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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – A pharmacy technician (pharmacy tech) is a health provider that works under the direction of a licensed pharmacist and helps with dispensing prescription medication to customers and track medical prescriptions in a pharmacy.
What do Pharmacy Technicians Do?
Responsibilities of a pharmacy technician vary, but most duties include dispensing prescription drugs, instructing patients on the prescription, and use of medical devices. Some settings, pharmacy techs will have administrative responsibilities, including taking prescription requests over in person or over the phone, reviewing prescription requirements, ensuring proper medications are being provided, and payments are received from patients or the insurance companies. Pharmacy technicians act as the middle ground between customers and the pharmacist. Pharmacy techs offer customer service to patients and relay customer’s needs to the pharmacists. The job also entails maintaining inventory, mixing medicines, stocking machines.
Where do Pharmacy Technicians Work?
There are numerous settings that pharmacy technicians can work in, including pharmacies located in hospitals, drug stores, grocery stores, and even merchandise stores. Most pharmacy technician jobs are full-time, but there are some part-time opportunities as well.
Pharmacy technicians can work in hospitals, mail-order pharmacies, chain drugstores, big-box retail, wholesale druggist, and independent drugstores.
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Hospital pharmacy technicians will typically work with IV medications and laboratory preparation to guarantee patients are receiving the support they need. Being a pharmacy technician in a hospital setting could include extensive cleaning to ensure sterility and a safe pharmaceutical environment.
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Retail pharmacy technicians are dealing with the public and customers who need medicine or prescriptions. A pharmacy technician in a retail setting is probably going to be asked about the administration of medication, including dosages, and should medication be taken on an empty stomach or with food.
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Mail-Order pharmacy technicians will work in an office environment where they file prescriptions from workstations. A regular day for pharmacy techs in a mail-order setting can include meetings with pharmacists and other techs, preparing medicines, maintaining patient databases, filling vials of medicine, and inventory maintenance.
Pharmacy techs salaries usually range from $20,000 to $43,000 in the United States. It is predicted that over 10,000 jobs for pharmacy technicians will be available until 2022.
How do I become a Pharmacy Tech?
To become a pharmacy technician, you need to complete a certificate or diploma from a school that has been accredited by The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Most pharmacy tech certificate programs can be completed within a year, while an associate degree could take up to two years. Education for pharmacy techs will include coursework on pharmacy law, pharmacology, pharmacy ethics, anatomy, healthcare systems, physiology, medical terminology, and pharmaceutical calculation. You can find a pharmacy technician training program online.
Steps to Become a Pharmacy Tech
The steps to becoming a pharmacy technician are relatively uncomplicated:
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Step 1 –You need to have an interest in pharmaceuticals and medicines that help in the publics’ recovery from illness.
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Step 2 – Find an accredited program to earn a pharmacy technician certificate or associates degree online.
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Step 3 – Complete and pass the certificate or associate degree program for pharmacy technicians.
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Step 4 – Complete an internship in a pharmacy as a pharmacy tech to gain hands-on work experience.
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Step 5 – Network and build contacts in the medical and pharmacy industry.
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Step 6 – Develop and improve your skills to be successful as a pharmacy technician.
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Step 7 – Apply to a pharmacy technician positions that would best suit your interests or needs, such as pharmacy in a hospital, national chain drugstore, big-box retailer, or independent.
Final Thoughts
Pharmacy technicians are a fast-growing job with a decent starting salary. It is also a good starting point for getting into the health care field and expanding your career choices when you are ready.