Pharmacy technicians are responsible for helping licensed
pharmacists fill prescriptions and tasks related to
administration of medication to patients. Pharmacy technicians
often work at a pharmacy where they handle prescriptions,
working with pharmacy aides, and make sure patients receive the
correct prescribed medication according to their profile. Other
duties may include counting tablets, researching medication
information, and labeling bottles.
Job Description
and Responsibilities of Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Techs
Both Certified
and Non-Certified Pharmacy Technicians can be responsible for:
-
Working as an
aide in a community pharmacy
-
Measuring
dosages
-
Using
computers to find patient information
-
Recordkeeping
-
Learning
medication names, uses, doses, and applications
-
Verifying
prescriptions for accuracy
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Applying the
correct labels to each prescription and maintaining files
Career Options
for Pharmacy Technician after Pharmacy Technician School
-
Certified Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Techs can choose to
work in:
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Hospitals
-
Department store
pharmacies
-
Drugstore chains
-
Grocery stores
-
Internet pharmacies
-
Pharmaceutical
wholesalers
-
Retail and
independently owned pharmacies
Pharmacy
Technician Training
Pharmacy
Technicians generally receive on-the-job training from working
in a pharmacy or within the pharmaceutical industry. Most
employers prefer pharmacy techs to have completed a formal
program for adequate training, which may also include
certification or obtaining an Associate's degree. Formal
education provides professionalism and dedication in the field.
Most formal
programs are comprised of both classroom and lab work, and may
also include an internship period where students learn hands-on
techniques and skills. Students may receive a diploma, a
certificate, or an associate's degree. Each prospective Pharmacy
Technician can take the National Pharmacy Certification
Examination. While this is not required in most states, many
employers prefer an individual who has passed the exam.
Pharmacy
Technician Online and On-Campus Options
Pharmacy
technician training programs are available through pharmacy
colleges, pharmacy associations, or through a variety of online
course training programs. Online courses offer flexibility,
convenience, and ease of learning from home or at the office.
Typical courses in the online pharmacy technician program
include:
-
Medical
Terminology
-
Anatomy
-
Physiology
-
Poison and
Drug Emergency
-
Pharmaceutical Calculations
-
Prescription
Information and Labeling Procedures
The National
Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA) provides technician
certification programs throughout the United States. Certificate
programs are available in Sterile Products, Diabetes Care, and
Compounding.
Pharmacy
Technician Certification
A certified
pharmacy technician must be recertified every two years, and
complete at least 20 contact hours each year. Contact hours can
be accumulated by attending lectures, completing college
coursework, or from specialized on-the-job training. Many
employers provide reimbursement for the costs of the exam as an
incentive for the individual to remain certified.
The National
Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination is administered by
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. Prospective
pharmacy technicians must have a high school diploma or GED to
earn the Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) title; they also
cannot have any felony convictions on their record. Twenty hours
of continuing education every two years are required after certification
status has been reached, and at least one of these hours must be
in the field of pharmacy law.
Pharmacy
Technician Potential and Employment Prospects
Pharmacy Technicians are in high demand, even more so for those
that have completed formal training or received certification.
Employment of pharmacy technicians in this field is expected to
grow considerably over the next ten years, as the demands for
healthcare needs in the middle-aged and elderly generations
increases.
Pharmacy technicians made an average of $11.37 per hour in 2004,
with the highest paid pharmacy techs at general medical and
surgical hospitals. Certified technicians earned considerably
more. Related occupations include:
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Medical
transcriptionists
-
Physical
therapist assistants and aides
-
Medical
records and health information technicians
-
Pharmacy
aides
-
Dental
assistants
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