How to become a pharmaceutical technician
Official title: Pharmaceutical technicians
Also called: Technician, Checking technician, Pharmacy technician, Dispensing technician, Pharmaceutical technician, Accuracy checking technician, Accredited checking technician, Medicines management technician, Accuracy checking pharmacy technician
Pharmaceutical technicians work in hospitals or in the community and assist pharmacists in the preparation and dispensing of drugs and medicines.
Main tasks
- Checks received prescriptions for legality and accuracy
- Prepares drugs and medicines under the supervision of pharmacist
- Prepares specialised, tailor-made drugs for intravenous administration by hospital medical staff
- Labels and checks items prior to dispensing
- Maintains records of prescriptions received and drugs issued
- Advises patients or customers on the use of drugs prescribed or medication purchased over the counter
- Checks stock levels, orders new stock from pharmaceutical companies and ensures that drugs are stored appropriately
How to become one
Entrants to training usually possess GCSEs/S grades or the equivalent. Training is typically a combination of practical experience and study at a college or by open learning towards vocational qualifications. An approved competency and an approved knowledge based qualification and two years’ experience is required to register as a pharmacy technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Pharmacy technician (integrated) (level 3). England. Typically 24 months. Skills England standard ST0300.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £31,044 a year The middle half earn £26,656 to £36,760.
- About 40,000 people work in this job now, and about 44,000 are projected by 2035. (+10%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become a pharmaceutical technician?
Entrants to training usually possess GCSEs/S grades or the equivalent. Training is typically a combination of practical experience and study at a college or by open learning towards vocational qualifications. An approved competency and an approved knowledge based qualification and two years’ experience is required to register as a pharmacy technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
How much does a pharmaceutical technician earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £31,044 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £26,656 to £36,760.
Is a pharmaceutical technician a growing career in the UK?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 10% by 2035, from about 40,000 to about 44,000 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a pharmaceutical technician?
Usually not. Only 16% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Pharmacy technician (integrated) (level 3).
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03