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.
Want to Start a Pharm Tech Career? Consider These Facts...
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Are you looking for a solid career opportunity? In today's uncertain economic times, people want a career they can count on every day. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a career as a pharmacy technician may be the answer - job opportunities continue to be on an upswing nationwide, with employment expected to increase much faster than the average through 2016.
The earning potential of a career is one of the biggest considerations people have for going into a specific field. The good news is that the highest 10 percent of pharmacy technicians earned more than $17.65 in May 2006, or more than $36,712 per 40-hour week. Certified technicians may earn even more. Your geographic location can also affect your paycheck. Here's some information to consider:
Top Paying States for Pharmacy Technicians:
| State | Employment | Hourly Mean Wage | Annual Mean Wage | % of State Employment |
| Alaska | 570 | $17.42 | $36,240 | 0.185% |
| California | 27,470 | $17.36 | $36,100 | 0.181% |
| Washington | 5,790 | $17.29 | $35,960 | 0.202% |
| Hawaii | 950 | $17.00 | $35,370 | 0.155% |
| District of Columbia | 800 | $16.91 | $35,170 | 0.126% |
States with the Highest Concentration of Pharmacy Technician Workers:
| State | Employment | Hourly Mean Wage | Annual Mean Wage | % of State Employment |
| Missouri | 10,620 | $11.81 | $24,560 | 0.388% |
| West Virginia | 2,680 | $11.35 | $23,620 | 0.373% |
| Kentucky | 6,430 | $11.71 | $24,370 | 0.354% |
| Delaware | 1,440 | $13.15 | $27,350 | 0.339% |
| Alabama | 6,500 | $11.63 | $24,190 | 0.334% |
Pharmacy technicians work the same hours as pharmacists, which may include nights, weekends, and holidays, especially in facilities that are open around the clock such as hospitals and some retail pharmacies. This can provide you with the opportunity to create a flexible schedule that meet the needs of your family. Another advantage is that as seniority increases, you will have increased control over your hours and schedule.
Some technicians are trained on the job, but most employers favor applicants with formal training, certification, or prior experience. Enrolling in a training program from an accredited school can be the first step toward your new pharmacy technician career - online courses give you the freedom to study when and where you want.
Labels: pharmacy tech, pharmacy tech career, pharmacy technician
Read More >>Want to Start a Pharm Tech Career? Consider These Facts...
A Pharmacy Technician is Essential to the Pharmacy
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Everyone needs an assistant to help them complete their day-to-day tasks, and a pharmacist is no different. A pharmacy technician is the pharmacist's "assistant" and helps him or her keep the pharmacy running in an efficient and orderly manner -- from counting medication to answering the phone.
Pharmacy technicians play an important role -- when a prescription is received, the pharmacy technician checks the prescription, completes the insurance information, labels the bottle, measures the medication and pours it. There are additional administrative duties that include: checking on the status of prescriptions, organizing the medications on the pharmacy shelves and ringing up the sale on the cash register. Upon completion of the medical prescription, the pharmacist will double-check the medicine for any errors in measurement, count, or labeling. The pharmacy technician assists the head pharmacist, but the final word always comes from the pharmacist.
The role of a pharmacy technician is a large and important one -- however technicians cannot answer questions about medications and their possible side-effects or compound the actual medicines. This is the responsibility of the pharmacist, who has an extensive educational background and is licensed by the state.
A pharmacy technician can work in a hospital setting, nursing home, or pharmacy. They can set their schedules to work full or part-time. The good news is that this is a career that is on the rise -- the elderly population has increased and more people are taking medications than ever before. Scientific research continues to make breakthroughs in medications and treatments, which in turn increases the need for well-trained pharmacy technicians in pharmacies nationwide.
The job of a pharmacy technician, like many other jobs, is an important one. The necessary skills learned by a pharmacy technician will provide a tremendous help to pharmacists nationwide and keep the pharmacy or medical facility running in a smooth manner -- while effectively meeting the needs of patients. It's a career that helps people on a daily basis and makes a difference every day.
Labels: head pharmacist, pharmacy insurance technician, pharmacy technician, pharmacy technician duty, pharmacy technician job
Read More >>A Pharmacy Technician is Essential to the Pharmacy
How to Become a Pharmacy Technician
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
The last time you picked up a prescription, you may have notice the individual that
retrieved your prescription or processed your insurance - that was the pharmacy technician. While the pharmacist is busy filling prescriptions, the pharmacy technician provides necessary assistance throughout the pharmacy - from verifying prescription information to preparing prescription containers.
It is a rewarding and exciting career that is needed nationwide. As a growing and aging population requires more medical care, there will be an increased need for prescriptions and pharmacy personnel - meaning opportunity for you! If you've wanted to start a pharmacy technician career, now's the time to get the training you need. Here's the steps you need to take:
1) Enroll in an accredited career-training school - You need to get a proper educational foundation. Take the first step and enroll in a pharmacy technician course. No time to travel to a classroom? Need to keep your current job? Taking a pharmacy technician online course is the perfect way to prepare for your new career, with the flexibility to focus on your life. Study any time, anywhere with a course that is convenient and self paced.
2) Become certified - Make sure that the pharmacy technician course you choose provides the knowledge you need to prepare for the certification exam. By taking the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) certification exam, you will provide you pharmacy technician career with increased opportunities.
3) Start your pharmacy technician career - Once you finish your pharmacy technician online course and become certified, you will be prepared to join a pharmacy team anywhere in the nation. Choose to work alongside a licensed pharmacist in a hospital, community pharmacy, outpatient clinic, nursing home or pharmaceutical organization.
How long does it take to become a pharmacy technician? The pharmacy technician course includes 120 hours of study - the amount of time you can spend each week will determine how soon you can start your pharmacy technician career. If you study 10 hours each week, you will finish your course within three months. You will then need to prepare for and sit for the certification exam.
In a short period of time, you will be prepared to start your pharmacy technician career. You will be prepared to help licensed pharmacists provide medication and other health care products to patients. Your day will include counting and measuring medication, managing inventories, and completing pharmaceutical dosage forms - all on a part or full-time basis. Does a pharmacy technician career sound good to you? Get started today with a pharmacy technician online course - study at home with a course that fits your life.
Labels: measuring medication, pharmacy tech, pharmacy technician, pharmacy technician course, pharmacy technician online course, pharmacy technician school, pharmacy technician training
Read More >>How to Become a Pharmacy Technician
