Pharmacy Technician vs. Pharmacist: What's the Difference?

With advancements in modern technology and science, the healthcare sector has significantly evolved to meet growing demands. This progress has also led to an increase in healthcare-related job opportunities. In addition to roles such as physicians, nurses, dentists, and therapists, a career in pharmacy is also highly rewarding and offers various options for specialization.

The two main roles within the pharmacy profession are pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. They work closely together as a team to ensure safe and effective medication therapy for patients. Continue reading to learn more about the differences between a pharmacist and a pharmacy technician, including the career outlook for both professions.

Pharmacy Technician vs Pharmacist: Key Differences

The specific responsibilities of a pharmacy technician vs a pharmacist can vary based on the setting, such as inpatient (within hospitals), outpatient (in communities or retail locations), or long-term care facilities. However, typical duties may include:

Processing medication orders
Dispensing medication orders
Communicating with healthcare providers and patients
Managing claims adjudication with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

Although pharmacists and pharmacy technicians perform some overlapping roles, their roles have distinct differences, including in education, training, and scope of practice.

General Responsibilities

A pharmacy technician (also called pharmacy tech) primarily performs tasks like preparing prescriptions under the supervision of a pharmacist, while a pharmacist has a much higher level of education and is responsible for the following:

Reviewing prescriptions for safety and appropriateness of the medication regimens
Providing medication counseling to patients
Making clinical decisions regarding medication therapy

Essentially, a pharmacy tech assists the pharmacist in day-to-day operations, whereas the pharmacist has full responsibility for patient care related to medication usage.

Pharmacy technicians may also help with administrative tasks such as filing prescriptions and managing inventory.

Educational Pathways and Requirements

Perhaps the most significant difference between a pharmacist and a pharmacy tech is in the level of education required by each. In some states, pharmacy technicians do not require any formal training beyond a high school diploma. In other states, pharmacy technicians are required to undergo training and education through special pharmacy technician programs. These programs are offered by private organizations, online schools, and institutes of higher education. Some large pharmacy chains have in-house training programs to prepare employees for pharmacy technician certification, followed by on-the-job training.

Pharmacy Technician Education and Certification

The duration of the pharmacy technician programs can range anywhere from 8 weeks to 24 months, depending on whether it is an in-house training program, a certificate program, a diploma, or an associate degree. At the completion of the program, pharmacy techs sit for a standardized exam called the PTCE (Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam), which the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board administers, a national-level organization for pharmaceutical education. Certifications from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board are recognized in all 50 states.

Pharmacy technician programs train students in pharmacy law and ethics, HIPAA regulations, calculation of medication dosages, and administrative tasks at pharmacies. The education and training are geared toward preparing every pharmacy technician to perform safe and efficient day-to-day operations at a pharmacy, including ensuring patient confidentiality, handling prescriptions, processing insurance claims, and maintaining pharmacy records.

Pharmacist Education and Licensure

It takes far more time and effort to become a pharmacist. First, you have to obtain a professional doctorate in pharmacology called the PharmD or Doctor of Pharmacy. This requires six years of education (four years of college and two years of pre-pharmacy education). Pharmacists are also required to complete a one-year internship under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. To become licensed to practice pharmacy, pharmacists have to pass the NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam). They are also required to register with the State Pharmacy Board.

Pharmacists are trained to do everything a pharmacy technician does and much more. They take courses in medical subjects to understand how drugs work in the human body. As a result, they have an in-depth knowledge of the uses of different medications, differences between medications, side effects, and drug interactions.

Salary and Career Outlook

Given the significant differences in the education and training of a pharmacist/pharmacy technician, it’s not surprising that there is a big difference in the median pay for these two professions.

Pharmacy Technician Salary Expectations

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary in 2023 for a pharmacy technician was $40,300 per year or $19.37 per hour.

Pharmacist Salary Projections

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary in 2023 for a pharmacist was $136,030 per year or $65.40 per hour.

Job Outlook and Growth Opportunities

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated there were:

463,900 pharmacy technician jobs in 2023, with a projected growth rate of 7% between 2023 and 2033 (faster than average).
337,700 pharmacist jobs in 2023, with a projected growth rate of 5% between 2023 and 2033 (same as average).

Day-to-Day Duties

Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are both healthcare careers, but they are not the same. While pharmacy technicians and pharmacists work in the same setting, i.e., pharmacies, their jobs require different skills and day-to-day duties.

Daily Tasks of Pharmacy Technicians

Pharmacy technicians work, in a sense, as assistants to pharmacists. A pharmacy technician is responsible for communicating with patients on phone calls and in person. They fill prescriptions and deliver individual prescriptions to patients, ensuring each prescription goes to the right patient.

Daily Tasks of Pharmacists

Pharmacists are responsible for ensuring patients get the right medicines. They have extensive knowledge of medications. They communicate with doctors. Their responsibilities include double-checking prescriptions to ensure they are the correct medicine for the patient’s medical problems. They also ensure there aren’t any drug interactions with the other medicines a patient is taking. In other words, pharmacists make sure what’s in the prescription is suitable for the patient.

Learn more: Can a Pharmacist Prescribe Medications?

Career Advancement in Pharmacy

Advancing as a Pharmacy Technician

To advance as a pharmacy technician, you can attend continuing education courses, gain additional certifications, seek leadership roles within your pharmacy, specialize in a specific area of pharmacy practice such as oncology or compounding, or join a pharmaceutical company’s sales department.

Path to Becoming a Senior Pharmacist

Pharmacists can advance their careers through continuing education and the pursuit of additional certifications. They can also specialize in a specific area of pharmacy, such as clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical research, or pharmacy administration. Additional paths to career advancement include taking on leadership roles, such as a pharmacy director or manager who oversees pharmacy operations, budget management, and staff supervision and advocates for policy changes to improve safety. Entrepreneurship opportunities include opening your own pharmacy.

Making the Right Career Choice

Working as a pharmacist or a pharmacy technician is a rewarding career option for people who wish to work in healthcare.

One key factor in deciding between the two is the duration and cost of the education and training. It is faster and less expensive to train as a pharmacy technician. In some states, all you need is a high school diploma (the career options are varied, and you can get an associate degree).

In contrast, pharmacists must obtain a PharmD degree, which entails an investment of far more time, effort, and money. You must complete a six-year program for a PharmD degree, which might require financial aid.

Of course, the salary for pharmacist professionals is accordingly higher than the salary for pharmacy technicians.

Another factor to consider when deciding between the two professions is what kind of work you enjoy. If you enjoy administrative tasks and interacting with customers and want to invest a minimal amount of time studying and training, a pharmacy technician may be the ideal job for you.

On the other hand, if you have an eye for detail and want a job with greater responsibilities and a higher salary, you should consider training to become a pharmacist. There are also other related careers that you can consider, such as becoming a physician’s assistant or lab technician.

Resources for Aspiring Pharmacy Professionals

Frequently Asked Questions: Pharmacy Technician vs Pharmacist

What Is Higher Than a Pharmacy Tech?

As noted, a major difference between a pharmacy tech and a pharmacist is that the career path of the latter comes with additional responsibilities. A pharmacist is responsible for much more than a pharmacy technician. Therefore, a pharmacist is higher or more senior than a pharmacy tech.

Is It Better To Be a Pharmacist or a Pharmacy Technician?

Both pharmacist and pharmacy tech are rewarding careers. Considerations like education, cost, duration, and personal preferences can help you decide between the two careers.

Do Pharmacists Go To Med School?

No, pharmacists do not go to medical school; they attend pharmacy school instead, where they earn a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree, which is distinct from a medical degree (MD) obtained in medical school.

How Long Does It Take To Become a Pharmacy Technician In NYC?

It takes around 12 weeks to become a pharmacy technician in NYC. New York Presbyterian offers a 420-hour, 12-week pharmacy technician training program. NYU Langone Health offers a 400-hour program (35 hours per week for 11.5 weeks).

Is It Hard To Become a Pharm Tech?

Becoming a pharmacy technician is generally not considered "hard." It typically requires completing a relatively short training program and passing a certification exam. This makes pharm tech an accessible career path for many people with a high school diploma. However, the level of difficulty can depend on your understanding of medical terminology and your comfort level with doing detailed tasks involving medications.

Can a Pharmacy Technician Become a Pharmacist?

Yes, a pharmacy technician can become a pharmacist. However, they will have to go through the education and training requirements for a pharmacist. Working as a pharmacy technician often only requires a high school diploma. Working as a pharmacist requires extensive studying and graduation from pharmacy school to earn a Pharm D degree. However, a person who has worked as a pharmacy technician may find some aspects of pharmacy school easier to understand because of their experience.

What Is The Highest Pay for a Pharmacy Technician?

The highest paid pharmacy technicians make around $45,000 per year. States with the highest paid pharmacy techs include Alaska, California, Washington, and Oregon.

What Can a Pharmacy Technician Not Do?

Pharmacy technicians cannot do the following duties, which are reserved exclusively for pharmacists:

Give medical advice.
Provide instructions on how a medication should be taken.
Answer questions about medication dosage, side effects, or drug interactions.

Is The Pharmacy Tech Test Hard?

The Pharmacy Tech Test, also known as the PTCE (Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam), can be considered moderately difficult. It requires a good understanding of medication names, dosages, and pharmacy procedures. The typical pass rate is around 70%, meaning adequate preparation is crucial to succeed.

Do Pharmacists Make a Lot of Money?

Pharmacists earn $136,000 per year or $65 per hour on average. In comparison, average earnings for other healthcare professions are as follows (based on BLS data for 2023):

Pharmacy technicians earn $40,000 per year or $19 per hour.
Physical therapists earn $99,000 per year or $48 per hour.
Radiation therapists earn $98,000 per year or $47 per hour.
Registered nurses earn $86,000 per year or $41 per hour.
Respiratory therapists earn $78,000 per year or $37 per hour.
EMT and paramedics earn $45,000 per year or $22 per hour.
Veterinary technologists earn $43,000 per year or $21 per hour.
Dental assistants earn $42,000 per year or $22 per hour.
Nursing assistants and orderlies earn $38,000 per year or $18 per hour.

What Do You Need To Be a Pharmacy Tech In SC?

To be a pharmacy tech in South Carolina, you need to:

Have a high school diploma.
Register with the Board of Pharmacy.
Complete a pharmacy technician training program accredited by the American Association of Pharmacy Technicians.
Pass the national exam – either the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) or Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).