Looking for the best medicine to boost your career prospects? With large segments of the population reaching their golden years, the need for health services is on the rise. Pursuing a career as a pharmacy technician is an opportunity to be part of an expanding & growing field! Learn more about the day-to-day workload & job outlook for 2019.
What Do Pharmacy Technicians Do?
Pharmacy technicians work in a variety of settings– grocery stores, general merchandise stores, and department stores. Most often, though, they’re employed at drug stores, pharmacies, and hospitals.
A pharmacy tech is not solely responsible for dispensing medication. Rather, they act as an assistant to the pharmacist on duty. However, pharmacy techs have to make sure prescriptions are filled within a certain time frame. Although they assist pharmacists in measuring, mixing, counting, and labeling dosages, pharmacy technicians usually do not advise patients about proper dosing and medication interactions.
According to Mike Johnston, chairman and CEO of the National Pharmacy Technician Association, keeping up with all the changes that occur in the industry is the most challenging aspect of the job. As new drugs (and their generic counterparts) are developed, dosing guidelines may be updated weekly. Additionally, patients may need prescriptions for anything from the common cold to a chronic condition. When patients arrive at the pharmacy, they’re often not feeling their best and may have just received upsetting news from the doctor, so compassion is essential for this job.
What Is the Job Outlook for a Pharmacy Tech?
The employment outlook for pharmacy technicians is especially promising. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth in this area is projected at 12% through 2026, faster than average compared to other sectors. In 2017, the median annual pay for those employed in this field was $31,750.
Do I Need A Pharmacy Technician Certification To Work?
While it may be possible to obtain pharmacy tech training on the job, employers prefer that prospective employees have a credential in the field, which you can earn in a year or less through a vocational school or community college. At Ashworth College, our comprehensive program prepares you for Pharmacy Technician certification through the National Healthcareer Association’s (NHA’s) ExCPT Pharmacy Technician certification exam and the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s (PTCB’s) Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE)
If a pharmacy technician program sounds like the right prescription for you, contact us for more info or enroll today.
