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HealthcareISCO 2262

Pharmacy technician

Pharmacy technicians, under the supervision of a pharmacist, check incoming goods, control stock, handle and store pharmaceuticals properly. Where permitted by national rules, they dispense medication and provide advice on their appropriate use.

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Check yourself in a minute: pharmacy technician

Rate 5 of the 35 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

follow procedures to control substances hazardous to health

check information on prescriptions

respond to changing situations in health care

operate cash register

handle the logistics of medicinal products

About pharmacy technician

A pharmacy technician is a person who, working under the supervision of a pharmacist, checks incoming goods and stock and makes sure pharmaceutical products are transported and stored correctly.

In stock control, the technician checks what has arrived against what was ordered, moves medication into the right storage, and keeps the conditions that each product requires: temperature, light, humidity and separation of the items that have to be held apart. The technician also ensures the quality of pharmaceutical products, watches expiry dates and withdraws what can no longer be dispensed.

Where national legislation allows it, the technician dispenses medicines and advises on their correct use: how much, at what intervals, with or without food, and what to do about a missed dose.

Interacting with healthcare users is part of the work, and so is recognising when a question has to go to the pharmacist instead. The technician complies with healthcare legislation and the quality standards of healthcare practice. The technician also copes with emergency care situations and applies e-health and m-health technologies, from the dispensing system to electronic prescriptions. The scope of what a technician may do, and the training required, are set by national pharmaceutical law.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (35)

medicines for self-medicationmedicines for self-medicationMedication which can be self-administered by individuals for psychological or physical problems. This type is sold in supermarkets and drugstores and does not require a doctors prescription. This medi...follow procedures to control substances hazardous to healthfollow procedures to control substances hazardous to healthAdhere to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) procedures for activities that involve hazardous substances, such as bacteria, allergens, waste oil, paint or brake fluids that result i...check information on prescriptionscheck information on prescriptionsVerify the information on prescriptions from patients or from the doctor`s office ensuring that it is complete and accurate.respond to changing situations in health carerespond to changing situations in health careCope with pressure and respond appropriately and in time to unexpected and rapidly changing situations in healthcare.operate cash registeroperate cash registerRegister and handle cash transactions by using point of sale register.handle the logistics of medicinal productshandle the logistics of medicinal productsStore, preserve and distribute medicinal products at the wholesale stage.communicate with customerscommunicate with customersRespond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.use e-health and mobile health technologiesuse e-health and mobile health technologiesUse mobile health technologies and e-health (online applications and services) in order to enhance the provided healthcare.maintain pharmaceutical recordsmaintain pharmaceutical recordsMaintain accuracy of prescription records and inventories of medications and pharmaceutical products.empathise with the healthcare userempathise with the healthcare userUnderstand the background of clients` and patients’ symptoms, difficulties and behaviour. Be empathetic about their issues; showing respect and reinforcing their autonomy, self-esteem and independence...transfer medicationtransfer medicationTransfer medication from vials to sterile, disposable syringes using aseptic techniques.take pharmaceutical inventorytake pharmaceutical inventoryTake stock of medications, chemicals, and supplies, entering the inventory data into a computer, receiving and storing incoming supplies, verifying the supplied quantities against invoices, and inform...obtain healthcare user's medical status informationobtain healthcare user's medical status informationGather healthcare user information through various sources such as questioning the healthcare user, caregiver, or healthcare professional to obtain information on the patient`s health and social statu...manage healthcare users' datamanage healthcare users' dataKeep accurate client records which also satisfy legal and professional standards and ethical obligations in order to facilitate client management, ensuring that all clients' data (including verbal, wr...prepare prescription labelsprepare prescription labelsPrepare prescription labels, select the type of prescription container and attach the prescription labels to the container.ensure the appropriate supply in pharmacyensure the appropriate supply in pharmacyGuarantee the correct distribution of the pharamacy products.deal with emergency care situationsdeal with emergency care situationsAssess the signs and be well-prepared for a situation that poses an immediate threat to a person's health, security, property or environment.maintain adequate medication storage conditionsmaintain adequate medication storage conditionsMaintain proper storage and security conditions for medication. Comply with standards and regulations.provide health educationprovide health educationProvide evidence based strategies to promote healthy living, disease prevention and management.communicate in healthcarecommunicate in healthcareCommunicate effectively with patients, families and other caregivers, health care professionals, and community partners.process medical insurance claimsprocess medical insurance claimsContact the patient`s health insurance company and submit the appropriate forms with information on the patient and treatment.ensure quality assurance for pharmaceutical productsensure quality assurance for pharmaceutical productsTake the necessary steps to guarantee the quality of pharmaceutical products ensuring that the refrigerators/freezers are at the correct temperature and complete the appropriate documentation.comply with quality standards related to healthcare practicecomply with quality standards related to healthcare practiceApply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associati...comply with legislation related to health carecomply with legislation related to health careComply with the regional and national health legislation which regulates relations between suppliers, payers, vendors of the healthcare industry and patients, and the delivery of healthcare services.listen activelylisten activelyGive attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of cus...adhere to organisational guidelinesadhere to organisational guidelinesAdhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.work in a multicultural environment in health carework in a multicultural environment in health careInteract, relate and communicate with individuals from a variety of different cultures, when working in a healthcare environment.promote inclusionpromote inclusionPromote and respect diversity, and advocate for equal treatment of genders, ethnicities and minority groups in organisations in order to prevent discrimination and ensure inclusion and a positive envi...interact with healthcare usersinteract with healthcare usersCommunicate with clients and their carer’s, with the patient’s permission, to keep them informed about the clients’ and patients’ progress and safeguarding confidentiality.ensure safety of healthcare usersensure safety of healthcare usersMake sure that healthcare users are being treated professionally, effectively and safe from harm, adapting techniques and procedures according to the person's needs, abilities or the prevailing condit...apply organisational techniquesapply organisational techniquesEmploy a set of organisational techniques and procedures which facilitate the achievement of the set goals set such as detailed planning of personnel's schedules. Use these resources efficiently and s...communicate by telephonecommunicate by telephoneLiaise via telephone by making and answering calls in a timely, professional and polite manner.refer healthcare usersrefer healthcare usersMake referrals to other professionals, based on the healthcare user's requirements and needs, especially when recognising that additional healthcare diagnostics or interventions are required.work in multidisciplinary health teamswork in multidisciplinary health teamsParticipate in the delivery of multidisciplinary health care, and understand the rules and competences of other healthcare related professions.accept own accountabilityaccept own accountabilityAccept accountability for one`s own professional activities and recognise the limits of one`s own scope of practice and competencies.
Optional (14) — show
prepare intravenous packsprepare intravenous packsUnder a pharmacist`s supervision, add measured drugs or nutrients to intravenous solutions to prepare intravenous packs ensuring the process is done under sterile conditions.educate on the prevention of illnesseducate on the prevention of illnessOffer evidence-based advice on how to avoid ill health, educate and advise individuals and their carers on how to prevent ill health and/or be able to advise how to improve their environment and healt...inform policy makers on health-related challengesinform policy makers on health-related challengesProvide useful information related to health care professions to ensure policy decisions are made in the benefit of communities.manage schedule of tasksmanage schedule of tasksMaintain an overview of all the incoming tasks in order to prioritise the tasks, plan their execution, and integrate new tasks as they present themselves.provide medication informationprovide medication informationProvide patients with information about their medication, possible side effects, and contra-indications.advise on poisoning incidentsadvise on poisoning incidentsAdvise patients or other medical staff on how to handle overdose and poisoning intake in the most efficient manner.provide pharmaceutical adviceprovide pharmaceutical adviceProvide information and advice on medicinal products such as the appropriate use, the adverse reactions and the interactions with other medications.advise on healthcare users' informed consentadvise on healthcare users' informed consentEnsure patients/clients are fully informed about the risks and benefits of proposed treatments so they can give informed consent, engaging patients/clients in the process of their care and treatment.prepare medication from prescriptionprepare medication from prescriptionPrepare the pharmaceutical form of medicinal products according to the prescription received from the medical doctor.prepare doses of medication according to patient needsprepare doses of medication according to patient needsEnsure the patient receives the appropriate dose and form of medication.communicate in foreign languages with health service providerscommunicate in foreign languages with health service providersApply foreign languages in communicating with health service providers such as doctors and nurses.use foreign languages for health-related researchuse foreign languages for health-related researchUse foreign languages for conducting and collaborating in health-related research.develop a collaborative therapeutic relationshipdevelop a collaborative therapeutic relationshipDevelop a mutually collaborative therapeutic relationship during treatment, fostering and gaining healthcare users' trust and cooperation.apply context specific clinical competencesapply context specific clinical competencesApply professional and evidence based assessment, goal setting, delivery of intervention and evaluation of clients, taking into account the developmental and contextual history of the clients, within ...

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Frequently asked questions

What does a pharmacy technician do?

Pharmacy technicians, under the supervision of a pharmacist, check incoming goods, control stock, handle and store pharmaceuticals properly. Where permitted by national rules, they dispense medication and provide advice on their appropriate use.

What skills does a pharmacy technician need?

A pharmacy technician needs 35 essential skills, including medicines for self-medication, follow procedures to control substances hazardous to health, check information on prescriptions, respond to changing situations in health care, operate cash register.

Will AI replace pharmacy technician jobs?

The AI disruption score for pharmacy technician is 45/100 (moderate risk). Skills most exposed to automation: operate cash register, take pharmaceutical inventory, maintain pharmaceutical records. Most resilient: empathise with the healthcare user, deal with emergency care situations, develop a collaborative therapeutic relationship.

Quick Facts

SectorHealthcare
ISCO GroupHealth professionals
Essential Skills35

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