How to Become a Pharmacy Technician

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician If you’ve ever waited in line at a pharmacy for a prescription, you likely know that pharmacy technicians are the ones who help to keep everything moving. Meeting the prescription and over-the-counter healthcare needs of the community is a huge task, and the pharmacy tech plays an essential part. The Day-to-DayPharmacy technicians (also known as pharm techs) are healthcare professionals who assist licensed pharmacists. Their duties may include:Dispensing drugs and medical devices to patientsEducating patients on potential side effectsEducating patients on the use of medical devicesReviewing prescriptions from doctors’ officesReviewing insurance coverage and working with the insurance companiesEnsuring that patients get the correct prescriptionHandling payment and insurance transactionsOther administrative duties related to the pharmacy as neededMost pharm techs work in community, retail, or hospital pharmacies, but there are also opportunities in nursing homes, private companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, government, or academic settings. The majority work full-time, in a standard work week, though some pharmacy techs work part-time.For more on what it’s like to be a pharmacy technician, check out these videos:How to Be a Pharmacy TechnicianPharmacy Technician Career OverviewCareer Profile: Pharmacy TechnicianThe RequirementsBecoming a pharmacy technician is a process that can take less than a year, or up to 2 years. To get started, you should have at least a high school diploma. Most pharmacy techs opt to take a 1-to-2 year program at a community college or vocational school, where the coursework may provide technical training and certification. Each state has its own rules that can vary widely (from required schooling, certification, and exams to no official certification necessary), so be sure to check your own state’s requirements before you get started.The SkillsAccuracy is an absolute necessity for pharmacy techs. Inaccurat e prescriptions, or the wrong medicine going to the wrong person, can be extremely dangerous. Pharm techs are often the first and last line of defense, making sure that everyone is getting the medication they’re supposed to be getting. Attention to detail is perhaps the most important skills for a tech to have, but others are crucial as well. These skills are typically learned through certification programs or on-the-job training:Pharmacy and medical termsBasic knowledge of medicationsBasic pharmacy operationsMedication dosage measurement and best practicesLaw and ethics for pharmacy practiceThe PayThe median salary for pharmacy technicians is $29,810 per year, or $14.33 per hour, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). And according to a PayScale.com survey, pharm techs are â€Å"highly satisfied† with their career choice.The OutlookAs pharmacies change with the times and drugs are shipped in bulk, pharmacy techs will be more in demand than ever so that they ca n dispense medicine accurately and effectively, freeing up pharmacists to provide clinical services. The BLS expects the field to grow by at least 9% by 2024.Interested? APPLY HERE