Pharmacy Technician

Does it take long to become a pharmacy technician?

It really doesnt take long to get certified. Some hospitals, proprietary schools, vocational or technical colleges, and community colleges offer formal education programs. They have have classes where you go for a few weeks and it helps you prepare for the Pharmacy Technician Exam.

However, there are currently few State and no Federal requirements for formal training or certification of pharmacy technicians.

Pharmacy Service Associate (PSA)-an entry-level role
The primary focus for a PSA is on customer service.

Responsibilities within the position include:

-Greet all customers with eye’s, hi’s, and help
-Assist customers with questions and problems
-Ringing out prescriptions,
-answering telephones, and Pharmacist referrals
-Take information for new prescriptions
-Obtain pertinent info from telephone calls
-Refer doctor’s calls to the pharmacist
-Retrieve and file pharmacy prescriptions
-Access and input information into computer
-Retrieve, count and measure drugs
-Assist pharmacist where necessary
-Maintain the pharmacy department
-Maintain proper inventory levels
-Complete third party rejections
-Maintain customer/patient confidentiality.
-Create emotional connections with customers.

The role of the PSA is important because he/she is often the first person with whom the customer comes into contact. The impression that the PSA gives the customer may determine the outcome of that customer’s experience at CVS/pharmacy.
What is the minimum age to be a pharmacy technician?

In the United States the minimum age to practice as a pharmacy technician is 18 y.o. (in some states 16 y.o.)