Activities	Record drugs delivered to the pharmacy, store incoming merchandise, and inform the supervisor of stock needs. May use a cash register and accept prescriptions for filling.
Outlook	Average job growth
Median Income	$20,100 per year in 2008
Work Context & Conditions	Pharmacy technicians and assistants work in clean, organized, well-lit, and well-ventilated areas. Most of their workday is spent on their feet. They may be required to lift heavy boxes or to use stepladders to retrieve supplies from high shelves.
Minimum Education Requirements	General High School Program
Skills	Active Listening, Service Orientation, Time Management, Active Learning, Reading Comprehension, Speaking
Abilities	Oral Expression, Speech Clarity, Oral Comprehension

Job Category		Healthcare Support
Job Description		Pharmacy aides help licensed pharmacists with administrative duties in running a pharmacy. Aides often are clerks or cashiers who primarily answer telephones, handle money, stock shelves, and perform other clerical duties. They work closely with pharmacy technicians. Pharmacy technicians usually perform more complex tasks than do assistants, although, in some states, their duties and job titles overlap. Aides refer any questions regarding prescriptions, drug information, or health matters to a pharmacist. Aides have several important duties that help the pharmacy to function smoothly. They may establish and maintain patient profiles, prepare insurance claim forms, and stock and take inventory of prescription and over-the-counter medications. Accurate record keeping is necessary to help avert dangerous drug interactions. In addition, because many people have medical insurance to help pay for prescriptions, it is essential that pharmacy aides correspond efficiently and correctly with the third-party insurance providers to obtain payment. Pharmacy aides also maintain inventory and inform the supervisor of stock needs so that the pharmacy does not run out of the vital medications that customers need. Some also clean pharmacy equipment, help with the maintenance of equipment and supplies, and manage the cash register.
Working Conditions		Pharmacy aides work in clean, organized, well-lit, and well-ventilated areas. Most of their workday is spent on their feet. They may be required to lift heavy boxes or to use stepladders to retrieve supplies from high shelves. Aides work the same hours as pharmacists. This includes evenings, nights, weekends, and some holidays. Because some hospital and retail pharmacies are open 24 hours a day, aides may work varying shifts. There are many opportunities for part-time work in both retail and hospital settings.
Salary Range		Median yearly earnings of pharmacy aides were $23,350 in 2010. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $16,810, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $32,790.

Education Required		Most pharmacy aides receive informal on-the-job training, but employers favor those with at least a high school diploma. Prospective pharmacy aides with experience working as a cashier may have an advantage. Employers also prefer applicants with strong customer service and communication skills and experience managing inventories and using a computer. Aides entering the field need strong spelling, reading, and mathematics skills. Successful pharmacy aides are organized, dedicated, friendly, and responsible. They should be willing and able to take directions. Candidates interested in becoming pharmacy aides cannot have prior records of drug or substance abuse. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are needed because there is a lot of interaction with patients, coworkers, and healthcare professionals. Teamwork is very important because aides are often required to work with technicians and pharmacists. Pharmacy aides almost always are trained on the job. They may begin by observing a more experienced worker. After they become familiar with the store's equipment, policies, and procedures, they begin to work on their own. Once they become experienced workers, they are not likely to receive additional training, except when new equipment is introduced or when policies or procedures change. To become a pharmacy aide, one should be able to perform repetitious work accurately. Aides need good basic mathematics skills and good manual dexterity. Because they deal constantly with the public, pharmacy aides should be neat in appearance and able to deal pleasantly and tactfully with customers. Some employers may prefer people with experience typing, handling money, or operating specialized equipment, including computers. Advancement usually is limited, although some aides may decide to become a pharmacy technician or to enroll in pharmacy school to become a pharmacist.
Recommended High School Courses		Computers and Electronics, Clerical, Mathematics
Postsecondary Instructional Programs
Certification and Licensing

Interest Area		Conventional Involves following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. There's usually a clear line of authority to follow.
Work Values		Working Conditions Good working conditions. Co-workers Have co-workers who are easy to get along with. Activity Busy all the time.
Skills		Active Listening Listen to what other people are saying and ask questions as appropriate. Service Orientation Actively look for ways to help people. Time Management Manage one's own time and the time of others. Active Learning Work with new material or information to grasp its implications. Reading Comprehension Understand written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. Speaking Talk to others to effectively convey information.
Abilities		Oral Expression Able to convey information and ideas through speech in ways that others will understand. Speech Clarity Able to speak clearly so listeners understand. Oral Comprehension Able to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Related Jobs		Medical Transcriptionist, Nurse, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational, Aide, Physical Therapist, Assistant, Physical Therapist, Assistant, Dental, Assistant, Occupational Therapy, Aide, Occupational Therapist, Technologist, Surgical, Technician, Medical Records and Health Information, Technician, Pharmacy
Job Outlook		With increased training, many pharmacy aides will become pharmacy technicians, which will result in further declines in pharmacy aide jobs. The increased number of middle-aged and elderly people—who use more prescription drugs than younger people—will spur demand for pharmacy workers throughout the projection period. In addition, as scientific advances lead to new drugs, and as more people obtain prescription drug coverage, pharmacy workers will be needed in growing numbers. Despite declining employment, job opportunities for full-time and part-time work are expected to be good. The frequent need to replace workers who leave the occupation will create opportunities for interested applicants. Aides with related work experience in pharmacies, or as cashiers or stock clerks in other retail settings, should have the best opportunities. Pharmacy aides held about 45,130,900 jobs in 2010. About 75 percent worked in retail pharmacies, most of which were in drug stores but some of which were in grocery stores, department stores, or mass retailers. About 16 percent of aides worked in hospitals.
More Information		American Medical Association - Health Care Careers
References		Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition, Pharmacy Technicians and Aides, on the internet at http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes319095.htm#nat O*NET OnLine, on the Internet at http://online.onetcenter.org/link/details/31-9095.00