interview by reviewing different types of questions you can expect, including general, situational and behavioral interview questions.

In this article, we list 41 pharmacy technician interview questions and share five example answers you can use to help craft your own responses.

12 General pharmacy technician interview questions

General pharmacy technician interview questions include those that help the interviewer get to know you and your interest in the job. This can tell them how you might fit into the company culture and how you can add to the pharmacy team. Here are 12 general questions the interviewer may ask you:

1. How would you describe yourself?

2. What do you know about this pharmacy?

3. Why did you decide to become a pharmacy technician?

4. What qualities make you a good fit for this job?

5. What's one weakness you have, and how are you working to improve it?

6. What's a professional goal you're currently working to achieve?

7. Can you describe your ideal work environment?

8. How would your past supervisors describe you?

9. What are some of your interests outside of work?

10. Can you tell me about one of your most recent accomplishments?

11. Where do you see yourself in five years?

12. Do you have any questions about the job or the company?

Related: 7 Sample Behavioral Interview Questions and Answers

12 Questions about experience and background

Questions about your background experience typically cover your educational training, certifications you have and your work experience. Your answers can help the interviewer assess your professional skills and how you might be successful in the role. Here are12 questions the hiring manager might ask you:

13. Where did you receive your education and training?

14. What do you find most interesting about pharmacology?

15. Do you have experience working in compounding pharmacies?

16. What skills and qualifications do you have that can help you succeed in this role?

17. In your experience, what are the most important pharmacy technician duties?

18. Do you have any plans for continuing your education?

19. How have you used your personal development to help you advance in your career?

20. What's your favorite aspect of practicing and learning about pharmacology?

21. What do you feel are the most challenging aspects of working as a pharmacy technician?

22. How do you handle working in a fast-paced environment?

23. How do you apply your collaboration and problem-solving skills to work effectively on a team?

24. How do you maintain patient confidentiality when preparing and dispensing medications?

Related: Learn About Being a Pharmacy Technician

12 In-depth questions for a pharmacy technician

In-depth questions focus on role-specific problem-solving scenarios and how you perform the job under specific circumstances. These typically include behavioral and situational questions that help the interviewer determine how well you understand the role of a pharmacy technician. Here are 12 in-depth interview questions the hiring manager might ask you:

25. How do effective customer service skills apply to the role of a pharmacy technician?

26. Have you ever resolved an issue for an upset customer? What did you do?

27. How would you communicate with a customer whose medication may take longer to fill than the expected time?

28. What would you do if you suspect a customer is using a medication incorrectly?

29. How do you stay updated on new medications and pharmacy practices?

30. What steps do you take to ensure customer prescriptions don't interact negatively with other medications they may take?

31. What time management strategies do you use to ensure you meet each customer's needs during busy periods?

32. How do you expect the pharmaceutical industry to change over the next five years?

33. What factors do you consider when storing medications?

34. How do you ensure accuracy when filling prescriptions?

35. Have you ever had a suggestion for the pharmacist? What was it, and how did you apply your skills to assist?

36. Have you ever disagreed with a coworker or your supervising pharmacist? How did you handle it?

Related: 28 Pharmacy Interview Questions (With Example Answers)

5 Pharmacy technician interview questions and sample answers

Here are some pharmacy technician interview questions and example answers to help you craft and practice your own responses:

37. What would you do if a coworker exhibited suspicious behavior?

This question focuses on your work ethic and your ability to adhere to protocol. Even if you haven't experienced a situation like this, give an example of how you would deal with it in your role as the pharmacy tech. Here's an example:

Example: "If I noticed strange or unethical behavior from a coworker, without proof of wrongdoing, I would first approach them out of concern for their wellbeing. If they confirmed my suspicions, I would encourage my coworker to manage the concern appropriately, even if protocol calls for legal action or termination. If they didn't resolve the issue or denied wrongdoing, I'd address it with a manager so they could investigate the situation."

Related: How To Handle Conflict With a Coworker

38. What is your experience handling insurance claims?

Many pharmacies accept insurance as payment, so the interviewer may want to ensure you understand some intricacies in handling this pharmacy tech responsibility. Use relevant examples from your experience to highlight your organization, attention to detail and ability to communicate effectively.

Example: "In my last job, billing insurance companies was a regular part of my day. Many customers who used the services of our pharmacy were Medicare recipients, so I have extensive experience with the different Medicare coverage plans, covered medications and total costs for prescriptions."

Related: Attention to Detail: Definition and Examples

39. Can you describe a time when you noticed an error with a prescription? What did you do?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to understand how you accept accountability and assist your team when they make a mistake. Use an example from your last role, or if you haven't experienced this, give an example of how you would approach fixing the error.

Example: "In my last position, I had a coworker who frequently filled and organized customer prescriptions quickly, which led to their mistake of mixing up two customers' prescriptions. I caught the mistake as I was retrieving one customer's medications for pickup, and I immediately searched the records to find the other customer who had their medication. I remedied the situation before the tech could send out any medications."

Related: How To Use the STAR Interview Response Technique

40. How do you make sure you fill priority medications on time?

This question allows the interviewer to get an idea of your time management and abilities to prioritize your responsibilities, especially during busy hours. Highlight your organizational and time management skills in your answer by describing an efficient method for handling these types of tasks.

Example: "My first step is to organize all the priority medications by their pickup times. I then fill each one in the order in which I received it. As soon as I fill each priority prescription, I ask the supervising pharmacist to sign off on them. Once I've filled each priority medication, I make sure I didn't miss any before filling the remaining orders."

Related: Pharmacy Technician II vs. III: What They Are and Their Differences

41. Do you have any experience using pharmacy software or applications?

Pharmacists use software to organize, receive and maintain prescription and medication information. In your answer to this question, show the employer your experience with these systems by detailing how you've used them.

Example: "In my most recent role, I used our online prescription filling system to receive orders from patients online. Using this system, I received the prescribing information and dosage, which I used to fill the medications accurately. I also have several years of experience working with pharmacy databases that store and organize patient and medication information."