Pharmacy Technician, Departments of Mental Health and Developmental Services
California State Personnel Board Specification
Definition
Under the direct supervision of a pharmacist in a State developmental center or hospital, to perform basic services in a pharmacy and technical pharmaceutically related duties which do not require licensure; and to do other related work.
Typical Tasks
Assists in the operation of the facility pharmacy; maintains drug and supply inventory and inventory records; orders supplies to maintain level of stock; checks goods received against purchase orders, invoices, and requisitions; segregates, labels, and stores pharmaceutical supplies; reviews pharmacy stock for expired drugs; picks up and delivers drugs; cleans equipment, shelves, and work areas; operates packaging machinery for unit dose or prepackaged dispensing system; types labels for medications and delivers to pharmacist for affixing; retrieves designated drug containers; maintains patient medication profiles; maintains records of prepackaged drugs; prepares unit dose cassettes for review by pharmacist; fills medication drawers with prescribed doses; aids pharmacist in preparation of prescriptions; and does other service and technical pharmacy work which does not require licensure.
Minimum Qualifications
Possession of a valid certificate of registration as a Pharmacy Technician issued by the State Board of Pharmacy set forth in Section 4115 and 4202 of the Business and Professions Code.
Registration requirements shall not apply during the first year of employment for a person employed or utilized as a Pharmacy Technician to assist in the filling of prescriptions for a person receiving treatment in a facility operated by the State Departments of Mental Health or Developmental Services. and Either I One year of clerical work experience in a pharmacy relieving a pharmacist of clerical or subprofessional duties. Primary duties must have included stocking shelves with pharmaceutical supplies or typing pharmaceutical labels. [Experience in the California state service applied toward this requirement must be in a class at a level of responsibility not less than that of Office Assistant (General), Range B.] (Academic education above the 12th grade may be substituted for the experience on the basis of one year of education of a science or mathematical nature being equivalent to six months' experience. Students who are enrolled in the last semester or its equivalent of course work which upon completion will fulfill these requirements will be admitted to the examination, but they must submit evidence of completion before they can be considered for appointment.)
Or II
Completion of an academic curriculum and formal on-the-job training program for Pharmacy Technician.
Knowledge and Abilities
Knowledge of: Basic clerical, record keeping, and pharmaceutical office practices; basic pharmaceutical terminology; weights and measures; sterile techniques.
Ability to: Follow meticulous written and oral instructions; read and write English; perform mathematical computations with accuracy; learn and distinguish subtle differences in pharmaceutical terminology; type accurately.
Special Personal Characteristics
Willingness to recheck one's own work and work within exacting and meticulous guidelines; personal hygiene that is consistent with a medical setting; and normal color vision adequate to successfully perform the job as measured by the Ishihara Pseudo-Chromatic Plate Test or for persons failing the Ishihara, the Farnsworth D-15 Arrangement Test.
Additional Desirable Qualification
Education equivalent to completion of the 12th grade.
Drug Testing Requirement
Applicants for positions in this class are required to pass a drug- screening test. Testing of current employees who are applicants in an examination or who are transferring is permitted only if the person does not have a current appointment to a class for which drug testing is a requirement.
