Technicians and assistants by Nancy Saffer

n the past, a prescriptions or requests for prescription re- probably filled the prescrip- fills, they verify that the information on the prescription is complete and accurate. Then, I tions you ordered. Today, In the world of , technicians retrieve, count, pour, weigh, although are on it’s increasingly the measure, and, if necessary, mix the medica- tion for the prescription. Next, they prepare duty wherever are technicians and assistants dispensed, a pharmacy techni- the prescription labels, select a prescription who are minding the store. container, and affix the prescription and cian or pharmacy assistant of- other labels to the container. Once the pre- ten does most of the work in pre- Here’s a profile of these scription is filled, technicians price and file paring and selling prescriptions. two health-related it. Technicians also establish and maintain profiles and prepare insurance claim The role of pharmacy technicians and occupations. forms. assistants has changed for a number of rea- In retail settings, technicians also sons. One reason is that using these work- stock and take inventory of prescription ers minimizes health care costs. Another is and over-the-counter medications, clean that because pharmacy technicians and and help maintain equipment, and man- assistants handle routine work, pharma- prepare prescribed for pa- age the cash register in addition to their cists are able to focus more on supervisory tients and perform clerical tasks. Al- other duties. duties and patient care and advice. though their duties are often similar, In , technicians read physi- This article describes what pharmacy technicians usually have more responsi- cian orders on ’ charts and prepare technicians and assistants do, as well as bilities than assistants. and deliver medication after it is checked where they work, what their job outlook Laws vary by State, but most States re- by a pharmacist. They also enter informa- is, how much they earn, and how they quire the work of technicians and assist- tion about prescribed medications into train for these careers. ants to be closely supervised by pharma- patients’ medical records. They may as- cists. Pharmacists must check every semble a 24-hour supply of medicine for Nature of the work prescription technicians prepare before it every patient, packaging and labeling Pharmacy technicians and assistants help can be given to a patient. And any ques- each dose separately. Each package is licensed pharmacists in providing medi- tions regarding prescriptions, drug infor- checked by the supervising pharmacist cation and health care to patients. They mation, or health matters are directed to a before being given to a patient. Like their pharmacist. counterparts in retail establishments, Pharmacy technicians. Pharmacy tech- pharmacy technicians in hospitals keep Nancy Saffer is an economist formerly with the nicians follow a procedure for filling pre- an inventory of the medicines and other Office of Employment Projections, BLS. scriptions. After receiving patients’ written supplies they use.

34 Occupational Outlook Quarterly ● Spring 1999 The duties of pharmacy technicians have changed recently, along with those of pharmacists. “Pharmacists are becoming more focused on patient care, so pharmacy technicians are needed to perform more of the distributive functions,” says Melissa Murer, Executive Director of the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. And with technicians concentrating on preparing and dispensing medication, pharmacists have more time for patient consultation. “Preparing the work for the pharmacist is the most important duty of a pharmacy technician,” says Jennifer Corley, a Certified Pharmacy Technician in Haltom City, Texas. “This frees up the pharmacist to spend more time counsel- ing patients and less time behind the counter.” Pharmacy assistants. Some hospitals and employ pharmacy assist- ants, whose duties may be similar to those of technicians. Pharmacy assistants in re- tail pharmacies often work as clerks or cashiers. They may answer phones, Photos courtesy of the American Society Health-System Pharmacists handle money, and perform clerical func- Pharmacy technicians prepare routine prescriptions under the supervision of a pharmacist. tions. Assistants who work in hospitals deliver medication to patients. They also assist in the pharmacy with du- have to use a stepladder to retrieve sup- tablishments and hospitals, since they are ties such as stocking shelves. plies from high shelves. They may also ex- paid less than pharmacists. Also, phar- perience stress during busy periods. macy workloads—and, consequently, the Employment and working Because prescriptions must be filled demand for technicians—are increasing conditions whenever a pharmacy is open—which, in because of society’s growing population In 1996, pharmacy technicians and assist- the case of hospitals and 24-hour pharma- of older people, who are more likely to ants held about 130,000 jobs—82,000 cies, means almost any time—technicians need prescription medication than people pharmacy technicians and 47,000 phar- and assistants often work evenings, in other age groups. Employment of phar- macy assistants. Over two-thirds worked nights, and weekends. There are many op- macy assistants likewise will grow as in retail trade, mainly in retail pharma- portunities for part-time work in 24-hour assistants take over some duties of higher- cies; about a quarter worked in hospitals; pharmacies. Some technicians and assist- paid pharmacists and pharmacy tech- and most of the rest worked in other ants work part time while studying to be- nicians. health-related settings such as clinics and come pharmacists. Traditionally, States have required a nursing homes. ratio of one pharmacist to every techni- Pharmacy technicians and assistants Job outlook cian, but that is also expected to change. work in clean, organized, well-lighted, Employment of pharmacy technicians “Many of the major employers of techni- and well-ventilated areas. They spend and assistants is expected to increase cians are expanding the number of their most of the workday on their feet. Techni- about as fast as the average for all occupa- facilities, and boards of pharmacy in some cians and assistants may be required to lift tions through 2006, for several reasons. States are allowing the legal ratio of tech- boxes weighing up to 40 pounds and may Technicians are cost effective for retail es- nicians to pharmacists to expand,” says

Occupational Outlook Quarterly ● Spring 1999 35 South Carolina. “Certified technicians are also given the first opportunity to ad- vance to a higher position.” More infor- mation about certification is in the next section. Depending on geographic location, pay for pharmacy assistants ranges from minimum wage, currently $5.15 per hour, to $6.50 per hour. Most retail pharmacies and hospitals also provide benefits. These include paid vacation and sick leave, medical and den- tal insurance, and retirement plans. Some employers pay overtime to technicians and assistants who work on holidays.

Qualifications, training, and certification People who want to become pharmacy technicians and assistants should be pro- ficient in basic subjects such as math- ematics, spelling, and reading. A strong background in chemistry and health edu- cation is also recommended. Some em- ployers may prefer to hire people with ex- The duties of pharmacy technicians and assistants vary according to their work setting. perience in typing, handling money, or operating special equipment. Pharmacy Mark Boesen, Director of Government In other words, automation is not ex- technicians cannot have prior records of and Student Affairs for the American Asso- pected to replace technicians. drug or substance abuse. ciation of Colleges of Pharmacy. “This is a Technicians and assistants must be very promising field to work in.” In- Earnings alert, observant, organized, honest, and creased demand for technician services There are no Bureau of Labor Statistics responsible; have good manual dexterity; and greater responsibility have resulted in wage data for pharmacy technicians and and be able to perform repetitious work some States approving an increase to two assistants. Based on the limited data accurately. They need good interpersonal or three technicians per pharmacist. available, pay appears to vary by geo- and communication skills because of In addition to jobs created by employ- graphic location and employer. Accord- their frequent interaction with patients, ment growth, many jobs for pharmacy ing to estimates from experts in the field, coworkers, and health care professionals. technicians and assistants will result from technicians employed in retail pharma- Technicians and assistants must be able to the need to replace workers who transfer cies earn between $5 and $8 per hour, and work as part of a team. Ability to take di- to other occupations or leave the labor those working in hospitals start at about rection is also important, but technicians force. And as mentioned above, there will $7 to $9 per hour. Some hospitals pay and assistants should be able to work on be plenty of opportunities for part-time more to technicians who work evenings, their own without constant instruction work. nights, or weekends. from a pharmacist. As they take on more tasks previously Experienced technicians may earn as There are few State and no Federal re- done by pharmacists, pharmacy techni- much as $10 to $14 per hour, and techni- quirements for formal training of phar- cians must learn and master new phar- cians with certification are likely to be macy technicians and assistants. Most macy technology as it becomes available. paid the most. “Hospitals are offering pharmacy technicians and assistants re- Some pharmacies use robotic machines to higher salaries to technicians who are cer- ceive informal on-the-job training. But dispense medicine into containers, but tified,” says Don Ballington, Director of many employers—especially those who technicians are still hired to oversee the the pharmacy technician program at Mid- cannot invest the time or money required machine, stock bins, and label containers. lands Technical College in Columbia, for on-the-job training—prefer to hire

36 Occupational Outlook Quarterly ● Spring 1999 technicians who have completed formal pharmacy assistants are almost always training. trained on the job. Pharmacy assistants Pharmacy technician education pro- might start out observing a more experi- grams involve both classroom and labora- enced worker. After becoming familiar tory work in subjects such as medical and with hospital or store equipment, poli- pharmaceutical terminology, pharmaceu- cies, and procedures, they are able to work tical calculations, pharmacy record keep- on their own. Assistants are not likely to ing, pharmaceutical techniques, and receive additional training unless their pharmacy law and ethics. Technicians employer introduces new equipment or must learn medication names, actions, changes policies or procedures. uses, and doses. Students who success- Working in a community pharmacy or fully complete requirements receive a di- volunteering in a hospital is helpful for ploma, certificate, or associate degree, de- Pharmacy technicians and assistants stock someone interested in becoming a phar- pending on the program. and take inventory of prescription and over- macy technician or assistant. Other jobs The American Society of Health-Sys- the-counter drugs. that may prove useful include work that tem Pharmacists has accredited more than involves checking inventories, counting, 50 programs for pharmacy technician measuring, and using a computer. Many education. Formal training programs are issa Murer. “Certification also gives em- pharmacy technician training programs offered by some hospitals as well as pro- ployers a sense of retention and recruit- include clerkships or internships, which prietary schools, vocational and techni- ment in their employees.” Results of a provide opportunities for hands-on expe- cal colleges, community colleges, and 1994 Board survey confirm that assertion. rience in pharmacies. colleges of pharmacy. The Society also Surveyed technicians cited better wages, offers an accredited program that requires job opportunities, and job security, along Related occupations 600 hours of training. with improved self-worth and compe- Workers in other medical support occupa- Pharmacy technicians may also dem- tence, as a result of earning certification. tions include medical secretaries, hospi- onstrate professional competency by Jennifer Corley is among the certified tal admitting clerks, dental assistants, earning certification. The Pharmacy technicians who support certification. medical record clerks, occupational Technician Certification Board adminis- “Since technicians are being handed therapy assistants and aides, licensed ters the National Pharmacy Technician more and more responsibilities, there is a nursing aides, surgical technologists, and Certification Examination, a standard- need to have formally educated and well physical therapy assistants and aides. ized test of knowledge and skills required qualified people,” she says. “When I for pharmacy technicians. The exam cov- passed the certification exam, I got a $1 For more information ers three function areas: Assisting the per hour raise. I also gained more recogni- For information on certification and re- pharmacist in serving patients, medica- tion and respect for my work.” certification or to receive a National Phar- tion distribution and inventory control Certified technicians must be recerti- macy Technician Certification Examina- systems, and pharmacy operations. The fied every 2 years. Recertification re- tion Candidate Handbook, contact: cost is $105. About 20,000 pharmacy quires completion of 20 “contact” Pharmacy Technician Certification technicians were certified in 1996, ac- hours—defined as class time or training Board cording to the Board. received in addition to usual duties—of 2215 Constitution Ave., NW. To be eligible for the certification pharmacy-related topics within the 2-year Washington, DC 20037-2985 exam, candidates must have a high school certification period. At least 1 hour must (202) 429-7576 diploma or equivalent. Individuals who be in the area of pharmacy law. Techni- www.ptcb.org pass the exam earn the title of Certified cians can earn contact hours from sources Pharmacy Technician. such as pharmacy associations, pharmacy For a directory of accredited pharmacy Like formal training, certification is colleges, and pharmacy technician train- technician programs, contact: not required for pharmacy technicians. ing programs. A technician working un- American Society of Health-System However, being certified does provide ad- der the direct supervision and instruction Pharmacists vantages. “Allowing technicians to be- of a pharmacist can earn up to 10 contact 7272 Wisconsin Ave. come certified is one way for them to for- hours. Bethesda, MD 20814 malize their career—they feel like part of In contrast to the formal training and (301) 657-3000 a health-care team,” says the Board’s Mel- certification available to technicians,

Occupational Outlook Quarterly ● Spring 1999 37