WHAT DOES A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN DO?

Published: Nov 24, 2025 - The Pharmacy Technician supports pharmacy operations by performing accurate prescription processing, medication preparation, and inventory upkeep. This role ensures clear communication with pharmacists, healthcare personnel, and patients to maintain efficient workflow and reliable service. The technician also upholds regulatory compliance while sustaining a clean, organized, and safe pharmacy environment.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Pharmacy Technician

1. Pharmacy Technician Duties

  • Medication Support: Assists in the preparation and distribution of medications throughout the hospital which includes inpatient unit dose dispensing and outpatient dispensing
  • Profile Management: Performs computer activities to maintain patient profiles, entry of charges and credits and generation of unit dose fill lists
  • Cart Filling: Fills unit dose carts accurately and according to computerized lists
  • Cart Exchange: Exchanges unit dose carts, including the transfer of bulk items
  • Crash Restocking: Restocks crash cart medications, including documentation and follow-through
  • Emergency Filling: Fills emergency boxes and stat boxes, including documentation, expiration date checking and follow-through
  • Unit Inspection: Conducts patient care unit inspections
  • Drug Distribution: Performs technical pharmaceutical functions related to the purchasing, receiving and distribution of drugs
  • Barcode Packaging: Ensures all medications are packaged with a bar code compatible with existing Pharmacy bar code technology
  • Tablet Prepackaging: Prepackages tablets, capsules and other dosage forms for in-patient and out-patient dispensing
  • Staff Training: Participates in the training and orientation of new Pharmacy personnel
  • Sterile Preparation: Prepares sterile products, intravenous admixtures, and chemotherapeutic agents
  • Patient Interaction: Positively interacts with patients and other hospital guests to enhance the quality of care/service provided
  • Information Confidentiality: Maintains confidentiality of patient information

2. Pharmacy Technician Details

  • Order Entry: Completes order-entry procedures
  • Inventory Management: Performs inventory management functions
  • Product Distribution: Performs medication product distribution
  • Quality Control: Performs quality control and documentation
  • Chemo Preparation: Prepares chemotherapy products
  • IV Preparation: Prepares IV/Piggyback and Enteral/Parenteral products
  • Product Preparation: Prepares oral, topical and injectable products, for example, unit dose, cart fill, repackaging bulk medications, liquids, pedipods, extemporaneously compounded products, antineoplastics and syrups
  • Technology Troubleshooting: Uses and troubleshoots automated pharmaceutical technology

3. Pharmacy Technician Responsibilities

  • Medication Procurement: Procures and distributes medication orders per physician request, pharmacist request, or prearranged work assignment according to established policies, procedures, and protocols
  • Medication Prepackaging: Accurately prepackages medications following departmental procedures
  • Sterile Preparation: Prepare sterile products to include chemotherapy/hazardous drugs, parenteral products, sterile eye drops, irrigation solution and other sterile products
  • Medication Delivery: Delivers medications and supplies to patient care and ancillary areas accurately per established schedule
  • Controlled Dispensing: Controlled substances are accurately dispensed with proper documentation
  • Diversion Reporting: Counting discrepancies and suspected diversion is immediately brought to the attention of a pharmacist
  • Stock Maintenance: Maintains adequate stock of medications and supplies according to established policies and procedures
  • Supply Handling: Assist in ordering, receiving, unpacking, and storing pharmaceuticals and supplies in appropriate locations

4. Retail Pharmacy Technician Job Summary

  • Specialized Duties: Perform specialized duties such as hazardous drug compounding, medication history, nuclear, and Patient Assistance Program (PAP) as a pharmacy technician
  • System Refill: Refill and maintain the automated dispensing system
  • Order Preparation: Prepare orders, maintain inventory, and repackage bulk medications
  • Supply Receiving: Receive and store incoming supplies
  • Pharmacy Liaison: Serve as a liaison between the pharmacy, the patient and the health professionals by providing necessary information
  • External Communication: Communicate with external resources such as retail pharmacies, provider offices, and data exchanges
  • Access Support: Identify and assist with patient medication access, including benefit investigation, prior authorization, and financial assistance
  • Education Assistance: Assist the Pharmacist in the preparation of patient education materials
  • Immunization Support: Give immunizations in accordance with state laws

5. Pharmacy Technician Accountabilities

  • Criteria Review: Review the criteria to determine if the request can be approved
  • Data Entry: Accurately enter data regarding Prior Authorization in the claims system to ensure appropriate claims will be adjudicated
  • Outcome Delivery: Provide clinical outcome to the member and the member's physician within client-specific turnaround times
  • Transaction Research: Research and respond to rejected pharmacy transactions
  • System Updating: Update data in the system
  • Electronic Outreach: Perform electronic outreach (e-mail, fax, etc.) to pharmacies and physicians' offices
  • Information Gathering: Obtain all necessary information related to requests, including occasional member assistance
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