Careers · Explore one path
Pharmacy Technicians
Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders.
Other titles employers use
Accredited Pharmacy Technician · Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) · Chemotherapy Pharmacy Technician (Chemo Pharmacy Technician) · Compounding Technician · OR Pharmacy Tech (Operating Room Pharmacy Tech) · RPhT (Registered Pharmacy Technician) · CPHT · Certified Pharmacy Technician
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
- Enter prescription information into computer databases.
- Establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.
- Maintain proper storage and security conditions for drugs.
- Receive and store incoming supplies, verify quantities against invoices, check for outdated medications in current inventory, and inform supervisors of stock needs and shortages.
- Answer telephones, responding to questions or requests.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to organizing, practical and helping work.
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
Subjects to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Near Vision
- Speech Recognition
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.1 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 4.5 | Standing or moving for most of it |
| Talking face to face | 4.6 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 3.7 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A certificate or some college 56%
- High school or less 36%
- A two-year degree 4%
- A four-year degree 4%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Internet browser software
- Medical software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Presentation software
- Word processing software
- Data base user interface and query software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 45,400
- Job openings each year
- 4,290
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 9.9%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 45,400 | 4,290 | 9.9% |
| Florida | 45,030 | 4,370 | 15.6% |
| Texas | 42,980 | 4,260 | 20.7% |
| Illinois | 23,170 | 2,140 | 5.5% |
| New York | 21,920 | 40 | 1.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 21,430 | 1,990 | 6.2% |
| North Carolina | 18,860 | 1,810 | 13.7% |
| Ohio | 17,180 | 1,580 | 4.2% |
| Georgia | 15,820 | 1,540 | 17.3% |
| Michigan | 15,600 | 1,420 | 2.3% |
| Arizona | 14,370 | 1,440 | 24.4% |
| New Jersey | 13,340 | 1,250 | 8.0% |
| Tennessee | 12,910 | 1,220 | 10.2% |
| Virginia | 11,500 | 1,080 | 8.6% |
| Missouri | 11,010 | 1,060 | 13.0% |
| Indiana | 10,870 | 990 | 3.8% |
| Kentucky | 10,620 | 990 | 7.5% |
| South Carolina | 9,800 | 990 | 27.4% |
| Washington | 9,210 | 920 | 7.2% |
| Maryland | 8,980 | 850 | 11.0% |
| Wisconsin | 8,980 | 850 | 9.6% |
| Minnesota | 8,900 | 830 | 7.6% |
| Alabama | 8,380 | 790 | 10.6% |
| Louisiana | 7,010 | 660 | 9.2% |
| Colorado | 6,880 | 670 | 16.2% |
| Puerto Rico | 6,800 | 670 | 21.0% |
| Oklahoma | 5,780 | 540 | 9.1% |
| Utah | 5,460 | 540 | 22.1% |
| Iowa | 5,300 | 510 | 11.8% |
| Arkansas | 5,090 | 490 | 12.6% |
| Nevada | 4,940 | 470 | 13.3% |
| Kansas | 4,920 | 460 | 9.3% |
| Oregon | 4,770 | 450 | 7.0% |
| Connecticut | 4,700 | 450 | 14.1% |
| Mississippi | 4,280 | 400 | 7.3% |
| West Virginia | 3,570 | 320 | — |
| Massachusetts | 3,510 | 330 | 9.0% |
| New Mexico | 3,130 | 310 | 17.2% |
| Idaho | 3,070 | 310 | 30.6% |
| Nebraska | 2,920 | 280 | 9.0% |
| New Hampshire | 2,280 | 210 | 5.1% |
| Maine | 2,270 | 210 | 5.1% |
| Rhode Island | 1,880 | 180 | 13.9% |
| Montana | 1,540 | 150 | 15.8% |
| Delaware | 1,310 | 130 | 12.0% |
| South Dakota | 1,310 | 120 | 12.0% |
| North Dakota | 970 | 90 | 15.5% |
| Vermont | 970 | 90 | 5.4% |
| District of Columbia | 850 | 80 | 11.8% |
| Wyoming | 710 | 70 | 18.3% |
| Alaska | 550 | 50 | 5.8% |
| Guam | 90 | 10 | 12.5% |
| Virgin Islands | 70 | 10 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Ohio State University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 436
- Admit rate
- 51%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
University of Connecticut
- Degrees each year
- 199
- Admit rate
- 54%
- Annual cost after aid
- $21,000
Nova Southeastern University
- Degrees each year
- 34
- Admit rate
- 73%
- Annual cost after aid
- $30,000
St. Joseph's University-New York
- Degrees each year
- 25
- Admit rate
- 71%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Cedarville University
- Degrees each year
- 25
- Admit rate
- 63%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
Widener University
- Degrees each year
- 4
- Admit rate
- 84%
- Annual cost after aid
- $23,000
University of Connecticut-Stamford
- Degrees each year
- 1
- Admit rate
- 80%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
Compare every college offering allied health and medical assisting services