Pharmacy Technician
What is a career as a pharmacy technician in health and social care?
A pharmacy technician is a registered healthcare professional who works alongside pharmacists to prepare, dispense, and manage medications and also involves clinical responsibilities, patient care, and medicine management in various healthcare settings.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Some key responsibilities include:
- Measuring, packaging, and labelling prescriptions, managing stock and orders.
- Advising on how to use medicines safely.
- Supporting pharmacists with clinical duties.
- Handling controlled drugs and ensuring compliance with regulations for controlled substances.
- Supporting services like flu vaccinations, smoking cessation, and blood pressure checks.
Entry routes and pay
To work as a pharmacy technician you will need to have completed a General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) accredited or recognised pharmacy technician course at level 3. You will also need to register with the GPhC as a Pharmacy Technician.
If you are working as a pharmacy assistant, there may be opportunities to undertake further training and development for a level 3 pharmacy technician course e.g. an apprenticeship.
There are apprenticeship opportunities across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough where you may be able to join as an pharmacy technician. For more information about apprenticeships please click here.
Depending on your employer, will depend how much you will earn. Typically a starting salary is about £24,000, with opportunities to increase with experience and further training and qualifications.
Where can you work?
Care Home
Community
Doctors’ Practice
Hospice
Hospital
Mental Health
Pharmacy
