Pharmacy Technician - A Closer Look
The pharmacy technician is one of the most in-demand healthcare professionals due to an increasing demand for prescription therapy. The American Society for Health System Pharmacists and the Canadian Pharmacists Association listed pharmacy technician as one of their top 10 job openings for 2019. As a result, pharmacy technicians are required to update their skillsets constantly if they hope to stay employed. To learn more about a career in pharmacy administration, here are some insights into what it takes to become a pharmacist, including tips on how you can get started.
Pharmacy Technician - A Closer Look
The life of a pharmacist is difficult and often overwhelming, yet rewarding when done right... If you are someone who is looking for a job that helps people, then this might be the career for you.
In terms of education requirements, most colleges and universities with accredited pharmacy technician programs require a high school diploma or GED as well as successful completion of an accredited training program. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) recommends applicants have at least several months of prior work experience in the healthcare industry, though this is not absolutely necessary. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), about 64 percent of pharmacy technicians possess a high school diploma and about 9 percent hold an Associate's degree. A salary report from Indeed revealed that certified technicians made between $17,000 and $35,000 per year.
In essence, pharmacy technicians help take care of prescriptions that are written by doctors and pharmacists. They perform a variety of duties, including ordering medications and filling prescriptions in accordance with the doctor's orders and/or pharmaceutical standards. Pharmacy technicians also research products, develop new processes for drug administration, and perform other tasks for the benefit of patients. In order to gain this kind of knowledge, you will need to strive hard in school as it is a rigorous field. Also note that many schools require applicants to pass an exam as well as demonstrate a steady attendance record. If you are interested in pharmacy technician school, check out these top schools for a great start to your education.
Working as a pharmacy technician is different from being a pharmacy assistant. You may have to wear different types of clothing, such as white lab coats and safety shoes, depending upon what you do in your job. However, the tasks will be very similar. You will gain experience quickly. The skills you learn in school can help you earn extra money immediately after graduating by working for drug stores, doctor's offices and hospitals.
The type of work that you can expect within the field varies widely depending on the job position with which you choose to begin your career path. Some positions are entry-level and require the holder to work as an apprentice for some time, while others are more advanced and require more proficiency. The most important thing to keep in mind when evaluating a position is whether or not the job duties match your interests. For example, if you enjoy interacting with people, working in a doctor's office may not be right for you since it will entail extensive interaction with people. Alternatively, if you like doing repetitive tasks that take a lot of time to complete, then this area would be ideal for you because there will be hardly any interruption between tasks. The bottom line is that there is no one set path that can be taken when pursuing a career as a pharmacy technician.
A common misconception about pharmacy technicians is that they simply dispense medications. This is false. While they do serve this function, they also help pharmacists examine and order medications and take inventory of the department's supplies. They also consult with patients and doctors regarding drug therapy, create labels for prescription bottles, present prescriptions to patients, refill prescriptions and even sell over-the-counter pharmaceuticals to customers. These are just a few of the wide array of duties that pharmacy technicians are responsible for performing on a daily basis.
Job outlook is usually dependent upon overall economic conditions within your area. For example, people within a large metropolitan area are less likely to seek the services of a drug store than those who live in rural areas. In many cases, the type of pharmacy you work in will determine your chances of receiving work. For instance, if you work at a small independent pharmacy that primarily sells over-the-counter medication, then you will probably not receive as much job security or year-over-year wage increase as someone working at a major retail chain or state managed health care institution. If you are someone who does not like change, then consider pursuing employment with larger companies since their chances for growth are better both in terms of revenue and employees.
Away from the all of the patient interaction and prescription dispensing, pharmacy technicians need to complete a great deal of administrative work. This can include ordering medications, entering sales data into the computer, counting inventory and ensuring compliance with applicable regulations. In addition, there is a great deal of paperwork involved with the job which will take up a good portion of your day. Even when total pharmacy hours are divided by 40 hours per week, technicians still spend more than half of their time on administrative tasks.
Employment growth for this field is expected to be very limited in upcoming years as an aging population is not as likely to require prescription medication and pharmacists seek higher level positions within retail establishments such as grocery stores and superstores.
Some of the most important aspects that you need to consider before getting your pharmacy technician certification training is that it will be up to you whether or not you want to pursue the career path. It is not necessary for you to obtain a credential in order for employers to see the level of integrity and knowledge your have. After all, there are many other aspects of a person besides their job performance, which is why employers generally look into past work experience. Although some people prefer working in pharmacies with both an environment and employment structure that encourages growth and professional development, other people prefer to be employed by employers who are more office oriented. Either way, there are several aspects of pharmacy technician jobs that will definitely be interesting and offer quite a few career options.
You will be required to work weekends and nights, and your work hours can vary greatly. You may have to work a graveyard shift or at a set time throughout the week. The job can include working in a hospital, retail store or medical office. You must have excellent communication skills as you will often be speaking with people about their medication needs. This means you must be able to understand the role of a pharmacist in society, what medications someone might need to address these needs and how one goes about obtaining these items for them. During the job you will be dealing with many customers of different nationalities and cultures.
If you decide to pursue certification then there are a few options for pharmacy technicians. You can go to school directly with an associate's degree or continue on to a bachelor's degree. Pharmacy technician schools typically require that you obtain full-time employment between your schooling and graduation, but there are several programs that cater exclusively to full-time students, allowing them to obtain their training without having to do day jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (inspector general: http://www.bls.
Conclusion
As you can see, pharmacy technician jobs are very versatile, and there is no one set educational path that workers must take. However, each employer will have different requirements for their employees. For this reason it is imperative that you take the time to speak with a potential employer before deciding to pursue employment in the field. A good example of this would be if a potential employer requires that technicians have previous experience working in a pharmacy before taking the job. The last thing that you want to do is work for someone who does not value your experience and education. This will only lead to frustration on both parts and may even result in termination of your employment at a later date.