Pharmacy Technician Resume Examples: 5 Best Samples & Why They Work

After years of education, you’re ready to start your career as a pharmacy technician. You should feel prepared with all your experience, but you should also craft the ideal pharmacy technician resume.

A professional resume will help you start your job search on the right foot.

You’ll show potential employers all your education and skills and can list your previous job experience. A clean, well-organized resume will help you stand out from the crowd of applicants.

Read on to find out what you should include in a pharmacy technician resume, and see examples.

Overview of Pharmacy Technicians

Pharmacy Technicians typically perform under the direction of pharmacists in order to prepare prescription based medicines for clients or healthcare clinics.

In most hospitals and big health care units, they dispense a wide range of medications, as per order, and once these are prepared and checked by the pharmacists, PTs commonly deliver them to concerning patients.

To prepare medicines, a PT essentially requires the original prescription or its Xerox copy while verbal orders from known and renowned physicians are also accepted.

The normal tasks of a PT include measuring the quantity of medications, blending, packaging, labeling, and marking them, whilst jobs like preparing computerized billing, accepting payments, and updating system database log also come under their job responsibility.

As it comes to administrative activities, pharmacy technicians are expected to maintain inventory, inform pharmacists about the stock status, store new supplies in the right places, keep stock register up-to-date, and attend telephone calls of doctors, healthcare units, and customers.

Some Tips to Write Pharmacy Technician Resume

• A pharmacy assistant is a part of the healthcare community and their job profile is intended toward human well-being. While explaining your objective, narrate as to how you like to dedicate your skill and knowledge to strengthen healthcare services and benefit your employer.
• When talking about skill areas, mention your meticulousness, patience, and awareness about pharmacology. Knowledge in understanding different types of prescription handwritings, a caring attitude, accountability, computer knowledge, and other attributes are vital skills that you should own.
• Skills should be followed by your field experience. It is imperative for a pharmacy technician to be backed by a few years of industry exposure. Mention the main jobs that you have handled.
• In conclusion, provide details of your educational and professional background.

Pharmacy Technician Resume Examples

A pharmacy technician is a necessary position, helping dispense medications doctors prescribe, which in turn helps people get better.

They can work in pharmacies, drugstores, grocery stores, and hospitals. Healthcare is a major industry in the United States, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the pharmacy technician field will grow by 5% in the coming years.

With that job security in mind, read on to find out what you should highlight on your pharmacy technician resume to enter the field.

General Pharmacy Technician Resume

Maria O. Johnston
XX Court Street, Foley, MO 63347
(000) 017-0000, [email protected]

Objective
I would like to make the best use of my knowledge, skill and experience in the profession of pharmacy technician.

I am confident enough to satisfy my potential employer by offering the best of my efforts and demonstrating skills.

I will definitely enjoy great self-satisfaction by being a part of the dignified medical industry.

Skills

• Have extensive knowledge in medication items and dispensing procedures.
• Dedicated to offering the best customer service.
• Expert in understanding wide varieties of handwriting.
• A serious listener to the suggestions of physicians; familiar to dispense medicines by auto devices.
• Well organized to keep things in their right place and in time.
• Have understanding to prepare computerized bills and maintain inventory.

Experience

Pharmacy Technician
Royal Health Care Hospice, New York, NY
2012 – Present

• Working under an expert pharmacist in a reputed healthcare setting in-house pharmacy; maintain register; prepare medications as per prescription requirement; also visit each cabin and bed of patients to confirm the medicines, prescribed by doctors, found attached in files and note them.
• Prepare those medicines; operated auto dispenser machine for blending them; labeled them with patient’s name, bed/cabin number, and doctor’s name, and arranged them to supply together with my assistant. Prior to delivery, all prepared medications are verified by the pharmacist.
• Make billing, collect payments, and keep accounts up-to-date. Also, maintain physical stock of medicines and tally them with systems data; inform about the stock level and give requisition of medicines.

Trainee Pharmacy Technician
Apollo Pharmacy, Los Angeles, CA
2010 – 2012

• Worked as per guidance of a pharmacist to dispense medication or prepare list of prescription medicines; used to label and mark them with necessary codes; upon confirmation of the pharmacist, kept them ready for customers.
• Used to prepare bills; collected payment from customers and maintained accounts of stocks in computer; used to sit with the pharmacist to check the stock position.
• Used to attend telephone calls and enquired physicians to confirm about the medication, if found confusing; looked after medicine storage.

Education

Associate’s Degree in Pharmacy Technology
University of Georgia, Georgia (2010)

High School Diploma in Science
Minnesota STP High School, Minnesota (2008)

Download Pharmacy Technician Resume Template

Entry-Level Pharmacy Technician Resume Example

When applying for an entry-level pharmacy technician position, you might not have relevant job history to highlight.

In that case, you can focus on skills you learned from other jobs and show the hiring manager how those qualities will help you in this position.

You can also include work history that doesn’t initially seem like it relates to a pharmacy technician position.

General skills like customer service, organization and inventory management, and time management are beneficial in any role.

If you have retail or serving experience, you can present most skills as something that will help you in the pharmacy.

Work Experience 1: Pharmacy Technician Extern

• Job Description: Work in the pharmacy while completing my college degree for practical experience to complement my educational knowledge.
• Results: Sterilized surfaces and instruments for utmost medication safety.
• Additional Competencies: Handled customer questions and verified prescription validations.
• Other: Greeted dozens of customers daily.

Work Experience 2: Cashier

• Job Description: Operated a POS register to ensure customers quickly and efficiently completed purchases.
• Results: Opened and closed registers, completing transactions with 100% accuracy.
• Additional Competencies: Handled over 100 customer transactions daily.
• Other: Answered customer questions and resolved complaints before they escalated.

Project Experience

• Student Chapter of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists: Founding member of the chapter at my college.
• Student Ambassador Program: Served as an ambassador for the College of Pharmacy during my last two years.
• Kappa Psi: I became the membership recruiter for the pharmaceutical fraternity chapter on campus during my senior year.

Skills

• Clear written and oral communication skills
• Detail-oriented in all aspects of the job
• Customer-focused
• Types 90 words per minute
• Efficient handling of time-management

Education

• Pharmacy Technician Diploma: Graduated with a 3.9 GPA.
• High School Diploma: Graduated with a 4.0 GPA.

Licenses & Accreditations

• Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) from Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)
• Sterile Products Certification from the National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA)
• Trainee License from the state’s Board of Pharmacy

Why This Resume Works

Because this applicant is just starting in the field, the resume’s skill section is the most essential part of the document.

They include specific details about what they can handle, which will speak to the hiring manager even though they don’t have as much pharmacy experience as other applicants.

When starting your career, you should ensure that everything you include on your resume points toward your potential in the pharmacy. Any skill that might streamline the process of prescription intake and fulfillment is critical.

Customer service skills are a major plus because you deal with sick people all the time and need to ensure they leave satisfied.

Certified Pharmacy Technician Resume Example

Pharmacy technicians with professional certifications want to highlight these accomplishments on their resumes.

However, it’s important to remember that work experience and education also factor heavily into the hiring manager’s decision.

You can work to balance all the information on this type of resume. Give equal importance to your education and how that factored into the licenses and certifications you went on to earn.

You also have the chance to show how this knowledge helps you on the job.

Work Experience 1: Pharmacist

• Job Description: Served as the pharmacist in a drugstore pharmacy, serving clients of all demographics and helping them choose generic options when available.
• Results: Reviewed and updated patient files and medical records to ensure proper prescription delivery.
• Additional Competencies: Oversaw four interns throughout the fall semester, helping with customer care and inventory fulfillment.
• Other: Monitored medication stock and reordered depleted inventory.

Work Experience 2: Pharmacist Assistant

• Job Description: Assisted the pharmacist by tracking expiration dates, managing inventory, and answering customer questions.
• Results: Processed incoming prescriptions and ensured all supplies were available for the pharmacist.
• Additional Competencies: Handled insurance bills for customers.
• Other: Labeled prescriptions after fulfillment.

Project Experience

• Intern Program: Established and oversaw the first intern program in the pharmacy, starting with four students in the inaugural semester.
• Pharmacy Satisfaction Survey: Created and analyzed data from an online satisfaction survey distributed to customers and used the results to improve the pharmacy’s operations.
• Johns Hopkins Summer Program: Served as an intern for three months, specializing in chemistry studies.

Skills

• Team leadership over four interns
• Problem resolution with staff and customers
• Inventory management oversight
• Patient education regarding side effects
• Confidential organization of patient files

Education

• Master of Science: Graduated with a degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences.
• Bachelor of Science: Graduated with a degree in Health Sciences.

Licenses & Accreditations

• Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) from Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)
• Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) from National Healthcareer Association (NHA)

Why This Resume Works

This pharmacy technician resume shows how you can include certifications you’ve earned, such as from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).

While the spotlight is on those professional accomplishments, you also want to showcase your work experience. Sharing specific details about what you’ve accomplished on the job will help you stand out.

This resume shows how the applicant progressed from a pharmacist assistant to a pharmacist after earning professional certifications.

The skills and projects included show how their licenses can help them change the pharmacy if they get the job.

Retail Pharmacy Technician Resume Example

Retail pharmacy technicians work to fulfill and distribute prescriptions while also handling retail tasks like overseeing the cash register and handling customer questions about the store’s products and services.

You can work as a retail pharmacist in a drugstore, grocery store, or big box chain store.

Since you might encounter other tasks while you complete your dedicated duties, highlighting some related experiences can help your resume stand out to the hiring manager.

Work Experience 1: Pharmacist Assistant

• Job Description: Worked with the pharmacist to fulfill and label prescriptions in a chain store with 15 other departments.
• Results: Managed inventory in our department in addition to handling customer questions about other areas of the store.
• Additional Competencies: Maintained customer confidentiality regarding files and orders.
• Other: Operated a POS cash register for over 50 customers daily.

Work Experience 2: Sales Associate

• Job Description: Worked as a sales associate for a department store, reaching the top 5% of all associates within my first six months.
• Results: Developed a custom upselling training to help other associates reach my success level.
• Additional Competencies: Handled customer questions and concerns in an understanding manner, earning a 97% customer approval rating.
• Other: Streamlined the staff scheduling process to ensure every shift had adequate staff with backup on call.

Project Experience

• Customer Satisfaction Ratings: Helped implement customer service scorecards at the retail store to boost our overall performance.
• Training Program: Led a training program for other associates when the store adopted a new POS on the registers.

Skills

• Outstanding customer service
• Detail-oriented regarding prescriptions and sales
• Thorough and confidential customer documentation
• Innovative thinking to streamline retail procedures
• Comfortable in fast-paced environments

Education

• Pharmacy Technician Diploma: Graduated with a 3.6 GPA.
• High School Diploma: Graduated with a 3.5 GPA.

Licenses & Accreditations

• Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) from Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)
• Sterile Products Certification from the National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA)
• Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) from National Healthcareer Association (NHA)

Why This Resume Works

This resume works because the applicant highlights their pharmacy technician education, experience, and licenses.

They also play up their sales experience to show how they could benefit the retail pharmacy in a unique way.

Even the licenses they earned show an interest in the retail and financial side of the industry, making them a valuable addition to the team.

Though this applicant has pharmacy technician experience and education, they also include seemingly-unrelated job experience, much like the entry-level applicant.

Both resumes should inspire you to include work you’re proud of to showcase it in a way that makes it stand out to the hiring manager.

Seeing how the retail and entry-level applicants overlap gives you an idea of points you shouldn’t exclude from your own resume.

Think of all relevant talents you have that can help in these environments and mention them as skills or as relating to your work history.

Hospital Pharmacy Technician Resume Example

Hospital pharmacy technicians provide medications for patients currently in the hospital and discharged people.

They need to understand patient records, carefully interpret their medical history, and feel comfortable administering IV medications.

Other hospital duties, such as inventory management and general patient care, also come into play.

Therefore, showing the hiring manager that you’re a well-rounded candidate will ensure they give your pharmacy technician resume a second look.

Work Experience 1: Hospital Pharmacy Technician

• Job Description: Streamlined pharmacy processes by organizing prescriptions, calculating medication quantities, and preparing labels.
• Results: Met all pharmacy benchmarks with a 100% success rate, including IV dosage.
• Additional Competencies: Oversaw stock availability of IVs to ensure staff could access the inventory as needed, eliminating errors in the process.
• Other: Trained three pharmacy technicians on efficient IV dosage calculations.

Work Experience 2: Hospital Pharmacy Assistant

• Job Description: Filled prescriptions as hospital staff and nurses needed them on the floors and in the Emergency Room.
• Results: Maintained a reputation of 0% errors throughout all prescription fulfillment.
• Additional Competencies: Trained five new pharmacy assistants on factors like customer service and medication storage.
• Other: Revamped the IV inventory department with clearer labeling while maximizing storage space.

Project Experience

• IV Storage Solution: Created a new database for IV inventory, focusing on limiting access to the necessary staff and simplifying the reordering process.
• Staff Training: Continually develop new training programs for staff relating to changes in the technical databases or customer medication distribution.

Skills

• Detail-oriented problem solver
• Impressive time-management skills
• Takes leadership roles to streamline the pharmacy
• Known for OSHA compliance
• Handles computer records with complete confidentiality

Education

• Master of Science: Graduated with a degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences.
• Bachelor of Science: Graduated with a degree in Health Sciences.

Licenses & Accreditations

• Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) from Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)
• Sterile Products Certification from the National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA)
• Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) from National Healthcareer Association (NHA)

Why This Resume Works

This resume works because it shows that the applicant goes above and beyond, a necessary skill in the hospital environment.

Hiring managers look for people who keep a level head in a stressful, fast-paced workplace, and all the skills and experience show that this applicant is capable of that quality.

The focus on detailed job descriptions is key here because you need an experienced worker in the hospital.

This applicant spotlighted times they stepped into a leadership role to help others so the pharmacist could continue serving the patients, which is the priority in a hospital.

The applicant showcases their soft skills as well by highlighting time management, confidentiality, and the willingness to find new ways to streamline existing hospital practices.

Consider innovative ways you’ve solved problems when you create your resume and make sure you give them adequate attention.

Compounding Pharmacy Technician Resume Example

Compounding pharmacy technicians take existing medications and add them to liquids, creams, or gels.

They’re able to ensure the patient gets the correct medication regardless of the type of dosage they’d like to take.

For example, small children need liquid medication because they can’t swallow pills.

Compounding pharmacy technicians take the basic medication and mix it into a flavored liquid the child will swallow to get healthier.

It takes special education and licenses to become a compounding pharmacy technician, so you want to highlight those on your resume.

Work Experience 1: Compounding Pharmacy Technician

• Job Description: Followed USP-795 regulations to properly compound medications for patients, including capsules, gels, creams, liquids, and suppositories.
• Results: Kept all areas sterile while ensuring customers got the medication they needed in the correct form and in a timely manner.
• Additional Competencies: Contacted providers as needed for patient details not included in the medical records.
• Other: Oversaw facility and equipment maintenance to ensure the pharmacy ran smoothly.

Work Experience 2: Pharmacy Technician

• Job Description: Worked under a Compounding Pharmacy Technician to understand how to compound medications into suspensions.
• Results: Learned how to ensure complete sterility for medications such as injections and eye drops.
• Additional Competencies: Managed three pharmacy interns throughout the academic year to ensure they were on track for the field.
• Other: Assisted throughout the pharmacy as needed, managing inventory and labeling prescriptions for quick distribution.

Project Experience

• Database Revision: Worked with the IT department to ensure the new customer database provided confidentiality in maintaining client medical records.
• Intern Oversight: Created a sterilization course for interns to do while they’re working at the pharmacy.

Skills

• Complete compliance with United States Pharmacopeia compounding guidelines
• Attention to detail regarding patient files and medication compounds
• Constant continuing education to learn the latest trends in compounding pharmaceuticals
• Punctual and efficient regarding streamlining work procedures
• Computer and database skills relating to compounding medications and client records

Education

• Doctor of Pharmacy: Graduated with a postgraduate degree in Pharmacy.
• Master of Science: Graduated with a degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences.
• Bachelor of Science: Graduated with a degree in Health Sciences.

Licenses & Accreditations

• Certified Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician (CSPT) from Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)
• Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) from Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)
• Sterile Products Certification from the National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA)

Why This Resume Works

This resume works because it establishes the applicant as a complete professional.

You can convey a lot of information very concisely, and this resume is an excellent example of that.

The applicant has the necessary education and certifications to work as a Compounding Pharmacy Technician and outlines them clearly.

The details about the applicant’s job experience paint a full picture of their skills. They showcase how they work to compound medications in various ways to best suit the customers’ needs.

They show a willingness to learn new skills and trends, despite already having an extensive postgraduate education.

They’re also eager to help others, as shown by how they take on extra tasks and help prepare interns for the field.

This resume is a great example of showcasing specific skills and education while also displaying soft skills like communication, positivity, and leadership.

Common Skills & Action Verbs To Include on a Pharmacy Technician Resume

The examples above give you specific ideas of what to include on your pharmacy technician resume based on your experience in the field.

If you need to boost your current draft with some essential skills and action verbs, check out the lists below.

Swap out some of your words with these choices to help your resume stand out to the hiring manager.

Common Skills for Pharmacy Technician Resumes

• Attention to detail
• Clear written and oral communication
• Computer proficiency
• Customer service experience
• Experience in fast-paced environments
• Familiar with inventory management
• Filling prescriptions
• Following safety procedures
• Knowledge of pharmacy computer systems
• Interpreting medication orders
• Inventory audits
• Level-headed in times of stress
• Math proficiency
• Organizing prescriptions and files
• Problem-solving skills
• Processing insurance claims
• Punctual
• Purchasing supplies
• Specific words per minute typing skills
• Time management skills

Common Action Verbs for Pharmacy Technician Resumes

• Administered
• Analyzed
• Constructed
• Coordinated
• Developed
• Enabled
• Established
• Facilitated
• Handled
• Implemented
• Merged
• Overhauled
• Organized
• Prioritized
• Produced
• Resolved
• Spearheaded
• Streamlined
• Supported
• Trained

Tips for Writing a Better Pharmacy Technician Resume

These resume tips will help you stand out from other applicants. Use the examples above, then proofread your final document with these tips in mind.

You’ll end up with a strong, professional resume that showcases your skills and makes you the ideal candidate for the job.

Be Concise

One of the biggest constraints of resumes is that you don’t want to go over one page unless absolutely necessary.

Hiring managers don’t have enough time to read two or three pages from every applicant, so even if you turn in a two-page document, they might not look past the first page.

With that in mind, you need to be concise.

Highlight your most significant skills, experiences, and education. You don’t need to include a work history that doesn’t relate to pharmacies or customer service because the hiring manager won’t care.

They only need the information that relates to this position, so choose your words carefully.

Use Action Verbs

Not only is actionable writing more grammatically correct than passive writing, but it’s also more engaging.

You don’t want the hiring manager to feel bored while reading your resume, but words like “tried” and “did” don’t convey much detail.

If you list that you “did prescription refilling,” the hiring manager might pass on you entirely.

However, changing that statement to “refilled prescriptions” is more actionable. It also cuts down on unnecessary verbiage, which will help you be more concise, as mentioned above.

Play Up Your Experience

The entry-level pharmacy technician resume example gives you some insight into how you can play up your past experience.

Even if you’ve never worked in the field, you already possess many skills that will benefit you as a pharmacy technician.

You can highlight this experience and present it in a way that helps the hiring manager see what you can accomplish.

For example, retail work like stocking and shelving improves your organizational skills, which are crucial for pharmacy technicians.

Any job where you’ve answered the phones or dealt with people gives you customer service experience.

All these skills are important for pharmacy technicians, so you can spotlight them as such on your resume.

Be Specific

This tip goes for playing up your experience, whether you’re just starting out or have years of pharmacy technician experience under your belt.

You want to give as much specific information about yourself as you can. These details will stand out to the hiring manager, making you a more viable candidate than those who are general and long-winded.

For example, don’t gloss over your skills by saying you type quickly. Take an online typing test and specify that you type 90 words per minute.

This skill will show the hiring manager that you can deftly communicate via the computer without making mistakes, helping the pharmacy run smoothly and professionally.

Frequently Asked Questions

You’ve seen quality examples of pharmacy technician resumes and learned tips about including all the necessary information.

In case you want to know more before you start applying for jobs, check out the answers to these frequently asked questions.

Similar Resume Types to Reference

Having an outstanding resume when you’re applying to jobs in the medical field will help showcase your education, experience, and relevant skills.

Check out examples of resumes in these similar fields to improve your pharmacy technician resume even more.

• Nursing Resume: Nurses can have experience in different health settings, and the ideal resume properly showcases them all.
• Medical Assistant Resume: Medical assistants are crucial players on the medical team, so a resume that highlights your skills can help you secure the position.
• CNA Resume: A certified nursing assistant needs a detailed resume to showcase their professional skills and previous experience.

Wrapping Up

The most important thing when you’re looking for jobs is to have a strong resume. As you compile your pharmacy technician resume, use the examples above as inspiration.

You can see how to spotlight your strengths, whether you have relevant job experience, a current degree or professional license, or special skills for the pharmacy. Polish your resume with these tips.