A pharmacy technician is a health care worker who helps to prepare and distribute medications to patients, under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist. Pharmacy technicians work in a variety of locations, such as hospitals, or community/retail pharmacies In addition, technicians can also work in long-term care facilities, pharmaceutical manufacturers, third-party insurance companies, computer software companies, or in government or teaching. Job duties include:
- Screening prescription orders for accuracy and completeness
- Preparing prescriptions
- Preparing intravenous (IV) medications
- Performing calculations
- Preparing medicines used to treat cancer
- Assisting in the management of investigational drug studies and
- Using technology to help maintain accurate patient records, prepare and package medications, and place orders
Technicians may also perform administrative duties in pharmaceutical practice, such as reviewing prescription requests with doctor's offices and insurance companies to ensure correct medications are provided and payment is received. In recent times, they also speak directly with the patients on the phone to aid in the awareness of taking medications on time.
In Rhode Island, the General Requirements for a pharmacy technician are as follows:
- In accordance with section 5-19.1-16 of the Rhode Island General Laws, as amended, a pharmacy technician license will be issued to any individual who meets the requirements established under the Act and the rules and regulations contained herein.
- No person shall perform the duties set forth in sections 24.14, 24.15, 24.16, and 24.17 herein unless such person is licensed as a pharmacy technician.
- There shall be two (2) levels of licensure for a pharmacy technician: pharmacy technician I and pharmacy technician II.
- The pharmacy technician shall file with the Department an application for licensure and shall be required to furnish such information as the Board may prescribe and, simultaneously with the filing of said application, shall pay to the Department the required, non-refundable fee of forty dollars ($40.00).
- All licenses issued to pharmacy technicians shall be valid for a period of one {1} year.
- No individual may serve as a pharmacy technician without holding a valid pharmacy technician license from the Board
- A pharmacy technician shall wear a name tag that indicates the technician's name and the appropriate licensure designation.