Pharmacy Technician

Getting Started As a Pharmacy Technician

A pharmacy technician (or tech) is one who closely assists a pharmacist. The importance of pharmacy techs has increased in recent times and the Bureau of Labor Statistics has already predicted a hike of 32% in pharmacy tech jobs between 2006 and 2016. Inspiring career prospects, good working environments and satisfactory monetary benefits have attracted people to this health care specialty. If you have developed an interest in pursuing a career as a pharmacy technician, here is a useful guide to help you.

Responsibilities and Job Duties

The roles and duties of a pharmacy technician can be many, depending upon the type of workplace he or she is hired for. Here are some of the important tasks performed by these professionals:

• Labeling and formulation of medications
• Maintenance of patients’ profiles
• Filling, accepting and verifying prescription
• Answering the telephones and handling the queries of customers
• Delivering medical devices and taking inventories
• Manning the cash register

Local laws usually decide the duties that a pharmacy technician needs to carry out. Make sure you learn about the specific tasks and duties required by technicians in your area.

Job Opportunities

The prediction of Bureau of Labor Statistics and the apparent rising demand of pharmacy techs indicate that a number of job opportunities are available for these professionals in different states. Independently owned drug stores, for example, are some of the places with great potential for pharmacy technicians. Retail medication stores, both offline and online, also have a high demand for pharmacy technicians.

Hospital pharmacies are among those that offer the highest salaries to pharmacy technicians. This is because of the demanding nature of the job at these workplaces. Private clinics also can be considered for finding a suitable job in this field.

Educational Requirements

The most important requirement to become a pharmacy tech is the basic and essential knowledge of pharmacy and related fields. Candidates should be well-versed in pharmacy calculations, medical billing, and should have a basic knowledge of many related fields. Interpersonal skills and communication skills are also of great importance to succeed in this field.

Pharmacy tech training and certification are not essential requirements, but they are helpful in getting a better job with a good salary. Moreover, these requirements help one to have a competitive edge over non-certified and untrained candidates.

Getting Started

The first step after completing a college degree or diploma is to join a pharmacy tech training course. It is important that you choose a reputed and accredited online or offline school. After completing the training, you need to take the pharmacy tech certification exam. You can also take crash courses and use available guides to clear the exam and get certified.

There are many career websites on the internet that can help you learn about different vacancies in this field. It is a good idea to submit your resume to these websites. You can also look for available positions at local hospitals and retail pharmacies.

Working as a pharmacy tech can help fast track your career growth, provided you make the right preparations. As a pharmacy tech, you can enjoy an interesting and challenging career.

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