Pharmacy Technician Career: Ways To Start A Career As A Pharmacy Technician

In order to become a pharmacy technician, individuals must have a high school diploma or its equivalent

. Other requirements may depend on the state. For instance, some states require their applicants in this field to complete a formal training program, while others require them to pass a certification examination.

To find out the regulations of this profession, a candidate must consult his/her state's Board of Pharmacy for specific regulations. Typically, these are the requirements for this occupation:

High school diploma

GED

Formal training program

Criminal background check

Examination

Fees

Continuing education

Even though some states do not require applicants to pass a certification examination, becoming certified allows individuals to find a job a lot easier. In fact, some employers prefer to hire individuals who are certified.

There are two organizations that offer certification in this profession. These are the following:

Pharmacy Technician Certification Board

National Healthcareer Association

Essential skills and qualities

There are important skills and qualities a person must possess to succeed in this field.

Communication skills.

Be it writing or oral, the professionals should know how to interact with clients or customers. Apart from being helpful and polite, they should also learn how to communicate in a way that they can be easily understood by the people they are talking to.

Organizational skills.

They are essential for individuals who wish to take a part in this career. Keep in mind that this profession involves a wide variety of responsibilities. With good organizational skills, they can easily handle the work assigned to them while providing their customers utmost care.

Detail-oriented.

One mistake in filling prescriptions can result in serious health problems. To avoid this, pharmacy techs should know how to follow instructions so complications can be prevented.

Work Environment

The majority of them work in pharmacies, such as in drug stores, in hospitals and in grocery section. However, they may also find work in pharmaceutical companies. Work schedules may depend on the company they are employed. If the pharmacy or drug store opens 24 hours 7 days a week, then they may have to deal with night shifts or working during weekends. Most professionals in this field are working full-time. But there are some who are committed for a part-time job in a pharmacy.

Salary

The salary of pharmacy technicians is competitive. The lowest salary in this profession was reported to be less than $19,000 while the highest salary was recorded to be more than $40,000 a year. In May 2010, hospitals are the top-paying industries for this profession. They are followed by grocery stores, pharmacies, and department stores.

Duties and responsibilities

Their duties and responsibilities are aplenty. For instance, they are tasked to count tablets, label prescriptions, accept payment, mix medications, and perform routine tasks, among others. Regardless of what their duties are, they work under the strict supervision of a licensed pharmacist. They can arrange a meeting between a customer and a pharmacist in case the former has questions about his/her medication or health.

by: Aubrey Sperry

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