What does a Pharmacy Technician do?

Pharmacies, hospitals and nursing homes are among the most common places of employment for pharmacy technicians.

Some of the benefits that come with working as a pharmacy technician include job stability, flexible work schedule and the opportunity to advance into other healthcare-related fields.

A pharmacy technician's work can be stressful as they often work in a fast-paced environment and have to deal with the demands of customers while ensuring the accuracy and efficiency of their work. Other factors that contribute to the stress of the job include work setting, the volume of work to handle and staffing levels.

In the United States, the age requirement to work as a pharmacy technician varies by state. The standard minimum age is 18 years old although some states allow applicants at 16 years old.

No, a degree is not needed to become a pharmacy technician. Individuals will need at least a high school diploma or GED and on-the-job training to work as a pharmacy technician.

Pharmacy technician classes can be found at vocational and community colleges as well as hospitals and university hospitals.

Yes, it is possible to take the pharmacy technician exam without formal schooling. As of January 2020, candidates must either complete a Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) recognized training program, or have a minimum of 500 work hours as a pharmacy technician to be eligible to take the exam.

Candidates are allowed up to four attempts to retake the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) 60 days after the most recent attempt.

There is a relatively high demand for pharmacy technicians in most parts of the United States. While some states do not have strict application requirements and can hire individuals without prior experience, a person's chances of landing a job as a pharmacy technician will be better if they have had formal training and are certified.

Yes, there are pharmacy technician roles that make work from home feasible such as supporting patients in a call center capacity.

Most pharmacy technicians work full time and work hours can exceed 40 hours per week. As some pharmacies are open 24 hours, it is not uncommon for pharmacy technicians to work overnight and on weekends.

Pharmacy technicians work under the direction of a pharmacist. Pharmacy technicians take orders from patients, fill prescriptions and have these verified by the pharmacist before issuing them to the patient. Other differences include certification requirements and pay rates.