Job description Certified Pharmacy Technician in the Northwest Region

Find out what work is like for a certified pharmacy technician in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Other medical technologists and technicians (except dental health) (NOC 32124).

Pharmacy technicians

Description

Pharmacy technicians perform technical functions relating to prescriptions including gathering patients’ information, product preparation, product distribution and inventory control. They work closely with pharmacists to provide pharmaceutical care to clients. Pharmacy technicians are employed in retail and hospital pharmacies, long-term care facilities and by pharmaceutical manufacturers. Pharmacy technicians who are supervisors are included in this unit group.

Work week duration

Pharmacy technicians usually work between 35 to 40 hours per week.
Between 35 to 40 hours

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Pharmacy technicians have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Assist pharmacists to maintain inventories of medications and prescription records of pharmaceutical products
  • Assess prescriptions for completeness and ensure information is accurate
  • Gather and enter client information in databases and prepare medications for clients in collaboration with pharmacists
  • Compound pharmaceutical products such as intravenous injections, oral solutions, ointments and creams
  • Process payment of prescriptions and other pharmacy services including direct billing to third party insurers
  • Provide instructions on how to use health aids, and medical devices such as drug administration devices and monitoring devices
  • May help with scheduling and workflow.

Physical demands Help - Physical Demands

  • Standing
  • Making repetitive motions
  • Handling material manually
  • Walking and running

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Workplaces and employers

Here are the typical workplaces where Pharmacy technicians are employed and some of their main characteristics:

  • Pharmaceutical manufacturers
  • Hospital pharmacies
  • Retail pharmacies
  • Long-term care facilities

Work environment Help - Physical Work Environment

  • Indoors, environmentally controlled
  • Biological agents

Physical proximity from others Help - Physical proximity from others

  • Close (at arm’s length)

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 32124), and a list of similar occupations:

  • pharmacy technician
  • pharmacy technician supervisor

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Pharmacy technicians in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
Date modified: