What Does A Pharmacy Technician Do?

A pharmacy technician works with the general public. It is a fast-paced career and is very demanding. Generally, you would be responsible for counting pills, labeling prescription bottles and taking the prescriptions from customers. You would also direct proper questions to the pharmacist and help the pharmacist with tasks designed for you. You may also operate the cash register, stock shelves, and answer telephones, depending on the size of the pharmacy. While the road to being a pharmacy technician is easier than becoming a Pharmacist, it is still demanding.

What Are The Requirements To Become a Pharmacy Tech?

To become a pharmacy technician, you need to have a high school diploma. If you do not currently have one, you will need to obtain your GED. You can visit your local community college for information on how to obtain your GED.

Many people choose to have formal pharmacy technician training. It is usually easier to get a job if you have this training. Many local colleges are offering pharmacy technician training, so find out if there are any available close to you. If not, you also have the option of using an online school in order to obtain your pharmacy technician certification.

How Do I Go About Getting Pharmacy Technician Training?

For either traditional or online pharmacy technician training, your education could take anywhere from six months to two years, depending on the program. If you are looking to work immediately in your career field, you may choose to receive a certificate of completion or something like this. It generally takes the shortest amount of time to complete. You can also choose to receive a degree as a pharmacy technician. This can take up to two years to complete.

If neither of these suits you, you can also try to find a company that offers on the job training for people new to the career. This can be easy or difficult, depending on many factors. Generally, companies want someone that has already been formally trained because it makes it easier on the company. If you already have basic information, you can catch on quicker. There are certain programs that are offered through large pharmacy chains, so you  may want to consider trying this option first.

Many times, an internship is involved in the formal training coursework. This is not mandatory, and different colleges and institutions may not require internship. If this is something you want to do, make sure it is offered. If not, find a college or vocational school that does not require it.

Do I need Pharmacy Technician Certification Classes?

Many states require extra certification to work as a pharmacy technician. You may need to take a certification test to prove your knowledge. This can be done through The Institute for Certification of Pharmacy Technicians or the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). This can greatly benefit the amount of job offers you receive.

Many states require you to register with that state’s State Board of Pharmacy. Keep in mind this refers to the state in which you will work, not the state you live in. Usually, you must fill out an application and pay a registration fee. These vary from state to state.

How Much Is A Pharmacy Technician’s Salary?

Your salary as a pharmacy technician will vary based on where you are located, how much experience you have, and if you have formal training and certification. Typically, pharmacy technicians make between $13.32 and $18.98 per hour. The average hourly salary is $16.15. Those who have been formally trained, have certification, and have experience earn more.

In order to enjoy being a pharmacy technician, there are certain qualities you should possess. You should not choose a career based on money alone; it should be something you will enjoy doing, as you will spend most of your time doing it.

• Good Communication Skills
• Good Customer Service skills
• Basic math, spelling and reading are a necessity
• The ability to be precise and check your work frequently
• Keeping important information Confidential

What Other Things Do I Need To Know About Becoming A Pharmacy Technician?

Pharmacist assistants work with medications and people’s personal information. When filling medications, you need to be precise. There can be no guessing or estimating. You have to be able to follow directions exactly as they are. If you are unsure, you need to be comfortable enough to ask. You should never guess at what is correct.

There are many steps involved in order to become a pharmacy technician. You can choose to take all the steps possible or just do what is required in your state. For information on your state’s rules and regulations, search for pharmacy technician rules and ‘your state’. This will give you an idea of what you can expect.

If you enjoy working with people, have the ability to pay close attention to detail, and care about people, a pharmacy technician career could be a great choice for you. I hope these tips will help you learn how to become a pharmacy technician and get you on the road to reaching your goals.

How Long Does It Take To Become A Pharmacist?

There are courses where you can complete Pharmacy courses in as little as 6 years. But I’d say this is not the norm. The course for the 6 year programs goes like this. You’ll need to find a 0-6 year program and apply for it. It’s best if you do this while you’re still in High School.

They’ll be interested in your SAT score as well as your GPA. In other words, if you’re a slouch or slow learner, it will take you a lot longer to go through Pharmacy school. Even if your grades and scores are high, some schools with these programs require an interview, so you’d better brush up on your interviewing skills if you want to shave some years off of your studies.

This course usually takes about 2 years of completing pre-requisite work. And you’d better keep those grades up! If you pass this hurdle, you’re generally allowed to enter a 3 to 4 year Pharmacy course.

After this course of work is finished, you’ll then be ready for a year (or two) of residency or a fellowship. Some students try and skip the residency route because it’s an option in most states, but it’s very difficult to find Pharmacist who are willing to train you, especially if they’re independent. Having an experienced Pharmacist looking over your shoulder for a year is a wise investment in your future. They’ll show you the ropes and help prevent you from making mistakes. After all, that’s what Residency is all about!

The Traditional Way Of Becoming a Pharmacist

As I stated above, expect to go to school to become a Pharmacist around 8 years. I’ve heard some that go as long as 10 and even 12 years! In my opinion, that ridiculous and we only have the Education lobbyist to thank for it. More money in student loans and to Universities and Colleges.

In the past, you could receive a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree, but that is no longer given out. Now the term is a Pharm.D program.

More than likely you’ll have to pass the PCAT (Pharmacy College Admissions Test) and then choose and apply to the Pharmacy school you want to attend.

Now all that time won’t be spent in Pharmacy school. More than likely, you’ll need a Masters Degree in one of the sciences such as biology, chemistry, physical science, etc. before obtaining your Pharm.D degree.

But, you’re not through yet! Once you have graduated with your degree, you now must pass the State Licensing test in the State you wish to practice in! See, there are no guarantees that you’ll receive your license even with 8 or more years of college!

How Much Do Pharmacist Make?

Well, with all that specialized schooling that you’re required to obtain, you’d think that Pharmacist would bring down Lawyer or Doctor type money wouldn’t you? Such is not the case.

Most Pharmacy students start out around $50,000 to $60,000 per year. That sounds great until you realize that you have a pile of student loan debt to pay off! OUCH!!!

If you go into a specialized field of Pharmacy, you can expect to make more. Of course, this is true of any field of specialization you may go into.

The good news is that in most areas, Pharmacist are in great demand. With a year or two experience, some pharmacist are making a 100k or more per year according to an article I read on about.com. There are even some companies willing to pay you a sign on bonus! Now that degree is paying off isn’t it?

The down side is, don’t expect too many pay raises over the course of your career. Pharmacy is one of those career fields where the pay is stagnant over a long period of time. You’ll have to be creative in order to find ways to get higher pay. Heck, you might even want to start your own Pharmacy down the road!

I hope this article has helped you answer some of your questions about how to become a Pharmacist.