Top 5 Skills Every Modern Pharmacy Tech Needs

The role of a pharmacy technician has undergone a dramatic transformation over the last decade. Now, pharma techs are no longer limited to counting pills and labeling prescriptions. Instead, in today’s fast-paced healthcare environment, pharmacy technicians serve as vital clinical partners, insurance navigators, and technology specialists.

Additionally, analyzing the requirements for the modern workforce, it is clear that success in this field requires a specific blend of technical expertise and soft skills. If you are looking to enter the field, enrolling in an accredited pharmacy technician training program is the best way to build this foundation.

Here are the top five skills every modern pharmacy technician needs to thrive in 2026 and beyond.

1. Precision in Pharmaceutical Calculations

The ability to perform complex pharmaceutical calculations like calculating weight-based dosage, conversions, and more remains the most critical technical skill. 

Yes, there is modern software that helps with these calculations; however, healthcare professionals do not entirely rely on software results. Pharmacists need pharmacy techs who can quickly check the calculations and gauge if they are accurate or not. 

2. Proficiency with Pharmacy Technology and Informatics

Modern pharmacies utilize advanced Pharmacy Management Systems (PMS), automated dispensing machines (like Pyxis or Omnicell), and electronic health records (EHR).

Therefore, it is essential that pharmacy techs know how to operate these tech tools. Additionally, they need to understand informatics—the way data is stored, retrieved, and used to improve patient outcomes. Being skilled with pharmacy technology ensures that you can reliably operate a pharmacy and adhere to guidelines. 

3. Mastery of Insurance Claims and Third-Party Billing

In addition to prescription filling and pharmaceutical calculations, a large portion of a pharmacy tech’s day is occupied with adjudication, which is the process of submitting prescription claims to insurance companies for payment.

Since it is such a huge part of daily activities, pharmacies are interested in candidates who can:

• Navigating different tiers of insurance coverage.

• Understanding "Prior Authorizations" and how to communicate them to doctors’ offices.

• Assisting patients with Medicare, Medicaid, and private group plans.

• Managing "COB" (Coordination of Benefits) when a patient has more than one insurance provider.

4. Exceptional Attention to Detail

Much like any other niche in the medical world, the margin for error is zero in a pharmacy technician role. Therefore, you must possess or develop the ability to spot minute details that others might miss. 

This includes verifying the spelling of look-alike/sound-alike (LASA) medications, checking expiration dates, and ensuring that the National Drug Code (NDC) on the bottle matches the prescription label exactly.

This attention to detail also extends to Inventory Management, as you’ll also be responsible for tracking stock levels, handling drug recalls, and ensuring that sensitive medications are stored at the precise temperature required to maintain their efficacy.

5. Communication Skills

While technical skills will get you the job, communication skills will help you stand out from the competition and advance your career. You’ve to understand that as a pharmacy technician, you’ll most likely be the first and last point of contact for a patient. So, you’ll need to have a certain level of empathy and the ability to explain complex processes to patients, like why a medication is delayed or how a coupon works.

On the other hand, you’ll also have to continuously communicate with pharmacists, nurses, and physicians, which requires a different level of communication.  

How to Acquire These Skills

There’s no easy way to say this, but these skills cannot be earned for free, and you will have to pay for the training and earn them. While you can certainly aim for self-paced training courses, the best way is to train with live online lectures. These structured courses are designed to help you prepare for the PTCB exam in a realistic manner and provide you with the following:

• Instructor-Led Training: Access to experts who have worked in the field.

• Externship Opportunities: The chance to practice your skills in a real pharmacy before you graduate.

• Certification Prep: Targeted review sessions to ensure you pass your national exams on the first try.