Certified Pharmacy Tech

E.A. Hawse Health Center

Certified Pharmacy Technician

Department: Pharmacy
Position Title: Certified Pharmacy Technician
Reports To: Pharmacist-in-Charge / Pharmacy Manager
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Employment Status: Full-Time / Part-Time, as assigned
Location: E.A. Hawse Health Center / Potomac Highlands Pharmacy, as assigned

Position Summary

The Certified Pharmacy Technician assists pharmacists in the safe, accurate, efficient, and timely preparation and distribution of prescription medications and pharmacy services. Working under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist, the Certified Pharmacy Technician performs technical and administrative pharmacy duties in accordance with federal and West Virginia laws and regulations, organizational policies, and applicable standards of pharmacy practice.

The position requires excellent attention to detail, strong customer service skills, professionalism, confidentiality, and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced healthcare environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Receive and process prescription requests from patients, healthcare providers, and authorized electronic systems.
• Enter prescription and patient information accurately into the pharmacy computer system.
• Assist the pharmacist with preparing, filling, packaging, and labeling prescriptions.
• Retrieve medications from inventory and accurately count, measure, pour, package, and label medications as permitted by law.
• Prepare prescriptions for pharmacist review and final verification prior to dispensing.
• Assist with prescription refills and renewal requests in accordance with established procedures.
• Process prescription claims through insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, and other third-party payers.
• Identify rejected insurance claims and assist with resolving routine billing and coverage issues.
• Collect patient demographic, insurance, and prescription information and ensure records are accurate and complete.
• Assist patients at the pharmacy counter and by telephone while providing courteous and professional customer service.
• Refer medication counseling, clinical questions, drug interactions, therapeutic recommendations, and other pharmacist-only matters to the pharmacist.
• Process prescription payments and operate pharmacy point-of-sale systems as assigned.
• Maintain appropriate documentation related to prescriptions, inventory, and pharmacy operations.
• Assist with ordering, receiving, stocking, rotating, and organizing medications and pharmacy supplies.
• Monitor medication inventory and notify appropriate staff of low stock, backorders, shortages, or other inventory concerns.
• Check medication inventory for expiration dates and assist with the proper removal and disposition of expired, recalled, damaged, or unusable products.
• Assist with medication recalls and other inventory control activities as directed by the pharmacist.
• Maintain appropriate storage conditions for medications, including refrigerated products and other medications requiring special handling.
• Assist with maintaining a clean, organized, sanitary, and secure pharmacy work environment.
• Follow established procedures for handling controlled substances and maintain required documentation within the scope permitted for pharmacy technicians.
• Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with HIPAA and all applicable privacy and security requirements.
• Follow infection prevention, workplace safety, and pharmacy security procedures.
• Communicate professionally with patients, providers, insurance companies, pharmacy staff, and other members of the healthcare team.
• Participate in required meetings, training, continuing education, and competency assessments.
• Assist with pharmacy workflow and other operational duties necessary to provide timely and effective patient service.
• Perform other duties within the lawful scope of pharmacy technician practice as assigned by the Pharmacist-in-Charge, Pharmacy Manager, or supervising pharmacist.

Scope of Practice

The Certified Pharmacy Technician works under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist and shall perform only those functions permitted by applicable federal and West Virginia laws, regulations, and Board of Pharmacy requirements.

The Pharmacy Technician shall not perform duties that require the professional judgment of a pharmacist, including final prescription verification, patient counseling, clinical interpretation, therapeutic recommendations, or other pharmacist-only functions.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Must meet all current requirements for pharmacy technician registration, certification, or practice established by the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy.
• Certified Pharmacy Technician credential through a nationally recognized certification organization, such as the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or other certification accepted by the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy, as required for the position.
• Must maintain all registrations and certifications required for employment throughout the duration of employment.
• Previous retail, community, outpatient, or healthcare pharmacy experience preferred.
• Experience with pharmacy management software and prescription processing systems preferred.
• Basic computer and data-entry skills required.
• Current CPR/BLS certification if required by assigned duties or organizational policy.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Knowledge of pharmacy terminology, medication names, dosage forms, and common pharmacy calculations appropriate to the technician role.
• Ability to accurately read and enter prescription information.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to medication safety.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to prioritize responsibilities and work efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Professional and compassionate customer service skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of protected health information.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a pharmacy and interdisciplinary healthcare team.
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions, policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to recognize situations requiring pharmacist intervention and promptly refer those matters to the pharmacist.
• Dependability, professionalism, integrity, and good judgment.

Physical Requirements

The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation. Requirements may include:

• Standing and walking for extended periods during the workday.
• Frequent use of hands and fingers for counting medications, operating computers, handling prescription containers, and performing other pharmacy duties.
• Reaching, bending, stooping, and retrieving medications and supplies from shelving.
• Lifting and carrying pharmacy supplies and inventory consistent with organizational requirements.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person and by telephone.
• Sufficient visual ability to read prescription information, medication labels, computer screens, and product information accurately.

Work Environment

Work is primarily performed in a pharmacy or healthcare environment. The employee may have regular interaction with patients, healthcare providers, medications, cleaning products, and other materials normally encountered in pharmacy operations.

The position requires adherence to applicable occupational safety, infection prevention, medication handling, and pharmacy security requirements.

Confidentiality

The Certified Pharmacy Technician is responsible for maintaining the confidentiality and security of patient, employee, and organizational information. All protected health information must be handled in accordance with HIPAA, applicable federal and state requirements, and E.A. Hawse Health Center policies.