Interview scorecard template

Pharmacy Technician interview scorecard

Evaluate Pharmacy Technician candidates across 4 weighted areas: clinical competence, patient safety and protocol, patient communication, and working in a clinical team. Clinical competence leads at 35%, so check hands-on dispensing volume, pharmacy systems used (Rx30, PioneerRx, Epic Willow, EnterpriseRx), sterile compounding under USP 797/800, plus PTCB or ExCPT certification and state. Use the rubric to compare role-specific evidence consistently.

See AI scoring

healthcare clinicalcontrolled substancesdispensingpharmacy techniciansterile compounding

TL;DR

For clinical competence, look for evidence the candidate names daily script volume, specific dispensing software, IV hood or TPN compounding experience, and holds current PTCB certification with state license. For patient safety and protocol, look for evidence the candidate describes a specific catch before dispensing, cites CII perpetual inventory reconciliation, and escalates anything outside technician scope without hesitation. Apply the written 1–5 anchors to every answer, record the evidence behind each rating, and use the factor weights to reach a consistent overall assessment.

Complete evaluation framework

What to assess and how to score it

Review the evidence signals before interviewing. Then use the anchored descriptions—not instinct alone—to choose the score that best matches each answer.

Evaluation factor

Clinical competence

35% weight

Check hands-on dispensing volume, pharmacy systems used (Rx30, PioneerRx, Epic Willow, EnterpriseRx), sterile compounding under USP 797/800, plus PTCB or ExCPT certification and state registration status.

Evidence to listen for

Command of the procedures, anatomy, and equipment the role requires
Holds current registration or certification
Knows normal from abnormal and what to do about each
Recognises when a case is outside their scope

Five-point scoring guide

Poor

Unsafe knowledge gaps; registration missing or lapsed.

Needs Improvement

Knowledge gaps that would affect patient care.

Satisfactory

Competent for standard cases; needs support on complex ones.

Very Good

Strong clinical knowledge; safe and reliable across the usual range.

Excellent

Names daily script volume, specific dispensing software, IV hood or TPN compounding experience, and holds current PTCB certification with state license.

Evaluation factor

Patient safety and protocol

30% weight

Probe how they handle look-alike sound-alike drugs, NDC verification, expired stock pulls, DEA Schedule II counts, recalls, and near-miss reporting to the supervising pharmacist.

Evidence to listen for

Follows identification, infection control, and documentation protocol without prompting
Can describe an error or near miss and what they did
Escalates deterioration early
Treats protocol as protection rather than bureaucracy

Five-point scoring guide

Poor

Casual about protocol; would not report an error.

Needs Improvement

Inconsistent protocol adherence; slow to escalate.

Satisfactory

Follows protocol reliably; documentation sometimes thin.

Very Good

Protocol is instinctive; escalates early and reports honestly.

Excellent

Describes a specific catch before dispensing, cites CII perpetual inventory reconciliation, and escalates anything outside technician scope without hesitation.

Evaluation factor

Patient communication

20% weight

Assess how they handle patients at the counter: insurance rejections, prior authorization delays, copay shock, refill-too-soon messages, and redirecting clinical questions to the pharmacist.

Evidence to listen for

Explains a procedure to an anxious or confused patient
Handles distress, pain, or refusal without losing control of the interaction
Respects privacy and dignity in practice, not just in principle
Works with families and carers

Five-point scoring guide

Poor

Dismissive of patients; no bedside awareness.

Needs Improvement

Task-focused; struggles with distressed patients.

Satisfactory

Adequate rapport; less confident in difficult interactions.

Very Good

Calm, clear, and respectful with anxious or difficult patients.

Excellent

De-escalates a frustrated patient calmly, explains a PA timeline plainly, and never offers dosing or counselling advice themselves.

Evaluation factor

Working in a clinical team

15% weight

Judge their fit in the workflow: handoffs to pharmacists, coordinating with prescriber offices on clarifications, supporting techs at data entry versus fill, and covering during rush periods.

Evidence to listen for

Hands over cleanly and completely
Challenges a colleague when patient safety requires it
Takes direction from clinicians without deferring blindly
Handles shift work and pressure without becoming difficult to work with

Five-point scoring guide

Poor

Poor handover; cannot work in a clinical team.

Needs Improvement

Handover gaps; avoids raising concerns about colleagues.

Satisfactory

Reliable team member; handover adequate.

Very Good

Clean handovers and willing to speak up on safety.

Excellent

Gives concrete examples of unblocking the pharmacist, chasing prescriber callbacks, and flexing between intake, fill, and register roles.

Evidence-led prompts

Interview questions for a Pharmacy Technician

Use these prompts to surface evidence for the weighted factors above and compare candidates against the same role-specific criteria.

01
Do you have certification or previous experience as a pharmacy technician?
02
What software have you used to manage and dispense medications?
03
Can you discuss your experience with inventory management and stock rotation?
04
Do you have any experience with compounding? Can you describe it?
05
How do you ensure the accuracy of prescriptions under your charge?

See the complete Pharmacy Technician question set

Put this rubric to work

Score every candidate against the same standard

Add these weighted factors to Hirevire and let AI evaluate recorded answers against your rubric.

Explore AI Scorecards