ExCPT Study Guide
Pharmacy Technician Duties - correct answer-1. Answer phone and handle
questions that do not require a pharmacist's expertise or judgement
2. receive written prescriptions or telephoned refill requests
3. Gather information needed to prepare prescriptions
4. Record information needed before prescriptions can be dispensed
5. Enter data into the pharmacy's computer system
6. notify the pharmacist of patient or prescriber questions, as well as
medication warnings or interactions
7. Help the pharmacist prepare prescriptions by counting, pouring, labeling, or
pricing medications
8. Keep pharmacy supplies stocked
9. place completed prescriptions in the pick up area
10. order and stock medications
11. prepare insurance claims and verify payments
12. help patients find otc meds and stock otc department
13. complete purchase transactions and log them when necessary
14. perform housekeeping duties
What a tech cannot do - correct answer-1. receive oral prescriptions, refill
authorizations, or changes to prescriptions
2. consult with prescribers about prescriptions
3. provide confidential patient information to other health professionals or
insurance companies
4. checking medications before dispensing them.
5. consult with patients about medication use and other health issues
6. recommending otc medications
intake area - correct answer-1. where patients leave prescriptions. keep clean
and uncluttered. Scan rx in a timely manner to prevent delays
processing area - correct answer-data entry occurs here. Keep free from
distraction. also houses counting equipment.
processed rx area - correct answer-completed prescriptions are stored until
pick up
, out window- - correct answer-where patients pick up completed prescriptions.
cash register is used. nearby counseling area.
other areas - correct answer-administration area, clean room for sterile
compounding, otc area, and consultation room
Pharmacy Security - correct answer-1. pharmacy doors should always be
closed. Unauthorized persons should not have access
2. Non pharmacy personnel should not be allowed to enter unless designated
and approved to work in that area.
3. pharmacy should be locked any time a pharmacist is not on duty.
Receiving Staff Responsible for- - correct answer-1. verify name, address,
DOB as well as quantity of orders received
2. shipments must be inspected for damage and observations noted
3. products requiring special care, such as temperature conditions should be
given priority
4. shipments should be inspected to ensure they exactly match the details
written on the purchase order.
5. invoice should be signed and dated by whoever receives the shipment
6. expiration dates must be checked to ensure that they are compliant with
pharmacy standards.
7. Any product on back order should be brought to the pharmacist's or
management's attention to prevent any possible outages
Stocking Medications- Pay attention to - correct answer-1. Expiration of new
products
2. products inspected and anything unusual reported to pharmacist
3. report prescription patterns to members responsible for ordering/purchasing
4. stock should be examined for damaged or recalled products
5. as stock bottles are placed into inventory, label information should be noted.
Identifying expired products- - correct answer-techs are responsible for
checking dates prior to dispensing to determine whether the entire rx is likely
to be used by the pt prior to expiration date.
Controlled Substances Act- - correct answer-1970. Regulates manufacture,
importation, possession, use, and distribution of substances with abuse
potential. Created five federal schedules of controlled substances. Scheduling
determined by DEA. Techs responsible for knowing federal and state rules.
Pharmacy Technician Duties - correct answer-1. Answer phone and handle
questions that do not require a pharmacist's expertise or judgement
2. receive written prescriptions or telephoned refill requests
3. Gather information needed to prepare prescriptions
4. Record information needed before prescriptions can be dispensed
5. Enter data into the pharmacy's computer system
6. notify the pharmacist of patient or prescriber questions, as well as
medication warnings or interactions
7. Help the pharmacist prepare prescriptions by counting, pouring, labeling, or
pricing medications
8. Keep pharmacy supplies stocked
9. place completed prescriptions in the pick up area
10. order and stock medications
11. prepare insurance claims and verify payments
12. help patients find otc meds and stock otc department
13. complete purchase transactions and log them when necessary
14. perform housekeeping duties
What a tech cannot do - correct answer-1. receive oral prescriptions, refill
authorizations, or changes to prescriptions
2. consult with prescribers about prescriptions
3. provide confidential patient information to other health professionals or
insurance companies
4. checking medications before dispensing them.
5. consult with patients about medication use and other health issues
6. recommending otc medications
intake area - correct answer-1. where patients leave prescriptions. keep clean
and uncluttered. Scan rx in a timely manner to prevent delays
processing area - correct answer-data entry occurs here. Keep free from
distraction. also houses counting equipment.
processed rx area - correct answer-completed prescriptions are stored until
pick up
, out window- - correct answer-where patients pick up completed prescriptions.
cash register is used. nearby counseling area.
other areas - correct answer-administration area, clean room for sterile
compounding, otc area, and consultation room
Pharmacy Security - correct answer-1. pharmacy doors should always be
closed. Unauthorized persons should not have access
2. Non pharmacy personnel should not be allowed to enter unless designated
and approved to work in that area.
3. pharmacy should be locked any time a pharmacist is not on duty.
Receiving Staff Responsible for- - correct answer-1. verify name, address,
DOB as well as quantity of orders received
2. shipments must be inspected for damage and observations noted
3. products requiring special care, such as temperature conditions should be
given priority
4. shipments should be inspected to ensure they exactly match the details
written on the purchase order.
5. invoice should be signed and dated by whoever receives the shipment
6. expiration dates must be checked to ensure that they are compliant with
pharmacy standards.
7. Any product on back order should be brought to the pharmacist's or
management's attention to prevent any possible outages
Stocking Medications- Pay attention to - correct answer-1. Expiration of new
products
2. products inspected and anything unusual reported to pharmacist
3. report prescription patterns to members responsible for ordering/purchasing
4. stock should be examined for damaged or recalled products
5. as stock bottles are placed into inventory, label information should be noted.
Identifying expired products- - correct answer-techs are responsible for
checking dates prior to dispensing to determine whether the entire rx is likely
to be used by the pt prior to expiration date.
Controlled Substances Act- - correct answer-1970. Regulates manufacture,
importation, possession, use, and distribution of substances with abuse
potential. Created five federal schedules of controlled substances. Scheduling
determined by DEA. Techs responsible for knowing federal and state rules.
