Pharmacy technician schools

Which types of jobs are available for those interested in pharmacy technician careers?

A pharmacy technician assists licensed pharmacists in preparing and dispensing medications and answering customers' questions about their prescriptions. In this type of job, one performs a wide range of duties, such as entering prescriptions into a computer, counting tablets, ordering additional medications, verifying the accuracy of prescription information and providing administrative services, such as answering phones.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 75 percent of pharmacy technicians work in a retail setting, making customer service skills a necessary part of the job. Those types of pharmacy technician careers often include night, weekend and holiday hours. Pharmacy technicians who work in hospital settings face the challenge of sometimes having to work varying shifts if the pharmacy is open 24 hours a day.

Pharmacy technicians often work in well-lit areas and spend most of the day on their feet helping to fill prescriptions. They may have to climb stepladders, lift heavy boxes, and spend time on the telephone talking with insurance companies and patients. Some technicians maintain patient account information and prepare insurance forms.

Formal training required to work in a career related to pharmacy technician

According to the BLS, degrees in pharmacy tech are not typically required for employment, but can provide job candidates with a competitive edge. And, while there are no national training standards for this career path, some states require a high school diploma or its equivalent and registration with a state agency.

Certification is another standard that is required by some states and some employers. There are several private organizations that offer the exams, including the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT). PTCB reports that, since 1995, more than 400,000 pharmacy technicians nationwide have earned the PTCB certification and more than 55,000 received it in 2010.

According to the BLS, all certification candidates must be free of any felony convictions and drug or pharmacy-related convictions to be eligible. Also:

1. Certification is available through colleges, industry associations and pharmacy technician training programs and must be renewed every two years.
2. Recertification requires 20 hours of continuing education.
3. As many as 10 hours of continuing education can be earned on the job when supervised by a pharmacist.

On the job training is another avenue for students to pursue with pharmacy technician jobs. Some employers prefer this type of training to ensure the employee learns skills related to company procedures. This process may last for 3 to 12 months.

Some training programs are considered internships, where the intern works in a pharmacy gaining experience in a real world setting. The intern might receive a diploma, certificate or an associate degree after completing the program, according to the BLS.

Those who want to purse a pharmacy technician degree will find programs at community colleges, vocational schools, hospitals and the military. Students often spend six months to two years studying everything from the names and doses of medications to medical and pharmaceutical terminology, and pharmacy law and ethics.

The typical career path of someone interested in pharmacy technician degree programs

Pharmacy technician jobs often appeal to those who have an interest in medicine, are detail-oriented, understand the importance of proper medication dosage and like the social interaction found in a pharmacy setting. These types of jobs also require strong math and computer skills.

Those who work in large pharmacies or national chains might find advancement through on-the-job training and movement into a supervisory position. Others might advance by moving to a busier pharmacy where the responsibilities are increased. Some expand their pharmacy technician careers by moving into a specialized area, such as nuclear pharmacy, or by going into pharmaceutical sales.

Job outlook and salary information for those interested in pharmacy technician degree programs

The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in 2009 was $28,070 or $13.49 per hour, according to the BLS. The BLS also reports the number of pharmacy technician jobs is expected to grow by 31 percent from 2008 to 2018 due to the increasing role of the pharmacy, as insurers cut costs by using pharmacies as patient care centers. Technicians would be given a bigger role in the pharmacy operations, thus increasing demand. The 326,300 pharmacy technician jobs nationally in 2008 should grow to 426,000 by 2018.

For more on this career, read our Pharmacy Technician Career & Salary Outlook.