What’s it Like to Be a Pharm Tech? A Day in the Life of a Pharmacy Technician

Key Insights:

• Pharmacy technicians measure and dispense medications under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. They also assist with customer service and may be responsible for administrative tasks like monitoring prescription drug inventory and updating patient records.
• Pharmacy techs can be found in a variety of settings, including hospitals, retail pharmacies, and nursing care facilities. This offers the opportunity to work in different sectors of healthcare, depending on your interests and career goals.
• A pharmacy technician degree program can help prepare you for this role. Students at Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) also gain access to a variety of academic and career services designed to help you succeed in both your courses and chosen field.

If you’d like to make a difference in your community while helping people manage their physical and mental health, you may want to consider a career as a pharmacy technician. If you’re not familiar with this healthcare role, keep reading to learn more about this position’s duties, what a day in the life looks like, the potential benefits of working in this field, and how pharmacy technician training can prepare you for this career path.

What Does a Pharmacy Tech Do?

Pharmacy technicians work under the supervision of licensed pharmacists. They are typically responsible for measuring, mixing, and labeling medication dosages as prescribed by physicians.

Pharm techs can also assist customers by ringing up their purchases at the register and helping with insurance forms. Some technicians learn skills for this role through on-the-job training, while others have completed a pharmacy technician program.

Pharmacy technician duties, tasks, and responsibilities

In addition to interacting with customers and preparing medications, pharmacy technicians may be assigned administrative tasks to complete. These can include:

• Updating patients’ medical records
• Monitoring, ordering, and stocking prescription drug inventory
• Answering the phones and arranging for customers to meet with the pharmacist
• Troubleshooting insurance issues related to medication reimbursement

Helpful skills for pharm techs

The pharmacy technician position requires close attention to detail and the ability to multitask in a busy environment. Because the people you communicate with might be ill, this role often requires compassion and a passion for helping others. Technicians must typically be able to stand for long periods and may need to bend and lift heavy boxes.

If you choose a pharmacy technician career path, skills that can help you excel in this role include:

• Math skills for accurately measuring and mixing medications
• Communication skills for working with insurance companies, patients, and healthcare providers
• Technology skills, including the ability to use computers and pharmacy software
• Healthcare skills, such as understanding insurance billing procedures

A Day in the Life of a Pharmacy Technician

When working as a pharmacy technician, no two days are the same. Your duties can vary depending on the prescriptions you fill and the patients who come in that day. Even outside factors, such as seasons, can impact your daily responsibilities, such as if more patients need allergy medications due to high pollen counts during spring and fall.

Depending on your assigned duties, your day can be filled with a variety of tasks. You may be preparing a prescription medication one minute, then waiting on a customer at the counter in the next. Being adaptable and fluid can help you transition to different tasks throughout the day.

Work schedules and shifts

Because pharmacy technicians work in various places, their hours can vary widely. Some pharmacies are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In contrast, pharmacies in clinics might only be open during typical business hours. There may also be seasonal or part-time positions available in your area.

Some of the schedules you may see for pharmacy technicians include:

Day Shift	This may be a standard 9–5 position, or similar daytime hours. You can find these jobs in retail stores or grocery stores, where the pharmacy generally closes before other departments.
Night Shift	This shift can be found at pharmacies that are open 24 hours. You might also work a rotating night schedule if your job is at a hospital or inpatient pharmacy.
Weekend and Holiday Shifts	Pharmacies don’t always close for weekends or holidays since people can get sick during these times, requiring them to have access to the medications that can help them feel better.

Why Become a Pharmacy Technician?

Working as a pharmacy technician can provide the opportunity to help others while offering a starting point in your healthcare career. Other potential benefits of becoming a pharmacy technician can include:

Projected job growth

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment for pharmacy technicians will grow 6% from 2024 through 2034.¹ This equates to roughly 49,000 open positions each year, on average, during this time.

The BLS explains that the demand for pharmacy services is expected to increase because of the older population, which typically uses more prescription medicines. Higher rates of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, are also expected to increase demand.

Work in different healthcare settings

Another potential benefit of becoming a pharm tech is that you’re not limited to working in your local drugstore. Nursing homes, hospitals, national pharmacies, and other healthcare providers can employ technicians, providing you with the opportunity to work in different settings.

If you’re someone who likes to explore and learn about different sectors of healthcare (or various demographics of patients), this may be a benefit for you. Your experiences can differ depending on where you work.

Pharmacy Technician Education and Training Requirements

Some states allow you to begin a career as a pharmacy tech with a high school diploma or GED, followed by training on the job. However, most states regulate this position, which may require that you complete a formal pharmacy technician program and/or pass an exam.²

Although it isn’t typically necessary to obtain an associate degree to work in this role, earning one might help you become a more competitive candidate. This type of career training program can help you learn more about:

• Medical and pharmaceutical terminology
• Pharmaceutical calculations and techniques
• Recordkeeping in a medical setting
• Insurance claim preparation
• Privacy laws and ethics

Is a Pharmacy Technician Career Path Right for You?

Whether you’re fresh out of high school or are older and want to switch careers, pursuing a pharmacy technician degree can prepare you for this healthcare role. Depending on where you are employed after graduation, you can help people from various backgrounds. Plus, working in this role can feel rewarding when you know that you can help support other people’s health.

About pharmacy technician training at UMA

If you’re ready to get started, Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) offers a Health Sciences – Pharmacy Technician Associate of Science / Associate of Applied Science Degree program. The coursework is available mostly online, and at the end of the program, you will build your skills in a required 180-hour supervised, on-site externship.

UMA prepares students to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), and the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), if qualified.³

UMA assists by preparing you to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) offered through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), as well as the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) offered through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), if qualified.³

Contact us to learn more, or to discuss the academic and career support we provide to our students — even past graduation.

FAQs

• Is pharmacy tech a good job? The definition of a “good job” can change from one person to another. To help determine whether pursuing a pharmacy technician career might be right for you, consider how you’d feel about working in a pharmacy all day, whether you’d be comfortable measuring and dispensing medications (after training, and with supervision), and if you’d like a healthcare position that doesn’t involve direct care but still offers interaction with customers. If you’re unsure whether this could be a good job for you, reach out to us. We’re here to answer your questions and can help guide you to a healthcare career that could be a good fit based on your interests and career goals.
• Is being a pharmacy tech hard? Some people may find this role challenging, while others might do it with greater ease. At UMA, we’re here to support you in both your academics and career. We offer a variety of student services that are designed to assist you with challenges you may face in these areas, helping you to excel in this career path in any way that we can.
• How long does it take to become a pharmacy technician? The length of time can vary depending on the type of schooling you pursue, whether you decide to earn a certification after graduation, and more. Check out this link to learn more about the timeline to enter a pharm tech role.
• How much do pharmacy technicians make? Pharmacy technician wages can change based on your level of education and experience, whether you have any certifications, and even the geographic location in which you work. We offer an in-depth blog to help you understand how to find information for pharmacy technician wages that may align with your qualifications and situation.