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Pharmacy Technicians What is a pharmacy technician? Pharmacy Technicians are recognised pharmacy professionals who work under the direct supervision of a pharmacist. What do pharmacy technicians do? Pharmacy technicians are employed primarily by community or hospital pharmacies. They assist pharmacists in the dispensing of prescription medicines and the running of the dispensary. A pharmacy technician’s duties will vary depending on the types of services their pharmacy provides. As a guide a pharmacy technician may be involved in: • Checking that prescriptions meet legal requirements and are accurate• Entering prescription details in the computer, preparing labels and dispensing the medicine • Maintaining computer held patient records• Issuing medicines to patients and ensuring that they know how to use them • Administrative duties such as forwarding prescriptions to doctors when they need altering and collating claims for payment of dispensed prescriptions• Assisting in the general running of the pharmacy by preparing invoices, receipts, letters, memos and general filing, answering the pharmacy phone and receiving and sending emails and faxes.Qualified technicians who hold the National Certificate or trainee technicians who are enrolled in the relevant module can prepare pharmaceutical products such as creams, mixtures or intravenous injections. In community pharmacies where they supply to rest homes and other residential care facilities the technicians role will often include packaging medicines for the residents into special packs called unit dose or compliance packs to make it easier for residents to self administer their medicines or for staff at the facility to keep track of each resident’s medicines. In community pharmacies pharmacy technicians may also work in the retail area of the pharmacy advising customers on non-prescription medicines and on health or grooming related products. In hospital pharmacies pharmacy technicians will be involved in: • Dispensing in-patients’ medicines• Supplying wards with medicines• Monitoring ward stock cupboards and emergency supplies• Manufacturing medicines for patients particular needs such as intravenous solutions or chemotherapy injections used to treat cancer.Where do pharmacy technicians work? There are a variety of career options available to pharmacy technicians both qualified or in training. Careers are available in community and hospital pharmacies and marketing and sales. What are the personal qualities a pharmacy technician should have? Pharmacy technicians must: • Like people, be good listeners and communicators• Be good team players• Be tidy• Be able to organise their time• Be constantly vigilant and accurate to avoid errors that could endanger patients’ lives or reduce the effectiveness of the medication• Be tactful and able to keep confidences• Be honest and without criminal conviction.What qualification is required to become a pharmacy technician? Pharmacy technicians must hold a certificate recognised by New Zealand legislation. The current qualification is the National Certificate in Pharmacy (Technician). This qualification is registered by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. If you have a pharmacy technician or pharmacist qualification from outside New Zealand contact PITO for advice as the Medines Regulations will not allow you to practice as a pharmacy technician with your overseas qualification. What training is required to achieve the National Certificate in Pharmacy (Technician) level 5? To achieve this qualification a course based on the competencies required by a pharmacy technician must be completed. These competencies define the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to practice as a pharmacy technician. Entry requirements to this training programme are as follows: • Level 3 credits recommended from the subfields of Communication Skills or English, or demonstration of equivalent knowledge and skills• For those for whom English is not their first language, English language requirements for Pharmacists as specified by the Pharmacy Council of NZ must be met – see http://www.pharmacycouncilorg.nz under General Registration Information, English Language Requirements.For full time courses the tertiary education provider may have additional entry requirements. You will need to contact the providers directly. Where is this training available? Training for this course may be completed by full time training. The full time courses are 18 months in length and include on the job work experience. Students may also complete this course by studying part time by distance learning whilst working in a pharmacy. This avenue allows the technician to study at his or her own pace whilst learning on the job. The length of time to complete the training depends on each individual but must be completed within three years of initial enrolment. On-the-job training is provided in most pharmacy workplaces and the pharmacist plays a major role in this training. The pharmacist acts as a mentor for the practical training, while the theory training and assessment of competence is provided by the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand. What does the training programme consist of? The qualification contains unit standards registered on the New Zealand Qualification Authority’s qualifications framework. Areas of study include dispensing procedures, legislation requirements, providing advice to patients on the use of their medicines, handling of hazardous substances, body systems and functions, compounding, pharmaceutical dose forms and accessories, misuse and dependence of drugs, written and oral advice, stock management and professionalism. If you are completing the technician training through the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand you will be required to attend a compulsory two day workshop to complete the compounding unit standard (unit standard 9647). These are held in June and November at the Auckland and Otago Schools of Pharmacy) in either year two or year three of your training. In addition community pharmacy technicians will complete an elective in the treatment of minor health disorders and hospital pharmacy technicians will complete an elective in ward medicine management and procedures for repacking. The full content of the National Certificate in Pharmacy (Technician) is listed on the New Zealand Qualifications Authority website www.nzqa.govt.nz What are the career prospects for pharmacy technicians? Community Pharmacy Technicians Increasingly pharmacists in community pharmacies are spending more time counselling patients on their medicines and providing extended pharmacy services. This allows pharmacy technicians to take on more responsibility for preparing prescriptions. Hospital Pharmacy Technicians In some hospital pharmacies senior pharmacy technicians are taking on the role of supervising less senior pharmacy technicians. Other opportunities available for pharmacy technicians Pharmaceutical Companies or Wholesaling and Manufacturing Companies Many pharmacy technicians are employed by these companies as sales representatives. Travel New Zealand pharmacy qualifications are accepted in Australia and Great Britain. This provides many young pharmacy technicians with the opportunity to travel and experience pharmacy in other countries. Further Education The New Zealand College of Pharmacists also offers courses which are suitable for completion by qualified pharmacy technician. For more details Anyone interested in training as a pharmacy technician should contact the Pharmacy Industry Training organisation or one of the providers of pharmacy technician training. For further information check out the providers’ websites or contact them directly. The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand www.openpolytechnic.ac.nz The Academy Group www.academy.ac.nz The Pharmacy ITO info@pito.org.nz Prepare your CV and a covering letter stating why you want to become a pharmacy technician. Look out for jobs advertised in the newspaper or approach pharmacies directly to find out if there are any jobs available. |
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