Pharmacy Technician / Pharm Tech Apprenticeship

Walgreens•Wheaton, IL

About The Position

Walgreens Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Technician Apprentices work in a patient-centric pharmacy environment, interacting with customers and building patient relationships. Walgreens provides an “earn while you learn” Pharmacy Technician Training Program recognized by ASHP and the Department of Labor. The program offers courses, learning activities, resources, and on-the-job experience intended to build foundational and advanced pharmacy skills and prepare participants to become certified Pharmacy Technicians. It supports progress toward Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) certification and a nationally recognized, portable credential. Under the pharmacist’s direct supervision and in accordance with state and federal regulations and company policies, the technician assists with pharmacy practice and department duties. The role uses pharmacy systems to obtain patient and drug information and process prescriptions, and may include helping coach pharmacy technicians and cashiers if PTCB certified. The technician also contributes to customer service, pharmacy operations, inventory management, clinical services, and ongoing training and professional development.

Requirements

Fluency in reading, writing, and speaking English, except in Puerto Rico.
Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including evening and weekend hours.
PTCB certification through the designated training program and/or state-required certification or registration; PTCB certification is required for promotion to senior technician if not already earned.
Ability to follow state, federal, and company pharmacy policies and procedures under pharmacist supervision.

Nice To Haves

Six months of experience in a retail environment is preferred.
Prior work experience with Walgreens is preferred.
Good math skills for accurately counting, measuring, and weighing medications are preferred.
Good computer skills are preferred.
Knowledge of store inventory control is preferred.
PTCB certification is preferred.

Responsibilities

Assist the pharmacist under direct supervision and in accordance with state, federal, and company requirements.
Use pharmacy systems to obtain patient and drug information, enter information accurately, and process prescriptions.
Retrieve, count, and pour medications; verify medicines and check for possible interactions.
Assist pharmacists with scheduling and maintaining workflow.
Report prescription errors immediately to the pharmacist and follow company policies and the Quality Improvement Program.
Follow Good Faith Dispensing policy during applicable prescription-dispensing activities.
Register sales, collect and handle cash, and assist customers in locating over-the-counter products.
Handle telephone calls that do not require the pharmacist’s personal attention, including calls to physicians.
Correct and resubmit manual third-party prescription claims in a timely manner and perform assigned clerical duties.
Support inventory activities, including ordering, unpacking, checking, and storing pharmaceutical shipments.
Maintain knowledge of asset-protection practices and file claims for pharmaceutical shipment overages, shortages, order errors, and damaged goods.
May assist with clinical services, including collecting and properly labeling blood or urine samples, and help coordinate services with Walgreens clinics and external providers.
Help maintain relationships with local medical providers and community organizations through provider outreach and detailing.
Keep the Pharmacy Department stocked, clean, neat, and orderly.
Comply with company policies and procedures, maintain respectful coworker relationships, and complete special assignments as assigned.
Earn and maintain PTCB certification through the designated training program and/or required state certification or registration; otherwise, earn PTCB certification as a condition of promotion to senior technician.
Attend manager-requested training, earn continuing education credits, and maintain current healthcare and pharmacy knowledge.
Greet customers and patients, offer assistance, resolve issues, answer questions, and provide a positive customer experience.
Model customer-service best practices, build relationships with valuable customers, and, if PTCB certified, assist with and coach pharmacy technicians and cashiers in pharmacy systems and cash-register operations.