subject: Pharmacy Technician Career Guide [print this page] A pharmacy technician career is one in a growing field that is an important part of the health care industry. Those who have a passion for medicine and learning about drug properties may want to give this career path a closer look.
People interested in pursuing a pharmacy technician career should have a solid foundation in both math and science. Performing conversions and calculations are one main aspect of this job. Many community colleges and some online schools offer a pharmacy technician program that can be completed in as few as six months. Graduates of the program may choose to sit for the national certification exam. Achieving a good score on this test will ensure a higher pharmacy technician salary.
There are many opportunities for pharmacy technicians in retail stores, mail order pharmacies, hospitals and clinics. In retail, techs will process orders for customers, often filling the prescription under the pharmacist's supervision. Also, they will gather patient information, including medical history and drug allergies. In a retail or mail order setting it's important for the techs to learn the medication names and generic counterpart. This makes for more efficient filing and is useful to know. Since customer service is a main aspect of this role, people skills are a must for retail pharmacy technicians.
Hospital pharmacy technicians have slightly less interaction with customers, but more with the medications. Pharmacists will usually have the technicians mix solutions, prepare syringes for intravenous and subcutaneous drugs, etc. Also, they will often prepare nutritional supplements for patients unable to eat by mouth. After all medications are prepared, they will deliver them to the various nursing stations. In most states, licensure is required to perform these higher level duties.
The job outlook is promising for this field. As the population ages and more drug solutions are developed, the industry needs skilled people to fill and distribute prescriptions. Since advanced skills are required, a pharmacy technician salary reflects that. The average hourly rate in retail stores ranges from $9-$12, while hospitals usually range from $10-$15 an hour, depending on experience. Pay can increase by being promoted to Lead Pharmacy Technician, a management position, or by becoming a CPhT (certification credentials). This is one career path that will be around for awhile and will provide steady income and stability.
