Pharmacy Technician: Competencies, Associations, and Settings

Competencies, Associations, and Settings for Technicians

Competencies

  • State Boards of Pharmacy (BOPs) are overseen by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP).

  • BOP functions include:

    • Registering technicians and licensing pharmacists

    • Tracking consumer complaints

    • Reviewing and updating rules/regulations

    • Monitoring compliance and imposing fines

    • Closing noncompliant pharmacies/revoking licenses

    • Setting laws, regulations, and guidelines

Nondiscretionary Duties

  • Do not require professional judgment.

    • Examples: Typing, computer literacy, report creation, inventory management.

Inpatient Setting Requirements

  • Inventory: Wider range of medications, IV medications, hyperalimentation products.

  • Loading patient medication drawers or automated dispensing systems.

  • Overseeing documentation of controlled substances.

  • Handling emergency (stat) orders.

  • Preparing unit-dose medications (repackaging).

  • Specific job roles: Inventory technician, robot filler, IV technician, chemotherapy technician, anticoagulant technician, technician verifier, clinical technician, pharmacy informatics analyst, supervisory technician.

Community (Outpatient) Setting Requirements

  • Communication with the public and telephone interaction.

  • Managing insurance coverage issues.

  • Ordering stock and handling billing/coding claims.

  • Specific job roles: Insurance billing technician, retail technician, inventory/stock technician, technician recruiter/trainer/manager.

Closed-Door Pharmacy Requirements

  • Not open to the public; medications delivered by courier.

  • Services include parenteral preparations, blister packs, nuclear medicine.

  • Settings served: Hospice, home health, hospital pharmacies, specialty settings, assisted living/LTC.

  • Mail-order and e-pharmacies are growing but raise concerns about counterfeiting.

Training Programs

  • American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Model Curriculum for Pharmacy Technician Education and Training (entry and advanced levels).

  • Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).

  • Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) administers the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE).

Levels of Pharmacy Technicians

  • Pharmacy technician: No specialized training required

  • Licensed pharmacy technician: Agency provides permission to practice in a particular occupation

  • Registered pharmacy technician: Registered with the state BOP

  • Certified pharmacy technician: Has earned national recognition by a nongovernmental testing agency or association

National Certification

  • Demonstrates knowledge and skills via an exam; often preferred by employers.

  • Verification types: National Healthcareer Association (ExCPT exam) and PTCB (PTCE exam).

Specialty Certifications

  • Focus on preparing technicians for roles supporting pharmacists.

  • Available programs: Sterile Products IV certification, compounding certification, chemotherapy certification.

Continuing Education

  • Required to maintain CPhT credential.

  • Includes P courses and T courses on various topics.

  • Sources: Professional organizations, journals, drug companies.

Opportunities for Technicians

  • Roles in computer software development/support, teaching, curriculum development, writing, poison control, pharmacy business management, home infusion, etc.

Pharmacist Incentive Programs

  • Pharmacy employers may pay for education or reimburse for passing the PTCB exam.

Professional Associations

  • American Pharmacists Association (APhA), American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), American Association of Pharmacy Technicians (AAPT), National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA), The Society for the Education of Pharmacy Technicians (SEPhT).

Professionalism

  • Requires good writing and communication skills, teamwork, honesty, punctuality, adaptability, problem-solving, critical observation, conflict resolution, and professional dress.

Job Search

  • Use direct employer websites, prepare for interviews, maintain social media profiles, and apply for numerous positions.