Pharmaceutical technicians

Average National Salaries (2020)

What does this career do?

Pharmaceutical technicians work in hospitals or in the community and assist pharmacists in the preparation and dispensing of drugs and medicines.

Typical tasks

• checks received prescriptions for legality and accuracy
• prepares drugs and medicines under the supervision of pharmacist
• prepares specialised, tailor-made drugs for intravenous administration by hospital medical staff
• labels and checks items prior to dispensing
• maintains records of prescriptions received and drugs issued
• advises patients or customers on the use of drugs prescribed or medication purchased over the counter
• checks stock levels, orders new stock from pharmaceutical companies and ensures that drugs are stored appropriately.

Current entry requirements

Entrants to training usually possess GCSEs/S grades or the equivalent. Training is typically a combination of practical experience and study at a college or by open learning towards vocational qualifications. To register as a pharmacy technician with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain an NVQ/ SVQ in Pharmacy Services at Level 3 is required

Percentage in work

• Employed

• Unemployed

Due to insufficient sample sizes, some data was excised.

Predicted employment status in 2022

• Full-time

• Part-time

Predicted employment levels in the East Midlands

Career related courses available at West Notts

• Biology A Level - Level 3
• Chemistry A Level - Level 3

About the statistics

Data is powered by LMI for All and is sourced from labour market statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the Institute for Employment Research, the Department for Works and Pensions, and the UK Commission for Employment and Skills.