Healthcare Apprenticeship Consortium - Washington

On-the-job Training

• Personal Skills as Pharmacy Technician
• Foundational Pharmacy Technician Professional Skills
• Processing and Handling of Medications and Medication Orders
• Sterile and Non-Sterile Compounding
• Procurement, Billing, Reimbursement and Inventory Management
• Patient-Safety and Medication-Safety
• Technology and Informatics
• Regulatory & Quality Assurance
• Demonstrate ethical conduct in all job-related activities.
  • 001 - Act ethically in all job-related activities.
• Present an image appropriate for the profession of pharmacy in appearance and behavior.
  • 002 - Apply skills for presenting a professional image in appearance (including dress and hygiene) and behavior.
• Communicate clearly when speaking and in writing.
  • 005 - Use effective strategies for communicating with patients who are non- English speakers or who have other special needs, such as vision or hearing problems, low reading level, difficulty understanding instructions).
  • 004 - Use listening skills effectively.
  • 003 - Apply effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrate a respectful attitude when interacting with diverse patient populations.
  • 006 - Demonstrate a respectful attitude when interacting with diverse patient populations.
• Apply self-management skills, including time management, stress management, and adapting to change.
  • 009 - Apply change management skills.
  • 008 - Apply stress management skills.
  • 007 - Apply time and workflow management skills.
• Apply interpersonal skills, including negotiation skills, conflict resolution, and teamwork.
  • 011 - Resolve conflicts effectively.
  • 010 - Apply effective interpersonal and teamwork skills in work with healthcare teams.
• Apply critical thinking skills, creativity, and innovation to solve problems.
  • 014 - Describe how different healthcare occupations interact in the health care delivery system.
  • 013 - Apply creativity and innovation to solve problems common frequently in pharmacy technician’s work.
  • 012 - Apply critical thinking skills to solve problems common in pharmacy technician’s work.
• Demonstrate understanding of wellness promotion and disease prevention concepts, incl. health screenings; environmental factors; and adverse effects of drugs and alcohol
  • 015 - Explain the importance and methods of wellness promotion and disease prevention practices, such as use of health screenings; health practices and environmental factors that impact health; and adverse effects of alcohol, tobacco, and legal and illega
• Demonstrate commitment to excellence in the pharmacy profession and to continuing education and training.
  • 016 - Demonstrate commitment to excellence in the pharmacy profession and to continuing education and training.
• Demonstrate understanding and skills in areas of science relevant to the pharmacy technician’s role, including anatomy/physiology and pharmacology.
  • 019 - Explain the role of the FDA in regulating herbal products and dietary supplements.
  • 018 - Explain the use and side effects of prescription and non- prescription medications, and alternative therapies (e.g., herbal products, dietary supplements, homeopathy, lifestyle modification) used to treat common disease states, including those that
  • 017 - State the definitions of medical terms commonly used in the range of patient care settings.
• Perform mathematical calculations essential to the duties of pharmacy technicians in a variety of contemporary settings.
  • 020 - Perform mathematical calculations frequently needed in pharmacy technicians’ work.
• Demonstrate understanding of the pharmacy technician’s role in the medication-use process.
  • 021 - Explain the pharmacy technician’s role in the medication-use process.
• Demonstrate understanding of major trends, issues, goals, and initiatives taking place in the pharmacy profession.
  • 022 - Identify and describe major trends, issues, goals, and initiatives taking place in the pharmacy profession.
• Demonstrate understanding of non-traditional roles of pharmacy technicians.
  • 023 - Identify and explain non-traditional roles of pharmacy technicians.
• Identify and describe emerging therapies.
  • 024 - Identify and describe emerging therapies.
• Demonstrate understanding of the preparation and process for sterile and non-sterile compounding.
  • 025 - Demonstrate understanding of the preparation and process for sterile and non-sterile compounding.
• Assist pharmacists in collecting, organizing, and recording demographic and clinical information for direct patient care and medication-use review.
  • 033 - Appropriately collect data for the pharmacist’s use in managing pharmacy services.
  • 032 - Appropriately collect data for the pharmacist’s use in a medication use review.
  • 031 - When collecting patient- specific information, identify situations where the patient requires the attention of the pharmacist.
  • 030 - Follow an established system for organizing collected patient-specific information in a useful electronic or manual format.
  • 029 - Obtain required patient information from other members of the health care team when needed.
  • 028 - Effectively interview patients, their representatives, or their caregivers to obtain needed patient information.
  • 027 - Collect needed patient information from the medical chart, patient profile or medical record when needed.
  • 026 - Act in accordance with state laws and regulations regarding collection of patient specific information.
• Receive and screen prescriptions/medication orders for completeness, accuracy, and authenticity.
  • 037 - Identify situations when screening refills and renewals when the technician should notify the pharmacist of potential inappropriateness.
  • 036 - Efficiently obtain information to complete a prescription/medication order.
  • 035 - Assess prescription/medication orders for completeness and authenticity when receiving orders via paper or electronic systems.
  • 034 - Act in accordance with state laws and regulations related to receiving and screening of medication orders.
• Assist pharmacists in the identification of patients who desire/require counseling to optimize the use of medications, equipment, and devices.
  • 039 - Use effective communication skills to determine if a patient or caregiver would like pharmacist counseling on the use of medications.
  • 038 - Act in accordance with state laws and regulations regarding patient counseling.
• Prepare non-patient-specific medications for distribution (e.g., batch, stock medications).
  • 047 - Follow established policies and procedures for recording preparation of bulk, unit dose, and special doses of medications for immediate or anticipated future use.
  • 046 - Affix the appropriate primary and auxiliary labels to containers.
  • 045 - Follow an established procedure to generate accurate and complete product labels.
  • 044 - Package the product in the appropriate type and size of container using a manual or automated system.
  • 043 - Follow safety policies and procedures in the preparation of all medications.
  • 042 - Appropriately obtain prescribed medications or devices from inventory.
  • 041 - Follow the manufacturer's recommendation and/or the pharmacy's guidelines for storage of medications prior to distribution.
  • 040 - Act in accordance with state laws and regulations regarding preparing medications for distribution.
• Distribute medications in a manner that follows specified procedures.
  • 053 - Monitor medication use to assure it is consistent with the prescription/medication order for the patient.
  • 052 - Follow established policies and procedures to record the distribution of controlled substances.
  • 051 - Follow established policies and procedures to record the distribution of prescription medications.
  • 050 - Efficiently deliver the correct medication, equipment, device, or supplies to the correct patient or their representative.
  • 048 - Follow established policies and procedures for recording the preparation of controlled substances.
• Practice effective infection control procedures, including preventing transmission of blood borne and airborne diseases.
  • 054 - Follow policies and procedures for infection control (e.g., protective clothing, hand- washing).
• Assist pharmacists in preparing, storing, and distributing medication products requiring special handling and documentation
  • 060 - Follow the established protocol for the preparation, storage and recording of an investigational medication product.
  • 059 - Apply special handling procedures for drugs with mandated Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS)].
  • 058 - Apply special procedures pharmacy technicians will be responsible for regarding preparing, storing and distributing investigational drugs
  • 057 - Apply special procedures technicians will be responsible for regarding preparing, storing and distributing controlled substances and chemotherapy agents.
  • 056 - Act in accordance with state laws and regulations regarding the technician’s role in immunizations.
  • 055 - Explain special procedures pharmacy technicians will be responsible for regarding preparing, storing and distributing controlled substances.
• Assist pharmacists in the monitoring of medication therapy.
  • 063 - Demonstrate skill in monitoring selected procedures (e.g., finger- stick blood draw for glucose monitoring and cholesterol screening, blood pressure, pulse).
  • 062 - Explain the purpose of monitoring a patient's medication therapy.
  • 061 - Act in accordance with state laws and regulations regarding technician’s role in monitoring of medication therapy.
• Prepare patient-specific medications for distribution.
  • 067 - Follow protocol to assemble appropriate patient information materials
  • 066 - Accurately count or measure finished dosage forms as specified by the prescription/medication order.
  • 065 - Accurately create a new, or enter data into an existing, patient profile according to an established procedure.
  • 064 - Act in accordance with state laws and regulations regarding technician’s role in preparing medications for distribution.
• Maintain pharmacy facilities and equipment, including automated dispensing equipment.
  • 072 - Follow manufacturers' guidelines in troubleshooting, maintaining, and repairing electronic devices used in preparing and dispensing medications.
  • 071 - Accurately calibrate weighing or counting devices, fluid compounders, or syringe pumps.
  • 070 - Maintain a clean and neat work environment.
  • 069 - Apply appropriate techniques to clean laminar flow biological safety cabinets.
  • 068 - Follow policies and procedures for sanitation management and hazardous waste handling (e.g., needles).
• Use material safety data sheets (MSDS) to identify, handle, and safely dispose of hazardous materials.
  • 077 - Compound sterile products using appropriate techniques, equipment and devices.
  • 076 - Accurately determine the correct amounts of ingredients for a compounded product.
  • 075 - Collect the correct ingredients for sterile products requiring compounding.
  • 074 - Define and explain key elements of USP 797.
  • 073 - Accurately follow instructions on material safety data sheets.
• Prepare medications requiring compounding of non-sterile products.
  • 078 - Compound non-sterile products using appropriate technique.
• Prepare medications requiring compounding of chemotherapy/hazardous products.
  • 090 - Accurately make change.
  • 089 - Demonstrate skill in the operation of a cash register.
  • 088 - Accurately record the receipt of payment for pharmaceutical goods and services.
  • 087 - Accurately complete third party claims forms.
  • 086 - Appropriately communicate third party payment coverage information and further action to be taken to customers/patients.
  • 085 - When a claim is rejected, identify the reason.
  • 084- Verify and accurately input third party coverage for a prescription/medication order.
  • 092 - Determine payment due the health system for medication orders.
  • 091 - Determine items which are taxable.
  • 083 - Effectively obtain needed information from the customer/patient, including method of payment for a prescription/medication order and patient-specific information.
  • 082 - Demonstrate skill in cleaning up a cytotoxic or other hazardous medication product spill using the accepted procedure.
  • 081 - Follow policies and procedures for sanitation management, hazardous waste handling (e.g., needles), and infection control (e.g., protective clothing)."
  • 080 - Follow safety policies and procedures when disposing of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes.
  • 079 - Compound cytotoxic and other hazardous medication products using appropriate technique.
• Apply accepted procedures in purchasing pharmaceuticals, devices, and supplies.
  • 093 - Follow an established procedure for purchasing pharmaceuticals, devices, and supplies.
• Apply accepted procedures in inventory control of medications, equipment, and devices.
  • 103 - Follow established policies and procedures to maintain a record of controlled substances received, stored, and removed from inventory.
  • 102 - Follow established policies and procedures for prevention of theft and/or medication diversion.
  • 101 - Explain methods for communicating changes in product availability to patients, caregivers, and/or health care professionals.
  • 100 - Explain alternative ways of obtaining a pharmacy item that is not available.
  • 099 - Identify pharmaceuticals, durable medical equipment, devices, and supplies to be ordered.
  • 098 - Follow established policies and procedures for documenting repackaging or the removal from inventory of expired/discontinued pharmaceuticals, durable medical equipment, devices, supplies, or recalled items in these same categories.
  • 097 - Follow established policies and procedures for removing from inventory expired/discontinued pharmaceuticals, durable medical equipment, devices, supplies, or recalled items in these same categories.
  • 096 - Follow established policies and procedures for placing pharmaceuticals, durable medical equipment, devices, and supplies in inventory under proper storage conditions.
  • 095 - Follow established policies and procedures verifying specifications on the original order when receiving inventory.
  • 094 - Apply accepted procedures of inventory control (e.g., prime vendor, just-in-time).
• Explain pharmacy reimbursement plans for covering pharmacy services.
  • Explain pharmacy reimbursement plans for covering pharmacy services.
• Apply patient-and medication-safety practices in all aspects of the pharmacy technician’s roles.
  • 108 - When a clinically significant ADE is identified, participate in formulating a strategy for preventing its reoccurrence.
  • 107 - When a clinically significant adverse medication event (ADE) is identified, participate in determining the presence of any similar potential ADE’s.
  • 106 - Explain the technician’s role in preventing and detecting medication errors.
  • 105 - Explain the programs currently in place for reporting medication errors on a global and institutional level.
  • 104 - Describe common factors of an effective pharmacy department approach to preventing medication errors.
• Verify measurements, preparation, and/or packaging of medications produced by others (cross-check)
  • 110 - Accurately assess the correctness of medications produced by other technicians including measurements, preparation technique, and packaging.
  • 109 - Explain how state laws and regulations determine what activities regarding verifying the measurements, preparation, and/or packaging of medications produced by other technicians can be delegated to technicians.
• Explain pharmacists’ roles responding to emergency situations and assisting pharmacists with Basic Life Support (BLS) skills
  • 112 - Achieve certification as a Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider.
  • 111 - Explain technicians’ roles when they are responding to emergency situations.
• Demonstrate skills required for effective emergency preparedness.
  • 113 - Demonstrate skills required for effective emergency preparedness.
• Assist pharmacists in medication reconciliation.
  • 114 - Apply skills required to assist pharmacists in medication reconciliation.
• Assist pharmacists in medication therapy management.
  • 121 - Describe policies and procedures for monitoring the practice site and/or service area for compliance with federal, state, and local laws; regulations; and professional standards.
  • 120 - Demonstrate the ability to use technologies frequently used in the pharmacy setting, including bar coding and automated dispensing technology, and unit dose packaging and reporting.
  • 119 - Explain currently emerging technologies that may impact the practice of pharmacy.
  • 118 - Demonstrate skill in using the internet, e-mail, and electronic medication information databases.
  • 117 - Demonstrate proficiency with word processing, spread sheets, and databases.
  • 116 - Describe the use of current technology in the healthcare environment to ensure the safety and accuracy of medication dispensing.
  • 115 - Demonstrate skills needed to assist pharmacists in medication therapy management.
• Maintain confidentiality of patient information.
  • 123 - Apply quality assurance practices to technician activities, including handling of pharmaceuticals, durable and non-durable medical equipment, devices and supplies.
  • 122 - Observe legal and ethical guidelines for safeguarding the confidentiality of patient information.
• Explain procedures and communication channels for product recall or shortage, medication error, or other problem.
  • 127 - Apply appropriate procedures and communication channels in the event of other problems that may occur.
  • 126 - Apply appropriate procedures and communication channels in the event of a medication error.
  • 125 - Apply appropriate procedures and communication channels in the event of a product shortage.
  • 124 - Apply appropriate procedures and communication channels to use in the event of a product recall.