A pharmacy technician is a specially trained pharmacy staff member who works under the supervision of a pharmacist. Pharmacy techs work in a variety of environments, to include retail drug stores, mail-order supply companies and hospitals. Their responsibilities are varied, but generally they receive, review, manage, fill and bill prescriptions.
Job Outlook and Pay Scale for Pharmacy Technicians
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2010-11 Occupational Outlook Handbook, the career of pharmacy technician is expected to grow faster than most careers through 2018. As more of the country ages, assistance with filling prescription drug requests will continue to rise, and pharmacy technicians will be in high demand.
The average wage of a pharmacy tech is $13.32 an hour, and certified workers usually earn more than non-certified techs. Additionally, many employed techs earn above average non-salary benefits like vacation pay, health insurance and retirement savings.
How to Become a Certified Pharmacy Technician
While there are no national training or accreditation requirements to become a pharmacy tech, most people get their start through private technical or community colleges that offer certifications or degree programs in the field. Some workers also learn the necessary skills while in the military.
Most pharmacy technician programs offer a full range of detailed instruction and experience. In addition to course work that teaches pharmaceutical calculation training, medical terminology, computer systems and insurance and billing instruction, internships are required during which students have the chance to work as techs in a pharmacy environment.
Certification and intern experience go a long way towards opening doors to a full-time career in the industry. Any tech who works in the industry can take the national pharmacy technician certification exam. Passing this exam, which authenticates the acceptable standard of pharmaceutical knowledge for a tech, allows the tech to become certified. This certification must be re-established every 2 years, during which time the technician must complete at least 20 hours of continuing education in the field.
What a Certified Pharmacy Tech Can Do With dis Training
Pharmacy technicians handle the same type of work that pharmacists do – filling subscriptions and billing for them – under the direct supervision of a pharmacist. Most states require pharmacy technicians to be registered with the same licensing board that regulates pharmacists, and some areas require additional state specific certifications.
Certified pharmacy technicians work for a variety of businesses including retail and independent drugstores, mail-order or Internet pharmacies, hospital and medical centers, pharmaceutical wholesalers, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The job responsibilities will be slightly different depending upon the employer, but in general the tech will be heavily involved in filling medication prescriptions.
While some pharmacy techs often start out as assistants who handle more administrative tasks like customer service, checking in supplies and insurance billing information, this is not always the quickest path to a career as a tech. Pharmacy technician training, followed by national certification, is the best route to take in order to begin a career in this interesting and lucrative medical profession.
Source:
American Association of Pharmacy Technician
For information on other professional career paths, please read Become a Certified or Certificated Paralegal.
Janice Fahy - Janice Fahy is a freelance writer who is comfortable researching and writing on just about any topic under the sun.
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