Pharmacy Technicians

Pharmacy technicians work in community pharmacies and pharmacy departments in hospitals. They are also employed in the national prescription payment office, pharmaceutical companies and pharmaceutical wholesalers. Pharmacy technicians need to be honest, motivated and well organised, able to pay attention to detail, enjoy working as part of a team and be interested in people.

Most pharmacists employ pharmacy technicians to assist them with the dispensing of prescription medicines. Pharmacy technicians always work under the supervision of a pharmacist. A pharmacy technician includes people who hold a recognised certificate as a pharmacy technician or are enrolled in a training programme leading to this certificate. By law only pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, can dispense prescription medicines in a pharmacy.

Pharmacy technicians assist the pharmacist in the preparation of prescriptions. This includes entering prescription details in the computer, preparing labels and dispensing the medicine. The technician also checks the prescription for accuracy and to ensure that the medicine is the correct one for the patient. They are also involved in the processing of prescriptions and patient records including recording and checking prescriptions for forwarding to doctors for correction and preparing prescription batches for payment.

Pharmacy technicians are also responsible for maintaining the dispensary, including fixtures and fittings, packaging and dispensing equipment. They are also responsible for checking stock levels of medicines and preparing and placing orders for new stock.

Pharmacy technicians help in the general running of the pharmacy by preparing invoices, receipts, letters, memos and general filing, answering the pharmacy phone and receiving and sending electronic communications.

In community pharmacies, pharmacy technicians may also work in the shop; advising customers on non-prescription medicines and on photographic and cosmetic supplies.

In hospital pharmacy departments, pharmacy technicians are involved in dispensing out-patients' and in-patients' medicines, supplying wards with medicines, monitoring ward stock cupboards and emergency supplies and manufacturing medicines for patient's particular needs. Senior pharmacy technicians are responsible for other technicians and pharmacy assistants.

Pharmacy technicians must hold a certificate recognised by the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand. The current certificate is the National Certificate in Pharmacy (Technician) which is a registered qualification of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.

The qualification is based on the competencies required by a pharmacy technician. These competencies define the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to practise as a pharmacy technician. Entry to the training programme is open i.e. there are no formal educational qualifications required although a sound understanding of maths, English and science will help. The training programme is designed for people who are working in community or hospital pharmacies.

You can either study part time whilst working in a pharmacy or complete a full time course.

Part time study allows the technician to study at their own pace whilst learning on the job. The length of time to complete the training depends on each individual. The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand (TOPNZ) provides self study units so that the student can study at home in their own time and own way. 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 practical training whilst the theory training and assessment of competence is provided by TOPNZ.

Full time training courses are available at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT). The course is one year in length and includes on the job work experience. The Bay of Plenty Polytechnic will also be offering full time courses from the end of 2002, available for holders of the National Certificate in Pharmacy (assistant) qualification.

For further information contact the providers direct.

The training programme is based on a set of competency standards of the New Zealand Qualifications Framework. The training is organised as a set of eight modules covering pharmacy specific standards as well as generic work place skills. The pharmacy technician is also required to possess a first aid certificate. Some courses have other courses as a prerequisite for entry. Full details of these requirements are provided with the course application forms.

The general workplace skills are available through the National Certificate providers or may be available through a local Polytechnic.

For further information contact the providers direct.

With the changes in the health system in New Zealand pharmacists are spending more time counselling patients on their medicines and many pharmacists are delegating more responsibility for preparing the prescriptions to the pharmacy technician.

As well as working in community and hospital pharmacies in New Zealand pharmacy technicians are involved in other areas related to pharmacy. Pharmacy technicians work as sales representatives for pharmaceutical companies or in wholesaling and manufacturing companies. Other pharmacy technicians work at the national prescription pricing centre.

New Zealand qualifications are accepted in Australia and Great Britain and many technicians take the opportunity to work in these countries.

Anyone who is interested in training as a technician should contact Educational Administrator at the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand. (Tel 04 802-0030, Fax 04 382-9297, email to pito@psnz.org.nz.)

The Open Polytechnic of NZ

Academy New Zealand (Auckland Campus only)

This information was prepared by the

Pharmacy Industry Training Organisation

PO Box 11-640

Wellington

NEW ZEALAND

© Pharmacy Industry Training Organisation - April 2001