What is the Difference Between Pharmacist and Pharmacy Technician?

Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are both professionals who work in pharmacies or hospitals, but they have different educational backgrounds, job responsibilities, and salaries. Here are the main differences between the two roles:

Education:

Pharmacists have a doctorate degree (Pharm.D.) and take around 4-6 years to complete their education.
Pharmacy technicians typically complete a training program, which can be a certificate, diploma, or associate degree, in around 1 year or less.

Responsibilities:

Pharmacy technicians mainly assist with clerical work, such as data entry, billing, and filling prescriptions.
Pharmacists are responsible for ensuring that patients' medications are filled properly and safely, as well as verifying prescription information, advising patients and healthcare providers about potential interactions, and instructing patients on how to take medications safely.

Supervision and Independence:

Pharmacists supervise pharmacy technicians and can work independently.
Pharmacy technicians must work under a pharmacist and are not licensed to provide advice.

Licensing Examination:

Both pharmacists and pharmacy technicians must pass a licensing examination, but the specifics vary depending on the state.

In summary, pharmacists have a broader scope of work and are legally allowed to advise patients on pharmaceuticals, while pharmacy technicians play a supportive role under the supervision of a pharmacist.

On this page

What is the Difference Between Pharmacist and Pharmacy Technician?

Comparative Table: Pharmacist vs Pharmacy Technician

Here is a table highlighting the differences between a pharmacist and a pharmacy technician:

Feature	Pharmacist	Pharmacy Technician
Job Duties	Fills prescriptions, checks each prescription, keeps records of patients and medical information, provides medical advice based on certain symptoms, helps patients understand the symptoms of medications and how to use them	Accepts a prescription, packs the order, labels the order, helps with billing and insurance questions for the patient, performs administrative tasks like tracking inventory, running the cash register, and filing paperwork
Responsibility	Responsible for everything that goes on in the pharmacy, patient health and safety related to prescriptions, and legal compliance	Works under a pharmacist and is not responsible for the overall functioning of the pharmacy, is not licensed to provide advice
Education	Requires a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree	Does not need a college degree
Licensing Exam	Both must pass a licensing examination	Both must pass a licensing examination
Average Annual Salary	$116,140	$39,000

Pharmacists have a broader scope of responsibilities and can work independently, while pharmacy technicians must work under a pharmacist and are not licensed to provide advice.

Guilherme Mazui

Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.