Pharmacy Technician

Also known as:

Dispensing Technician
Dispensing Assistant

Introduction

Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists in the preparation, checking, storage and the dispensing of drugs. They prepare drugs, under supervision, to special prescriptions. They may work in hospitals, shops or manufacturing industries. Training involves part-time study while in employment.

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Work Activities

Pharmacy technicians work under the supervision of a pharmacist, preparing and dispensing drugs and medicines. Much of the work involves weighing or counting out tablets, measuring liquids, selecting the correct tubes of cream and bottles of medicine, and preparing the label - all according to the prescription.

Sometimes technicians prepare special ointments and other mixtures. Following a formula, they calculate the amount of each ingredient required. A pharmacist checks both the calculations and the made-up drugs.

Duties vary slightly depending on whether the technician works in a hospital, a retail pharmacy or in industry. In addition to preparing and dispensing drugs, pharmacy technicians in hospitals check and replenish drug stocks held on wards and in departments.

Experienced technicians may specialise in, for example, preparing special nutrition substitutes, radiopharmaceuticals (for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer) or in quality control laboratory work.

Retail pharmacies are retail outlets (chemist shops) where pharmacy technicians may be involved in advising customers on medicinal products. They may also sell other goods. Clerical tasks include checking and ordering stock.

In the pharmaceutical industry, the pharmacy technician's role is to assist research pharmacists who are working on projects to develop new drugs or improve existing ones. As in hospitals, specialisation is possible in, for example, quality control or the manufacture of sterile (bacteria free) medicinal products.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

You must enjoy working with people and have good communication skills. You will advise medical staff, patients and the public on how to take the medicines you have prepared.

You must be accurate in following procedures and in labelling. You should be methodical and careful in your approach to work. Numerical skills and an interest in science are important.

You need normal colour vision.

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Pay and Opportunities

Salaries for pharmacy technicians vary depending on the branch of pharmacy and the organisation they work for.

National Health Service (NHS) employees are paid on a rising scale within defined pay bands, according to their skills and responsibilities.

On the Agenda for Change pay scales pharmacy technicians are on Band 4. From April 1, 2008 this has been £17,316 - £20,818 a year. Higher level pharmacy technicians £20,225- £26,123. Specialist pharmacy technicians and those with management responsibilities can earn up to £38,352 a year.

In the private sector, pay rates vary depending on the organisation and role and responsibilities, but are broadly in line with NHS rates. Pharmacy technicians usually work a 37-hour week, which may include shift work, including weekends, on a rota basis.

Employers include: community pharmacies (e.g. high street chemists' shops and supermarket pharmacy counters), NHS and private hospitals, NHS Primary Care Trusts and pharmaceutical companies.

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Useful experience can include working as a medical counter assistant.

Distance learning, towards SVQ level 3, is available from the National Pharmacy Association.

Since January 2005, pharmacy technicians have been registered and regulated by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB). Technicians need to achieve SVQ level 3 in Pharmacy Services to join the register.

• 33% of people in occupations such as pharmacy technician work part-time.
• 2% have flexible hours.

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