How to Become a Pharmacy Technician
The demographical environment has seen a dynamic change in the past few years, and is expected to continue this transition in the next 5 years also. Namely, the population has been aging in the United States, and the medical industry has been growing steadily in response. For those who are seeking for new employment, acknowledging how to become a pharmacy technician is a practical and lucrative decision in today’s socio economic environment.
What is Pharmacy?
Simply put, pharmacy is the practice or study of implementing adequate pharmaceutical drugs to patients. Understanding the interaction of chemistry and biology is imperative in the study of pharmacy. Many people believe that pharmacists are the only people who practice pharmacy but even high school graduates can participate in pharmaceuticals by becoming certified pharmacy technicians. Because medication is extremely important to the recovery of patients, professionals in pharmacy must have specialized training and knowledge. Wrong calculation of dosages or chemical compounding can lead to dire consequences.
What does a Pharmacy Technician Do?
In the past, most pharmacy technicians simply supported the pharmacist in labeling and administering the right dosages according to the prescription. Other trivial and administrative duties have been performed by pharmacy aides. With increased medical demand, however, pharmacy technician’s duties have been expanded to encompass both responsibilities of pharmacists and pharmacy aides. More patients are seeking to visit the pharmacy to consult which medication to take (in order to decrease medical costs), and retail stores have been cutting on expenses to decrease the number of pharmacy aides. Thus, pharmacy technicians have taken on administrative duties as phone calls and billing, and also more technical aspects of pharmacy by consulting with patients. The major responsibilities of pharmacy technicians are to label the medication, calculate and compound the right dosages, and translate the prescription into medication.
What Kind of Training Does a Pharmacy Technician Need?
Pharmacy technicians need both theoretical and practical training to obtain specialization. As mentioned above, pharmaceutical practices require specialized knowledge so as to provide safe and effective medication to the patients. Various educational entities provide accredited pharmacy technician training to become a pharmacy technician. Community colleges, private institutions, and hospitals provide 6 month to 2 year long programs for students to obtain a degree or diploma in pharmacy technician. In a comprehensive curriculum, students will learn basic principles of pharmacology, technical aspects of labeling and calculating dosages, and pharmacy law. The guidelines for such training are proposed by several nationally recognized pharmacy associations and pharmacy technician certification boards. The Institute of Certified Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT) and Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) are both nationally recognized certification boards that administer certification exams throughout the year.
What will I learn from Pharmacy Tech Courses?
According to the type of degree pursued, students will learn different subjects in pharmacy technician courses. Most accredited pharmacy technician schools offer a comprehensive and coherent body of learning to prepare students to become effective pharmacy technicians. All courses will provide materials for pharmacology, a study of how a chemical substance interacts with a living organism. Some chemistry, anatomy, and physiology will be covered to let students understand how medical practices work together to maintain and recover a healthy body. Also, specific courses as dosage calculations, pharmaceutical terminology, and pharmacy law should also be offered to practically train to become a certified pharmacy technician.
Where do Pharmacy Technicians Work?
Statistically speaking, the majority of pharmacy technicians are employed by large retailers, national supermarkets, and mass pharmacies. More people are seeking to purchase medication inexpensively and also find an alternative to costly visits to the doctor. Thus pharmacy technicians are in high demand among such retail corporations and pharmacies. The next group of pharmacy technicians works in hospitals. Pharmacy techs in hospitals generally have more experience and specialized knowledge to work closely with patients, nurses, pharmacists, and doctors to administer and manage the flow of medication. Lastly, only a handful of pharmacy technicians work in smaller pharmacies and medical clinics.
What is the Job Outlook for Pharmacy Technicians?
The job outlook for pharmacy technicians is positive in the foreseeable future. Medical demands, especially pharmaceutical demands are expected to grow faster than most industries, and the number of openings for pharmacy technicians is also expected to grow. According to employment data, the salary and hourly wages of pharmacy technicians have enhanced steadily in the past few years, and are expected to grow higher into the next decade. Pharmacy technicians working in hospitals will generally have higher pay, and some technicians go on to completing a higher degree in pharmacy to become a licensed pharmacist. In relation to the location, experience, and skill, a pharmacy technicians salary average ranges from $19,000 to $42,000.