Career Prospects of Pharmacy Technicians

Answer 1

Pharmacy technicians are highly respected members of the pharmacy healthcare team. A pharmacy technician aids the pharmacist in preparing medications, entry of the prescription information, customer service and general administrative duties such as answering the phone and prescription filing. Most pharmacy technician jobs are in retail; however there are many opportunities in skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, and mail order pharmacies.

Responsibilities

Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists with filling prescriptions. This includes counting pills, labeling bottles, measuring and mixing medications. Additionally, pharmacy technicians are responsible for interacting with customers and doctors to obtain prescription medication information. Doctors regularly use abbreviations when writing prescriptions and it is imperative the pharmacy technician is familiar with and can interpret these abbreviations to ensure the patient is dosed as intended. All prescriptions are checked by a pharmacist before given to the patient. Additionally, any healthcare, prescription and drug information questions must be referred to the pharmacist.

Education and Certification

Training to become a pharmacy technician can involve on-the-job experience or a more formal training program. Community colleges, vocational schools, hospitals and various other organizations offer education opportunities for future pharmacy technicians. These programs can range from 3-24 months and cover both classroom and laboratory work. Most employers prefer candidates with formal training and certification and many states even require certification through a state board. Both the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT) administer national certification examinations for pharmacy technicians. Certifications must be renewed every two years after completing 20 hours of continuing education. Ten hours can be earned by working as a pharmacy technician under a pharmacist.

Job Outlook and Salary Prospects

Job prospects for pharmacy technicians are expected to grow faster than average resulting from increased demand in the healthcare industry. Job opportunities are good, especially for the pharmacy technician with formal training and related work experience. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wage in May 2008 was $13.32. New technicians can expect a starting wage around $9-$11 per hour, dependant on training and certification.