Pharmacy technician
Prepare and supply prescription medicine to treat people's illnesses and health conditions.
About the job
What it's like
You would prepare and supply prescription medicine to treat people’s illnesses and health conditions.
You could be based in a community, hospital pharmacy or primary care (for example, GP practices or care homes). You’d work under the supervision of a qualified pharmacist.
You would:
select the correct items to make up a prescription
weigh out ingredients, measure liquids and count out tablets
put together ointment mixtures, and medicines
make sure prescriptions are legal and accurate
create labels which give information about the medicines and how to use them
order new stock using computerised systems
If you work in a hospital pharmacy you might be responsible for making up medicines for patients who are having cancer treatment. These need to be made in special sterile conditions to avoid contamination. It is especially important in these cases to be as accurate and methodical as possible.
You would also be responsible for making sure that each department in the hospital has the right amount of medicine in stock. With experience, you could specialise in a particular area such as quality control, clinical trials or medicines information services.
If you work in a community pharmacy, you would talk with customers to:
advise them about prescription medicines and over-the-counter products
advise about healthy living
explain how to deal with minor illness
Some pharmacy technicians also provide a stop smoking service.
You’d need to be able to explain things clearly. People may be embarrassed about their health conditions so you’d need to have tact and discretion.
You would refer them to a pharmacist or healthcare professional when necessary.
You can see more about this role in the National Health Service on the pharmacy technician page on the NHS Scotland Careers website.
Hours
You would usually work between 37 and 40 hours a week, including weekends and some evenings. You may be expected to work on a rota based system. Part-time hours are also often available.
Environment
Your employer will usually provide you with a uniform and protective clothing if working under sterile conditions.
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Life sciences Healthcare
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- pharmaceuticals
- medical prescription
- primary care
- pharmaceutical sciences
- medication dispensation
- pharmacotherapy
- pharmacy experience
- hospital pharmacy
- pharmacy systems
- intrathecal
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- understanding
- taking responsibility
- implementing ideas
- attention to detail
- social conscience
- verbal communication
- supporting
- positive attitude
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Biology
Chemistry
Human Biology
Skills for Work: Laboratory Science
You'll need to complete a two-year accredited pharmacy technician course involving a mix of practical work experience and study. You'll usually be employed by a pharmacy as a pre-registration trainee pharmacy technician and study for a Level 3 apprenticeship.
You can then register with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and practice as a qualified pharmacy technician.
Visit NHS health careers to find courses to become a pharmacy technician.
You can find more information on the NHS health careers website.
To work as a pharmacy technician you need to be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
To register you need to successfully complete:
one of the accredited qualifications
two years of work experience
Find the right course for you
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Pharmacy technician'
