People often wonder, what exactly is a pharmacy technician, and what does the job description of a pharmacy technician involve? A pharmacy technician position can help you enter the medical field and can be a lucrative and rewarding career choice. If you are interested in helping people, learning, and advancing your career, a job as a pharmacy technician may be perfect for you.
What Is a Pharmacy Technician?
A pharmacy technician is responsible for assisting a licensed pharmacist in all aspects of running and managing a pharmacy. Many pharmacy technician job description listings include clerical work as well as cash register duties and stock and supply duties. Pharmacy technicians set up and maintain important client records, and file and handle insurance claims and payments. Additionally, ensuring the pharmacy shelves are accurately stocked and supplies are ordered in a timely manner often falls under the umbrella of a pharmacy technician’s duties. In many pharmacies, pharmacy technicians are also responsible for measuring, counting, weighing or mixing medications and attention to detail and accuracy is a must. Many pharmacy technicians directly interact with customers and help answer insurance claim and dosage questions, and perform other customer service related duties. Ringing up orders, taking cash or credit card payment and counting the opening and closing drawer of the pharmacy register are other tasks often performed by the pharmacy technician. It is not uncommon for very large pharmacies, such as those in hospitals or in patient clinics, to work with a number of other pharmacy technicians and pharmacists. Since there is a large amount of client and colleague interaction involved in a position as a pharmacy technician, good interpersonal communication skills are crucial to on the job success.
How Do I Become a Pharmacy Technician?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, harmacy technician positions are expected to grow by twenty five percent by 2018, thereby making it a stable, solid career choice. There are many paths to a career as a pharmacy technician, but most people get their training on the job. Good candidates for on the job pharmacy technician training include those with previous cash register, stocking, customer service experience, and those who possess inventory and computer skills. People will excellent communication skills and a personable, friendly and approachable manner are also prime candidates. On the job training includes observing, or shadowing, experienced pharmacy technicians. Once the rules, regulations and procedures of the pharmacy are learned, the pharmacy technician in training will slowly be allowed to perform tasks on their own until the lead pharmacist is certain they are fully trained and ready to handle the task.
Another route to becoming a pharmacy technician is enrolling in a diploma or certificate program. These programs combine classroom work as well as lab work and may even include internships or volunteer requirements in hospitals or other pharmacies. A typical pharmacy technician training program will include coursework in inventory management, pharmacy math, dosage calculations, medication order interpretation, pharmacy keyboarding and pharmacy law. Formal training programs range from six months to two years to complete and can be found at community colleges, vocational schools, hospitals and even the military. While some states require certification, others do not, so be sure you check with your state to find out what requirements you must meet in order to become a pharmacy technician.
What are the Wages for Pharmacy Technicians?
While the average earnings will vary greatly depending on the geographical location, size and customer base of your pharmacy, pharmacy technicians enjoy a mean salary of around $27,560 annually as of 2007. Since job growth is expected to increase putting more demand on the need for pharmacy technicians, this salary base should also increase as the industry grows and changes. In addition to an annual salary, some pharmacy technicians employed full time also receive benefits such as medical insurance and discounts on medications and purchases made in the pharmacy.
Entering the medical field is a great way to secure your financial future while helping others. If you are detail oriented, personable, accountable and eager to learn, a job as a pharmacy technician could be right for you. Many pharmacy technicians go on to pharmacology school to become a fully licensed pharmacist. This is therefore a career choice that can help you grow professionally. Getting into the medical field does not have to mean years of expensive schooling and taking on insurmountable student loan burdens, when a job as a pharmacy technician can be a great a path to a rewarding career.
