The career of a pharmacy technician holds a lot of promise - with the healthcare industry exploding, an aging population and growing reliance on prescribed medications. Pharmacy Technician Program teaches you the concepts, procedures and calculations needed to assume your new role in a pharmacy setting.
Pharmacy Technicians Have Options in Their Careers
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
A career that is on the rise is that of a pharmacy technician. Pharmaceutical businesses and advances in scientific research have increased the need for more pharmacy technicians. According to the pharmacy association report, there are close to 40,000 job openings in this field every year.
One of the reasons for the increase in the need for pharmacy technicians is because pharmacists want to have more one-on-one, hands-on time with their patients. Therefore, pharmacy technicians assume more responsibility with the prescriptions and medications handed out.
In addition, more people are getting older and living longer, creating an even bigger need for pharmacy technicians to handle the increase in the number of prescriptions. This also creates more of a need for pharmacists to provide excellent patient care and technicians to apply their knowledge and take on more responsibility with pharmaceuticals. Pharmacists need dependable technicians working alongside them. Click here to learn more about how to become a pharmacy technician.
Where can pharmacy technicians find a job? Here are some options:
- Retail: Places like grocery stores or drug store chains are always hiring pharmacy technicians to work for them. A job like this has its perks such as health insurance, savings (401K) plans, a consistent full-time work schedule, and opportunities to move up in the business.
- Mail Order: This is a type of pharmacy business that is growing fast. It's a type of business that doesn't require a lot of overhead costs, which gives the company the ability to pay their pharmacy technicians an attractive salary with benefits and offer a flexible schedule. In this job, technicians check all prescriptions that are submitted through the mail. Then, they count the medication, label the prescription bottle, and mail the filled prescription back to the patient. The only drawback is that they work alone and do not interact with many people.
- Hospitals and Nursing Facilities: Nursing homes and hospitals are another place where pharmacy technicians are needed. They perform the same duties as they would if they were in a drug store, and they get to interact with many different people. They also deliver the medication to the patients in the hospital. This is ideal for pharmacy technicians that enjoy being in an environment where there are lots of people for them to communicate and interact with on a regular basis.
A pharmacy technician career will continue to be in demand as an aging and growing population requires more medications. This will create an increased need for qualified pharmacy technicians to perform such tasks as counting medication, managing the shelves and handling insurance paperwork. Opportunities will exist in many different settings -- creating flexibility, stability and reward for pharmacy technicians nationwide.
Labels: pharmacy business, pharmacy technician career, pharmacy technicians job, responsibility of pharmacy technician
Read More >>Pharmacy Technicians Have Options in Their Careers
Some Facts About a Pharmacy Technician Career
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
You'e considering starting a pharmacy technician career - congratulations, it's a solid career choice! Pharmacy technicians are needed nationwide to count and measure medication, manage inventories and complete pharmaceutical dosage forms alongside licensed pharmacists. It is an industry that is expected to grow at a fast rate over the next decade - providing opportunity and stability for you! Here's some helpful information about how to become a pharmacy technician:
What can I do with a pharmacy technician certificate? Enrolling in a pharmacy technician certificate program will provide you with the necessary foundation to assist licensed pharmacists in a pharmacy setting. You will be prepared to provide medication and other health care products to patients. Your duties will vary, but some daily tasks will include:
- Verifying prescription information
- Retrieving, counting, pouring, weighing, measuring and mixing medication
- Selecting containers and preparing labels
- Preparing insurance claim forms
- Maintaining patient records
- Working the cash register and interacting with patient
Once you complete your pharmacy technician online course, you will be prepared to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) certification exam. This will enable you to become a certified pharmacy technician and add specialized credentials to your resume. It can also create more career opportunities for you, such as allowing you to assume more responsibilities and eventually even taking on a supervisory role.
How much do pharmacy technicians make? The amount of money that you can make as a pharmacy technician depends on your geographical location and amount of experience. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in May 2006 the highest 10 percent of pharmacy technicians earned more than $17.65 per hour; the middle 50 percent earned an hourly rate between $10.10 and $14.92. Certification and evening/weekend work may increase your amount of earnings.
Where do pharmacy technicians work? As a pharmacy technician, you will work in a comfortable pharmacy setting in a hospital, community pharmacy, outpatient clinic, nursing home or pharmaceutical organization. You will work the same hours that pharmacist work , which may include evening, night, weekend and holiday hours - there may also be part-time opportunities available.
What is the career outlook? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment is expected to increase much faster than average through 2016, and job opportunities are expected to be good. As the population ages, there will be an increased need for prescriptions for the middle-aged and elderly - meaning opportunity for qualified pharmacy technicians across the U.S.
Labels: licensed pharmacists, pharmacy technician career, pharmacy technician certificate, Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
Read More >>Some Facts About a Pharmacy Technician Career
