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Pharmacy Aides

SOC 31-9095.00Job Zone 2 · Some Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers front-end retail pharmacy aide practice across customer service, prescription intake support, cash handling, telephone management, inventory receiving and control, merchandise stocking, and equipment maintenance in community and institutional pharmacy settings.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Customer greetings and merchandise location — provide under direct supervisor guidance in a retail pharmacy setting.
  2. Prescription intake forms — gather basic patient information following established protocols at the pharmacy counter.
  3. Cash register operations — process cash and credit transactions with supervisor oversight during standard pharmacy hours.
  4. Incoming telephone inquiries — answer using approved scripts and refer callers to the pharmacist when questions exceed scope.
  5. Pharmaceutical supply shipments — unpack, sort, and count incoming items following written instructions in the pharmacy stockroom.
  6. Medication labels and package markings — read and recognize basic information under pharmacist direction during receiving tasks.
  7. Shelf restocking procedures — replenish over-the-counter items following planogram guides with direct supervision.
  8. Work area and equipment surfaces — clean and maintain according to posted sanitation schedules in the pharmacy workspace.
  9. Inventory location records — enter basic stock data into pharmacy database software with step-by-step guidance.
  10. Refrigerated and special-handling items — identify and separate during merchandise sorting under direct pharmacist or supervisor direction.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Customer service interactions — assist and direct customers independently across the retail pharmacy floor with routine product questions.
  2. Prescription intake processing — gather, verify, and enter patient and insurance information into the pharmacy system with minimal oversight.
  3. Cash and credit sales transactions — operate the register accurately and resolve common discrepancies during busy pharmacy shifts.
  4. Telephone call management — screen, respond to general inquiries, and route clinical questions to the pharmacist efficiently.
  5. Pharmaceutical inventory levels — monitor stock, flag low quantities, and notify the pharmacist using inventory tracking software.
  6. Incoming merchandise workflow — unpack, sort, label, and route items requiring refrigeration or special handling to correct storage areas.
  7. Shelf and storage area replenishment — restock and rotate products following FIFO principles in the pharmacy retail section.
  8. Out-of-date medication checks — conduct routine expiration reviews and segregate expired stock for pharmacist disposition.
  9. Pharmacy equipment and work areas — clean and maintain consistently according to departmental hygiene and safety standards.
  10. Spreadsheet and office suite software — record inventory counts and generate basic stock reports in support of pharmacy operations.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Customer needs assessment — interpret and respond to complex or sensitive customer requests independently across all areas of the retail pharmacy.
  2. Prescription intake accuracy — review gathered information for completeness and flag discrepancies to the pharmacist before processing proceeds.
  3. Multi-tender transaction processing — manage high-volume cash, credit, and insurance copay transactions accurately during peak pharmacy periods.
  4. Telephone triage and escalation — evaluate caller needs, resolve non-clinical questions, and escalate appropriately using sound professional judgment.
  5. Full inventory cycle management — receive, store, count, reconcile, and report pharmaceutical supplies using database and spreadsheet software.
  6. Special-handling merchandise compliance — ensure refrigerated, controlled, and hazardous items are processed and stored according to regulatory requirements.
  7. Inventory shortage and overstock situations — identify root causes and coordinate corrective restocking actions with pharmacy management.
  8. Cross-functional coordination — align stocking, cleaning, and customer service tasks to support uninterrupted pharmacy workflow without direct supervision.
  9. Expiration and quality control monitoring — implement a systematic schedule for reviewing all product categories and document findings for pharmacist review.
  10. Pharmacy aide onboarding support — demonstrate correct procedures and software tools to newly hired staff during day-to-day operations.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Pharmacy aide team performance — guide, coach, and evaluate team members to uphold accuracy, compliance, and customer service standards across all shifts.
  2. Operational workflow design — develop and refine front-end and stockroom procedures that improve efficiency and reduce error rates in the pharmacy environment.
  3. Inventory control strategy — establish reorder thresholds, oversee cycle counts, and leverage database software to minimize stockouts and waste.
  4. Customer service quality standards — set service expectations, model best practices, and address escalated customer concerns at the supervisory level.
  5. Regulatory and safety compliance leadership — ensure all receiving, storage, and handling procedures meet state, federal, and accreditation requirements continuously.
  6. Technology adoption and training — evaluate new pharmacy software tools and lead staff training to ensure consistent, accurate system use.
  7. Cross-departmental communication — coordinate with pharmacists, purchasing, and management to align aide activities with broader pharmacy operational goals.
  8. Performance metrics and reporting — track key indicators such as inventory accuracy and transaction throughput, reporting findings to pharmacy leadership.
  9. Policy and procedure development — draft and update standard operating procedures for front-end pharmacy aide functions based on observed gaps and best practices.
  10. Organizational culture and integrity — model and reinforce dependability, attention to detail, and ethical conduct as cornerstones of the pharmacy aide role.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

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Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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Show O*NET source anchors43 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com

O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Certified Pharmacist Assistant · Dispensary Attendant · Drug Clerk · Drug Purchaser · Front Counter Clerk · Pharmaceutical Assistant · Pharmacist Aide · Pharmacist Assistant · Pharmacist Helper · Pharmacist's Aide · Pharmacy Administrator (Pharmacy Admin) · Pharmacy Aide
RAPIDS apprenticeships
—
O*NET skills
Active ListeningSpeakingService OrientationReading ComprehensionSocial PerceptivenessCritical ThinkingCoordinationJudgment and Decision Making
Knowledge domains
Customer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageAdministrativeSales and Marketing
Abilities
Oral ComprehensionOral ExpressionSpeech ClarityNear VisionSpeech RecognitionProblem SensitivityWritten ComprehensionInformation OrderingWritten ExpressionDeductive Reasoning
Work styles
DependabilityAttention to DetailIntegrityCautiousnessCooperationSocial Orientation
Technology
Data base user interface and query softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail softwarePresentation softwareOperating system softwareWord processing software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Greet customers and help them locate merchandise.
  2. Accept prescriptions for filling, gathering and processing necessary information.
  3. Operate cash register to process cash or credit sales.
  4. Answer telephone inquiries, referring callers to pharmacist when necessary.
  5. Receive, store, and inventory pharmaceutical supplies or medications, check for out-of-date medications, and notify pharmacist when inventory levels are low.
  6. Unpack, sort, count, and label incoming merchandise, including items requiring special handling or refrigeration.
  7. Restock storage areas, replenishing items on shelves.
  8. Maintain and clean equipment, work areas, or shelves.
CIP education codes
51.260251.260151.390251.399951.150251.0803

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.