What does a certified pharmacist technician do?
A certified pharmacist technician is responsible for assisting patients by providing medicines based on their needs or their physicians' prescriptions. Certified pharmacist technicians must be able to supply the correct medications, including the right dosage to patients. They must also have a broad understanding of the medical industry, providing medicinal information to patients and referring them to the right health professionals as needed. Certified pharmacist technicians also monitor medicine inventories, manage supplies, and create sales reports.
Certified pharmacist technician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real certified pharmacist technician resumes:
- Manage return authorizations of expire and damage drugs to send back to vendor or Walgreens distribution center.
- Secure and manage PYXIS systems during facility emergencies.
- Manage assigned pharmacy workstations and tasks while supporting team members in promptly, safely and accurately filling patient prescriptions.
- Experience in patient intake, data entry, dosage calculations, Rx clarification, billing, adjudicate claims, and dispensing.
- Fill prescriptions under guidance a register pharmacist using intercom.
- Fill PYXIS machines on every floor of the hospital in a timely and accurate manner
- Used proper gown, face masks, and proper attire in working under the iv flow hood.
- Assemble and fill prescriptions, count and pour medications, maintain stock of medications and over-the-counter (OTC) products.
- Re-Fil prescriptions through retrieving, counting/measuring, labeling the Rx for the pharmacists to review and fill future fills as directed.
- Order and maintain a steady inventory of legend and narcotic drugs, OTC items, diabetic supplies, and pharmacy supplies.
- Gain recognition throughout the company for dependability and flexibility
- Ensure proper pharmacy and general safety standards including cleanliness.
- Process insurance and prescriptions through CVS pharmacy computer interface.
- Secure privacy and confidentiality as required by HIPAA, company and departmental guidelines.
- Scan prescriptions into HIPAA computer and help customers with electronic signature capture upon pickup.
Certified pharmacist technician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 22% of Certified Pharmacist Technicians are proficient in Patients, Direct Supervision, and Math. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Listening skills, and Math skills.
We break down the percentage of Certified Pharmacist Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 22%
Answered Phones Assisted Patients Entered Patient and Prescription Information Filled Prescriptions Submitted Insurance Claims and Resolved Issues Stocked and Managed Inventory
- Direct Supervision, 10%
Compound, reconstitute and prepare intravenous solutions for patients under the direct supervision of a registered pharmacist.
- Math, 8%
Use of pharmacy math to determine correct dosage of prescriptions.
- Telephone Calls, 7%
Transferred incoming telephone calls to proper extension throughout medical facility and Community Base Outreach Clinics.
- Inventory Control, 4%
Established and maintained inventory control of all prescription sample medications as well as patient-specific medication provided by patient assistance programs.
- RX, 4%
Processed orders received from electronic/faxed prescriptions and accurately enter order information into our RX Connect Pharmacy Management System.
Common skills that a certified pharmacist technician uses to do their job include "patients," "direct supervision," and "math." You can find details on the most important certified pharmacist technician responsibilities below.
Customer-service skills. The most essential soft skill for a certified pharmacist technician to carry out their responsibilities is customer-service skills. This skill is important for the role because "pharmacy technicians spend much of their time interacting with customers, so being helpful and polite is required of pharmacy technicians in a retail setting." Additionally, a certified pharmacist technician resume shows how their duties depend on customer-service skills: "assisted pharmacists by performing tasks such as preparing and dispensing medications, managing insurance claims, and providing excellent customer service"
Listening skills. Another essential skill to perform certified pharmacist technician duties is listening skills. Certified pharmacist technicians responsibilities require that "pharmacy technicians must communicate clearly with pharmacists and doctors when taking prescription orders." Certified pharmacist technicians also use listening skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "communicated with insurance carriers to obtain proper information and payment for insurance claims. "
Math skills. certified pharmacist technicians are also known for math skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to certified pharmacist technician responsibilities, because "pharmacy technicians need to have an understanding of the math concepts used in pharmacies when counting pills and compounding medications." A certified pharmacist technician resume example shows how math skills is used in the workplace: "prepared intravenous admixtures, including maintaining sterile technique at all times and accurately performed pharmacy math calculations. "
Organizational skills. certified pharmacist technician responsibilities often require "organizational skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "working as a pharmacy technician involves balancing a variety of responsibilities." This resume example shows what certified pharmacist technicians do with organizational skills on a typical day: "have great customers service skill, organizational and math skills. "
Detail oriented. A commonly-found skill in certified pharmacist technician job descriptions, "detail oriented" is essential to what certified pharmacist technicians do. Certified pharmacist technician responsibilities rely on this skill because "serious health problems can result from mistakes in filling prescriptions." You can also see how certified pharmacist technician duties rely on detail oriented in this resume example: "provided superior customer service in the pharmacy, including data entry and prescription service with attention to detail. "
The three companies that hire the most certified pharmacist technicians are:
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Compare different certified pharmacist technicians
Certified pharmacist technician vs. Laboratory aide
A laboratory aide is primarily responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and order in laboratories, all while performing support tasks for scientists. Their duties revolve around arranging specimens and samples, transporting materials from one laboratory to another, preparing apparatuses and machines, and storing them accordingly. A laboratory aide may also run errands, produce progress reports, sanitize areas and instruments, and properly dispose of chemicals and other hazardous waste. Furthermore, it is crucial to implement the laboratory's safety policies and regulations, ensuring a safe and healthy laboratory environment for everyone.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, certified pharmacist technician responsibilities require skills like "direct supervision," "math," "telephone calls," and "inventory control." Meanwhile a typical laboratory aide has skills in areas such as "specimen handling," "lab equipment," "phlebotomy," and "blood samples." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Laboratory aides earn the highest salaries when working in the technology industry, with an average yearly salary of $31,856. On the other hand, certified pharmacist technicians are paid more in the health care industry with an average salary of $37,078.laboratory aides tend to reach similar levels of education than certified pharmacist technicians. In fact, laboratory aides are 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Certified pharmacist technician vs. Laboratory assistant/phlebotomist
A laboratory assistant/phlebotomist is responsible for drawing blood samples and other laboratory tests, labeling specimens, and performing administrative and clerical duties as needed. Laboratory assistants/phlebotomists should ensure that the laboratory tools and equipment are stored and secured in a safe area, as well as regularly sterilizing testing tools to avoid contamination upon the use of the patients. They must be highly knowledgeable of the medical procedures and processes, responding to the patients' inquiries and concerns, and providing a timely update of medical results.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, certified pharmacist technician responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "direct supervision," "math," "telephone calls," and "inventory control." Meanwhile, a laboratory assistant/phlebotomist has duties that require skills in areas such as "blood specimens," "customer service," "phlebotomy procedures," and "specimen collection." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Laboratory assistant/phlebotomists tend to reach similar levels of education than certified pharmacist technicians. In fact, they're 1.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Certified pharmacist technician vs. Clinical laboratory assistant
A clinical laboratory assistant specializes in performing support tasks in a laboratory or similar setting using their in-depth knowledge. They are primarily responsible for assisting researchers, preparing samples and apparatus, conducting experiments and analysis, maintaining extensive documentation of all processes and results, and reporting to management. Moreover, a clinical laboratory assistant is also responsible for gathering necessary information before beginning studies and maintaining the laboratory's cleanliness and sanitation. It is vital to implement all the safety rules and regulations to ensure a safe and productive work environment.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a certified pharmacist technician is likely to be skilled in "direct supervision," "math," "telephone calls," and "inventory control," while a typical clinical laboratory assistant is skilled in "phlebotomy," "clinical lab," "customer service," and "specimen collection."
Clinical laboratory assistants earn the highest salary when working in the technology industry, where they receive an average salary of $34,141. Comparatively, certified pharmacist technicians have the highest earning potential in the health care industry, with an average salary of $37,078.clinical laboratory assistants typically earn similar educational levels compared to certified pharmacist technicians. Specifically, they're 1.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Certified pharmacist technician vs. Laboratory assistant
Laboratory assistants work for researchers, scientists, or professors in the laboratory setting. They are expected to have a solid background in the field of study of the laboratory they are assigned to. They do a variety of tasks in the laboratory, such as setting up equipment, observing experiments, analyzing results, creating reports, and recommending improvements to the testing. They may also be assigned to clean and sanitize laboratory equipment as needed. Laboratory assistants should have good research skills, analytical skills, and organizational skills.
Types of certified pharmacist technician
Updated January 8, 2025
