Pharmacy technicians
High opportunity occupation
Career Overview
Pharmacy technicians are regulated health professionals who play a critical role in the dispensing and preparation of medications. Their work includes gathering patients’ information, medication preparation and distribution and inventory control.
Pharmacy technicians can work in retail and hospital pharmacies, long-term care facilities, compounding pharmacies, regulatory bodies, educational institutions or in the pharmaceutical industry.
Pharmacy technicians who are supervisors are included in this group.
Job Titles
Duties
In general, pharmacy technicians:
- Verify prescriptions are accurate and complete
- Enter client and prescription details into a digital pharmacy system
- Maintain medication inventories and prescription records
- Ensure proper storage and handling of medications
- Count, measure and prepare medications for clients
- Compound sterile and non-sterile medications
- Teach clients how to use medical devices such as inhalers or blood glucose monitors
- Gather and confirm client medication histories to ensure accuracy
- Process customer payments and bill third-party insurers
- May help with scheduling and workflow
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
2,525% Employed Full Time
66%Work is carried out in an indoor medical or retail environment.
The use of technology in pharmacies minimizes repetitive tasks, allowing pharmacy technicians to focus more on patient safety and inventory management.
Career Pathways
With experience, pharmacy technicians may progress to advanced roles in hospital pharmacies, such as medication reconciliation technician (ensuring records and inventory are accurate), automation pharmacy technician (servicing automated systems), community pharmacy lead or supervisory positions.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Pharmacy technicians must be registered with the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia. To become a registered pharmacy technician, they must:
- Complete a Pharmacy Technician education program accredited by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP)
- Complete structured practical training
- Pass the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) evaluating exam
- Pass the PEBC qualifying exam (Part I & II)
- Register with the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia
Pharmacy technicians who are currently registered as a practising pharmacy technician in good standing from another Canadian province or territory can register through the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA). However, if they are on the non-patient care or non-practising register in a Canadian province or territory outside B.C., they will need to transfer to that province or territory’s patient care or practising category in order to apply through the CFTA.
Pharmacy technicians trained outside of Canada and who have never received certification from any Canadian province or territory require a full assessment. Contact the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia for details on how to apply for registration in B.C.
For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.
View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Rehabilitation/Therapeutic Services
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
2,525Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 60 | 2.4% |
| Kootenay | 105 | 4.2% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,475 | 58.4% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 55 | 2.2% |
| Northeast | 35 | 1.4% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 345 | 13.7% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 450 | 17.8% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
1,410Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 30 | 1.0% |
| Kootenay | 20 | -1.0% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 940 | 2.3% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 10 | -0.3% |
| Northeast | 10 | 0.7% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 160 | 1.1% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 250 | 1.5% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Retail Trade | 780 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 630 |
Insights from Industry
The need for qualified pharmacy technicians continues to grow due to an aging population, regulatory changes and rising medication use. The demand for pharmacy technicians is particularly high in specialty pharmacies and hospital settings, driven by the ongoing growth of biologics, gene therapies and specialized or rare drugs.
Pharmacy technicians are also playing a bigger role in procurement and supply, helping to improve pharmacy’s purchasing power with wholesale sellers. Specialized training in compounding is becoming increasingly valuable, especially in oncology (cancer treatment), long-term care and veterinary pharmacy.
The shortage of pharmacy technicians in B.C. is expected to continue, particularly in hospitals, community pharmacies and long-term care facilities. This creates significant career and earnings opportunities for those considering entering this field.
Resources
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Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP)ccapp.ca/pharmacy-technician/
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College of Pharmacists of British Columbia (CPBC)www.bcpharmacists.org
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Pharmacy Examining Board of Canadapebc.ca/
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Pharmacy Technician Society of British Columbiaptsbc.ca/
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National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities – National Statisticswww.napra.ca/resources/national-statistics/
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Fraser Health – Careerscareers.fraserhealth.ca
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Interior Health – Jobsjobs.interiorhealth.ca/
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Island Health – Careerswww.islandhealth.ca/careers
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Northern Health – Careerscareers.northernhealth.ca/
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Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) – Jobsjobs.phsa.ca/
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Vancouver Coastal Health – Careerscareers.vch.ca
Career Videos
Watch the video below to see a day in the life of a pharmacy technician.
Watch the video below to see a day in the life of a pharmacy technician.
