subject: Pharmacy Technician Program Graduates Enjoy Quality Job Prospects [print this page] A pharmacy technician program gives you the tools you need to work as a pharmaceutical professional in a pharmacy, hospital, home health care setting, or mail order or pharmaceutical wholesalers industry. A pharmacy technician performs a number of duties, including answering phones, stocking medications and handling money. A pharmacy technician program trains you to receive and verify prescriptions, as well as prepare patient medication.
Program Description
In a pharmacy technician program, you'll learn how to maintain client profiles and insurance forms. You'll be trained to prepare and provide patient medication and other health products for patients. You will also learn how to mix intravenous solutions, count tablets and label bottles, properly receive electronic prescriptions from hospitals and doctors' offices, verify and complete prescriptions, as well as stock inventory prescription and over the counter medications.
The program teaches computer basics, math fundamentals as well as first aid and CPR. You'll also learn about pharmacy law and ethics, skills in the laboratory, chemistry and pharmacy computer applications.
Job Outlook
Those who complete a pharmacy technician program enter an in-demand career field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics expect the career field to grow 25 percent through 2018, much faster than any other occupation. The pharmaceutical industry will enjoy a robust job market, due to an aging population with a greater need for medication.
While new machines that disperse and count medication automatically will eliminate some tasks normally done by a pharmacy technician, more will be needed to do other tasks that contribute to the workload.
Work Environments
Many pharmacy technicians will find work in drug store pharmacies, but they may also be employed in nursing homes where they will fill one-day prescriptions instead of 30- to 60-day supplies. They may also work in hospitals and doctor's offices.
Program Length
A pharmacy technician program takes approximately 10 months to complete. Day classes typically average about 35 weeks, while evening classes may take 40 weeks.
License and Certification
A pharmacy technician program prepares you to take the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. This must be passed in order to get your certification, which is required by most states and helps to distinguish you from your peers when searching for a job.
Salary
Median pay of pharmacy technicians is $13.32, though certified technicians will likely earn more. Evening or weekend shifts can also bring more pay. You may be able to belong to a union if you work at a hospital or grocery store and enjoy union wages.
Work Environments
Most pharmacy technicians work in clean, organized and well lit areas. You will spend most of the day on your feet, and you may need to lift heavy boxes or use a step ladder to get supplies. Many who just enter the workforce as new graduates from pharmacy technician programs work evening and weekends, especially if they earn a position in a hospital or pharmacy that is open 24 hours. However, there are a variety of options available to pharmacy technicians who are looking for the best employment fit, including type of work environment and hours. With training from a pharmacy technician program, you can mold your career.
