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Pharmacy internship vs pharmacist technician

The differences between pharmacy interns and pharmacist technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a pharmacy internship has an average salary of $80,116, which is higher than the $36,090 average annual salary of a pharmacist technician.

The top three skills for a pharmacy internship include patients, customer service and patient care. The most important skills for a pharmacist technician are patients, math, and direct supervision.

Pharmacy internship vs pharmacist technician overview

Pharmacy InternshipPharmacist Technician
Yearly salary$80,116$36,090
Hourly rate$38.52$17.35
Growth rate2%5%
Number of jobs89,19773,800
Job satisfaction-1
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Average age4238
Years of experience--

What does a pharmacy internship do?

When it comes to a pharmacy internship, one of the primary responsibilities is to observe pharmacy operations and develop efficient communication skills as most of the tasks will revolve around customer service, such as providing instructions on when to take medications and what could be the side effects. Moreover, working as a pharmacist requires excellent attention to detail, ensuring that all customers receive the correct type and amount according to their prescriptions. Among the duties can also revolve around administrative tasks such as verifying prescriptions, keeping and maintaining accurate records, and responding to inquiries.

What does a pharmacist technician do?

Pharmacist technicians assist pharmacists in their daily activities. They receive prescription medicine order requests of customers, validate the prescription, prepare the medicines, properly label medicine bottles, and hand them off to customers. They also answer customer inquiries and attend to customer concerns. Pharmacist technicians also manage the pharmacy's inventory and ensure that all records are up to date. They are also authorized to create purchase requisition requests for medicines that are running low and need to be refilled, but these requests should still be authorized by a doctor.

Pharmacy internship vs pharmacist technician salary

Pharmacy interns and pharmacist technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Pharmacy InternshipPharmacist Technician
Average salary$80,116$36,090
Salary rangeBetween $45,000 And $139,000Between $26,000 And $48,000
Highest paying CitySan Diego, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaAlaska
Best paying companySafewayValley Presbyterian Hospital
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between pharmacy internship and pharmacist technician education

There are a few differences between a pharmacy internship and a pharmacist technician in terms of educational background:

Pharmacy InternshipPharmacist Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Most common majorPharmacyPharmacy
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor-

Pharmacy internship vs pharmacist technician demographics

Here are the differences between pharmacy interns' and pharmacist technicians' demographics:

Pharmacy InternshipPharmacist Technician
Average age4238
Gender ratioMale, 40.6% Female, 59.4%Male, 24.9% Female, 75.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 5.4% Asian, 27.1% White, 56.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 10.1% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage11%5%

Differences between pharmacy internship and pharmacist technician duties and responsibilities

Pharmacy internship example responsibilities.

  • Attain thorough knowledge of processes involving medication delivery, compounding, IV/TPN/ chemotherapy preparation, and other hospital pharmacy operations.
  • Counsele patient with regard to OTC medications and Rx medications under the supervision of the pharmacist (s) on duty.
  • Interview patients to obtain information regarding drug allergies and sensitivities and document the information in the pharmacy system.
  • Collaborate with referring physicians in providing diabetes education to patients with multiple chronic conditions individually and in group sessions.
  • Provide diabetes counseling and conduct informational lectures regarding blood glucose monitoring and insulin administration to patients recently diagnose with diabetes.
  • Offer and provide consultation to patients under the supervision of the RPh on duty
  • Show more

Pharmacist technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage the OPTIFILL (automation) operations and maintenance of equipment, including the PYXIS medication dispensing machine.
  • Manage assigned pharmacy workstations and tasks while supporting team members in promptly, safely and accurately filling patient prescriptions.
  • Manage inventory; process physician orders; prepare chemotherapy and intravenous medications; support departments in distribution and preparation of medications.
  • Consult with patients as an (CPhT) on their medical usages via written prescription by authorize medical personnel.
  • Compound TPN's (total peripheral nutrition), chemotherapy, iv admixture, antibiotics, and other pharmacy medications.
  • Record customer information into Rx computer system.
  • Show more

Pharmacy internship vs pharmacist technician skills

Common pharmacy internship skills
  • Patients, 22%
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Blood Pressure, 7%
  • Allergies, 5%
  • Math, 5%
Common pharmacist technician skills
  • Patients, 32%
  • Math, 12%
  • Direct Supervision, 5%
  • HIPAA, 4%
  • Collective Bargaining, 4%
  • Telephone Calls, 4%

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