Pharmacist Technician Job | Pharmacy Tech Jobs | Pharmacy Assistant Jobs
Pharmacy Technician Jobs - What is the Job of a Pharmaceutical Technician? What does Pharmacy Technician Employment Involve?
Pharmacy technicians aid pharmacists in providing medication and pharmaceutical drugs to patients. Since pharmaceutical technicians usually receive much lower pay than pharmacists, they are routinely used for mundane tasks such as counting pills, labeling bottles, and helping to prepare prescribed medications. Pharmacy techs also perform a number of duties such as stocking, answering phones, and running the cash registers.
Pharmacy technicians most often work in neighborhood retail pharmacies or mail order pharmacies, obtaining prescriptions and making sure that the information on them is accurate. Technicians are then responsible for selecting these medications and counting out the pills, selecting the correct container, and applying the appropriate prescription labels and warning labels to the pillbox. After the pharmacy prescription has been filled, pharmacy technicians will then file the prescription, which is then checked for accuracy by a registered pharmacist.
Pharmacy technicians will also maintain patient records, insurance forms, and take stock of inventory. When working in nursing homes, and other assisted care facilities, it is common for pharmacy technician jobs to include check patients’ charts and to prepare medications for the day.
Pharmacy aides usually assist pharmacy technicians as clerks and cashiers who will help pharmacy technicians handle the daily business of running a neighborhood pharmacy store, such as helping with telephone calls and stocking shelves.
Working Conditions for Pharmacy Technician - How is the Working Environment for Pharmacy Assistant Jobs?
The working environment for pharmacy tech jobs is usually clean and well organized, although there can be problems with back strain, due to having to retrieve heavy supplies and having to reach high shelves. But the standard workweek of a pharmacy technician is 40 hours, and may include some nights and weekends depending on the facility in which they’re working.
Pharmacy Technician Training Education - How to Become a Pharmacy Tech - How to Receive Your Education as a Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy technician training usually involves on the job work, although many states require pharmacy technicians certification. Employers may cover the cost of officially educating pharmacy technicians in a community college or vocational school. Pharmacy technician education includes pharmacy recordkeeping, pharmaceutical nomenclature, and pharmaceutical terminology. In addition, pharmacy technicians will have to have a strong knowledge of pharmaceutical law and ethical practices. It is common for pharmacy technicians to start out working at a community pharmacy or volunteering for free at a hospital in order to gain practical experience.
In an internship pharmacy technicians will be trained to count out pills, measure the proper dosages, and to use computer database systems related to pharmacy work.
Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam - How to Become a Certified Pharmacy Technician - Should You Take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Test?
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, as well as the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians both offer pharmacy technician certification examinations on a national scale. Some states do not require pharmacy technician licensing, while others make it mandatory.
In order to qualify for the pharmacy technician test, no felony convictions must be present within a five year stretch of applying, and individuals must obtain a high school diploma. Employers will usually cover the cost of this examination.
Pharmacy technicians must be recertified every two years which can require 20 hours of additional pharmacy education, although these credit hours can be earned in a variety of different learning environments, ten of which may be aren’t under the instruction of an experienced pharmacist.
Other skills for a pharmacy technician career should include good teamwork skills and an ability to interact with patients on a compassionate and intelligent level. Being alert is key to not administering the wrong drugs to a patient, and the ability to make smart decisions and use proper judgment is crucial to the work of a pharmacy technician.
Some pharmacy techs will decide to pursue their career further and take additional courses at a community college, eventually culminating in a bachelor’s degree, and a master’s degree in pharmacy science.
Outlook for Pharmacy Tech Jobs - What is the Future of Pharmacy Technician Careers?
Over the next decade, pharmacy technician employment should grow by about 32%, which vastly outstrips the average pace of growth in America. The proliferation of pharmaceutical drugs in society has increased exponentially, with more and more young people being diagnosed with illnesses and receiving medications, and an aging population of baby boomers requiring an ever growing list of drugs.
Individuals hoping to enter the field of pharmacy technician work should have no problem whatsoever obtaining employment due to the vast amount of opportunities for those who have received pharmacy technician certification.
Pharmacy Technician Salaries Pay Scale - How Much are Pharmacy Technician Wages?
In 2006, pharmacy technician jobs had median hourly earnings of $12.32. Those pharmacy techs working in hospitals had the highest rate of hourly pay at $13.86, while those working in drugstores had a much lower scale of pay at $11.50 an hour. Pharmacy technicians in states that require certification will generally earn a much higher rate of pay.