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How to Become an EPMA Pharmacy Technician

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Introduction

Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (EPMA) is a growing area of digital healthcare that presents exciting opportunities for pharmacy technicians. With the NHS increasingly focused on digital transformation, EPMA pharmacy technician roles offer a way to apply your technical knowledge and medicines management expertise in a fast-evolving, high-impact environment.

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This page outlines how to begin your career as an EPMA Pharmacy Technician, what skills and experience are useful, and the pathways you can take to enter and grow in this field.

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What Does an EPMA Pharmacy Technician Do?

EPMA Pharmacy Technicians play a vital role in:

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  • Supporting the implementation and maintenance of EPMA systems

  • Configuring medication files, order sets, and administration instructions

  • Training and supporting clinical staff (nurses, doctors, other pharmacists)

  • Assisting with system testing, upgrades, and go-lives

  • Working with pharmacists, digital teams, and IT departments to ensure system accuracy and usability

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Some Trusts also involve EPMA pharmacy technicians in reporting, audit, and governance related to medication safety and digital workflows.

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Skills & Experience Needed

To thrive as an EPMA Pharmacy Technician, you should have:

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Strong knowledge of medicines and clinical workflows

Gained throughout your practice in pharmacy.


Excellent communication skills

Especially when training or supporting other users.
 

Attention to detail and accuracy

Essential for configuring digital systems.

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Problem-solving and adaptability

Key when dealing with system issues or change requests.
 

Digital confidence

You don’t need to be a developer, but must be comfortable using systems and learning new tools.

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Experience That Helps

You don’t always need prior digital experience to move into EPMA. Helpful backgrounds include:

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✅ Working as a ward-based or dispensary technician in a hospital setting


✅ Experience with stock control, medicines reconciliation, or clinical screening workflows


✅ Being involved in system changes, audits, or training projects


✅ Supporting or superusing during a go-live or EPMA rollout

 

Some technicians enter EPMA roles after expressing interest in projects or secondments with the digital pharmacy or clinical informatics team.

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How to Get Started

Express interest internally

Speak to your Chief Technician, EPMA Pharmacist, or Digital Pharmacy Lead

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Look for secondment or project opportunities

Offer to help during upgrades or training sessions

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Upskill yourself

Explore basic training in digital health, clinical systems, or data handling

 

Watch NHS Jobs

Roles like “EPMA Pharmacy Technician,” “Digital Pharmacy Technician,” or “Medicines Management Technician” may include EPMA responsibilities

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Development Opportunities

Once in an EPMA technician role, you can progress into:

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  • Senior digital roles within pharmacy or informatics teams

  • Clinical systems analyst or configuration roles

  • Training lead or governance roles supporting EPMA

  • Or even further study in digital health or informatics if desired

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Summary

Becoming an EPMA Pharmacy Technician offers a rewarding career path at the intersection of clinical pharmacy and digital transformation. By combining your medicines knowledge with digital tools and system understanding, you can help shape safer, more efficient healthcare across the NHS. Whether you’re looking for a new challenge or want to future-proof your career, EPMA is an exciting space to explore.

 

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