what is a pharmacy assistant?
A pharmacy assistant works in a pharmacy working under the supervision of a pharmacist and pharmacy technicians. As a pharmacy assistant, your main role is to work with the pharmacist in whatever capacity best helps the pharmacy.
Working as a pharmacy assistant, you will help customers find answers to their questions, manage their electronic health records, and process their prescriptions. Also known as pharmacy aides, pharmacy assistants also perform clerical tasks and paperwork in the pharmacy. You will reorder and restock medications, receive deliveries, and run the cash register for customers to purchase their prescriptions.
Keep reading for more information about the requirements to become a pharmacy assistant. You will also learn how much to expect for your salary, what the day-to-day work environment is like, what tasks you will perform, and how to apply for a job as a pharmacy assistant.
find your next jobaverage pharmacy assistant salary
A pharmacy assistant working full-time hours makes a median annual income of $40,000 - $55,000.
According to their skills and responsibilities, pharmacy assistants are paid on a rising scale within defined pay bands. If you have experience, your annual income could be between $50,000 - $60,000. You can work part-time as a pharmacy assistant as well.
Do you want to know more about the salary of a pharmacy assistant? Do the salary check!
types of pharmacy assistants
Working as a pharmacy assistant has some of the same duties and responsibilities as a pharmacy technician, but these are two different jobs. You will have many important responsibilities in your role as a pharmacy assistant. You may primarily perform tasks like counting medications, labelling them, and restocking shelves.
Alternatively, working as a pharmacy assistant, you may perform mostly administrative tasks like computer work, answering the phone, maintaining electronic files, and operating the cash register.
As a pharmacy assistant, you can continue to work your way up the ladder by becoming a dispensing assistant or a supervisor. You can even go on to complete more training and become a pharmacy technician.
working as a pharmacy assistant
Pharmacy assistants are very important in the pharmaceutical industry. With so many different working parts and necessary tasks in the pharmacy, they are like the oil that keeps it running smoothly. The numerous duties you perform allow the pharmacy to operate efficiently and effectively.
Working as a pharmacy assistant also allows you to have a part in helping people. By assisting pharmacists with pharmacy needs like ordering and dispensing prescription medications, keeping the shelves fully stocked with medications, and maintaining customers' electronic files, you help create an easier experience for everyone who uses the pharmacy.
You will work directly with patients to help them through the process of having their prescriptions filled. Tasks will include answering patients' questions, processing their orders, and checking them out at the register. Having an integral role in the healthcare field is very rewarding.
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pharmacy assistant job description
A pharmacy assistant has a variety of different but important responsibilities. Working under a pharmacist, you will keep electronic patient information up-to-date and accurate, prepare patient billing information, answer customer questions in person and over the phone, use the register, and sell over-the-counter medicines.
Additionally, your responsibilities could include preparing and dispensing some prescriptions, ordering medications, receiving deliveries, and restocking the pharmacy shelves. Some pharmacies may need you to perform all of these duties, while others may have you work more with the administrative side of the store than any other part.
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work environment of a pharmacy assistant
Working as a pharmacy assistant, you will work in a pharmacy. The pharmacy can be a standalone store, in a larger retail store, or even in a doctor's office or hospital. You will mostly be on your feet during the workday and walking around the pharmacy to perform your job-related tasks.
You will work with a small group of people, including at least one pharmacist, other pharmacy assistants, and some pharmacy technicians. You will work with different customers throughout your workday. Some of the people you serve during your workday could be sick and in great need of the help of their prescriptions.
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who are your colleagues?
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work schedule of a pharmacy assistant
Some pharmacies have regular daytime and evening hours, while very few are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in Canada. Pharmacies are usually open on weekends and outside of regular working hours. This means you may not have a regular Monday- to Friday, 9-to-5 job schedule.
You may have some regularity in your work schedule with full-time hours as a pharmacy assistant, but you may also have the ability to be flexible with a part-time schedule. In a 24-hour pharmacy, you may work second or third shifts (overnight). However, few pharmacies in Canada are open 24/7. In some positions, you will need to have irregular work hours.
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job outlook as a pharmacy assistant
The need for pharmaceutical services is increasing annually due to an aging population. With the increased need for prescription medications, the demand for pharmacy assistants will continue to increase. Considering that people will always need prescription medications, pharmaceuticals is a secure field to enter into.
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advantages of finding a pharmacy assistant job through Randstad Canada
Finding your pharmacy assistant job through Randstad Canada provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid bi-weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a pharmacy assistant is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers yearly thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad Canada. Moreover, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad Canada, too!
pharmacy assistant skills and education
Pharmacy assistants usually require completion of a Pharmacy Assistant college/diploma program, which can range from six to twelve months. Pharmacy assistant certifications are available online and offline.
skills and competencies
There are multiple skills and personality traits that help you perform well in a career as a pharmacy assistant. Working with pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to prepare and dispense customers' medications requires that you are responsible and pay attention to detail.
You will need to be able to follow the pharmacist's directions closely. Working as a pharmacy assistant, you will work with people routinely in this career, so being friendly, personable, and kind to provide good customer service is important.
As an assistant, you need to be a good listener, remember the tasks assigned by the pharmacist or pharmacy management, and work well with others and under the charge of others. You will need to learn, understand, and comply with all federal, provincial, and local laws regarding pharmaceutical work. You will need to be organized and be able to responsibly and effectively manage various tasks that are required of you as an assistant to a pharmacist.
FAQs
Here are the most asked questions about working as a pharmacy assistant.
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what does a pharmacy assistant do?
Working as a pharmacy assistant, you will work with pharmacists to ensure that the process of filling patients' prescriptions flows smoothly, along with maintaining inventory. You assist the pharmacist with ordering, preparing, and dispensing medications for patient orders.
Pharmacies are a necessary retail store in our society, especially due to the aging population, so the demand for pharmacy assistants will remain strong.
A pharmacy assistant works to support the pharmacist and the pharmacy technicians in a pharmacy. The roles you fulfill in the pharmacy range from clerical work to dispensing prescriptions. You will be responsible for updating patient files, helping answer customer questions, and assisting customers with purchasing their prescriptions. You could also be responsible for tasks like counting medications, reordering them, and restocking the pharmacy shelves. As an assistant, you will be under the supervision of a pharmacist and perform tasks that need to be completed for the pharmacy to run smoothly.
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what qualifications do you need to be a pharmacy assistant?
Pharmacy assistants usually require completion of a Pharmacy Assistant college/diploma program. Most employers will expect good literacy, numeracy, and IT skills. Experience in a customer service role would be an advantage.
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how much do pharmacy assistants make per year?
A pharmacy assistant working full-time hours makes a median annual income of $40,000 - $55,000. With more years of experience and raises over time, this could go up to $50,000 - $60,000.
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is being a pharmacy assistant a good career?
Working in the healthcare industry as a pharmacy assistant is an important career where you can impact many individuals. If you enjoy interacting with many different people, pay attention to detail, and enjoy being organized, you will excel at being a pharmacy assistant. Working as a pharmacy assistant is an excellent career for people who are responsible, want to work with a small group of people, and are motivated to impact the lives of other people every day.
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what else should a pharmacy assistant know?
A pharmacy assistant should have basic computer skills with the ability to learn new electronic systems and processes. Some of your work will be on a computer, like ordering new prescriptions, performing online record keeping for pharmacy patients, and using the register to check out customers picking up their medications. A pharmacy assistant also needs to have excellent listening and communication skills. You will spend your day communicating important information with the other pharmacy staff and with customers. This includes answering customer questions about their medication, their insurance, or the ordering process and relaying that information to the pharmacist as needed. Listening well, understanding, and giving information accurately and effectively is important.
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