Professional standards

Pharmacy professionals, including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and other pharmacy employees, are expected to actively demonstrate professionalism through attitudes, qualities, and behaviors commensurate to the area of specialized knowledge that they have achieved. The following list provides an overview of these professional standards:


 * The first consideration is the health and safety of the patient.
 * Honesty and integrity are integral to the high moral and ethical principles of this field.
 * Pharmacy technicians are expected to assist pharmacists in providing patients with safe, efficacious, and cost effective access to health resources.
 * Technicians and pharmacists should respect the values of each others abilities as well as those of colleagues and other healthcare professionals.
 * Technicians and pharmacists should maintain their competencies and seek to enhance their knowledge and skills.
 * Healthcare professionals need to maintain a patient's rights to dignity and confidentiality.
 * Pharmacy professionals may not assist in providing medications and medical devices of poor quality that do not meet the necessary standards established by laws.
 * Pharmacy professionals are not to engage in activities that would discredit the profession.
 * Pharmacy professionals should engage in and support organizations that promote their professions and the enhancements of those that are in the profession.

Individual state boards of pharmacy (BOP) provide further standards for pharmacy personnel including job responsibilities and requirements including things like registration, licensure, and certification.