Pharmacy Technician Fundamentals

01Sig code abbreviations

Prescription directions use Latin-derived shorthand such as bid (twice daily), tid (three times daily), qid (four times daily), prn (as needed), ac (before meals), pc (after meals), and hs/qhs (at bedtime). Technicians translate these into plain-language label instructions.

02DEA controlled substance schedules

The DEA sorts controlled drugs into Schedules I–V by abuse potential and accepted medical use. Schedule I has no accepted medical use and is not dispensed in a retail pharmacy; Schedule II has high abuse potential (e.g., oxycodone) down to Schedule V with the lowest (e.g., pregabalin).

03Days supply basics

Days supply is the total quantity dispensed divided by how much is used per day (dose x frequency). It's required on every insurance claim and helps flag early or late refill requests.

04Generic vs. brand drugs

FDA rules require a generic to contain the same active ingredient, strength, dosage form, and route of administration as the brand drug, and to be bioequivalent — delivering the drug into the body at the same rate and extent.

05Technician scope of practice

Technicians handle data entry, product prep, and administrative tasks under pharmacist supervision, but clinical counseling, therapeutic judgment calls, and handling emergency controlled-substance verbal orders are pharmacist responsibilities.