Pharmacy technicians work in a pharmacy setting under the direct supervision of pharmacists, assisting them with the preparation of prescription medications and helping customers. Common duties for pharmacy technicians in most states include labeling prescription bottles, counting pills, answering phones and performing administrative duties.

Pharmacy technicians are often required to work varying schedules, especially in pharmacy settings that are open 24 hours a day. Working nights and weekends is a common occurrence, but some pharmacy technicians choose to work part-time hours.

Although no standard training requirements exist for pharmacy technicians, employers desire to hire individuals with formal training at a community college, technical or vocational school. Pharmacy technician programs vary in length, depending on the school’s requirements. Pharmacy technician programs can last from six months to two years. Common subjects taught in training programs include pharmaceutical terminology, pharmaceutical record keeping, pharmacy laws and ethics and pharmaceutical calculations. Many programs require… Read the rest

Pharmacists continue to be in high demand, due to an increasing need for prescription medications and an elderly population that is on the rise. Although there is a general need for new pharmacy professionals, not enough adults are getting education in the field to pursue this fast-growing career. This is advantageous for new students looking into pharmacy school because there is a better chance of a healthy job market for the field.

Pharmacist vs. Pharmacy Technician

In order to pursue your pharmacist goal, you must go to school to obtain the proper education. There are a variety of choices when it comes to schools for this particular career path. Your choice of school ultimately depends on whether you want to become a pharmacist or a pharmacy technician.

Many people use pharmacist and pharmacy technician interchangeably, but there are a few differences you should be aware of in order to choose… Read the rest

Pharmacy technicians are trained to provide essential support to the pharmacist through a combination of administrative duties and prescription-related responsibilities. Employment opportunities are expected to increase presently and in the near future for pharmacy technicians as the number of clients and prescribing of medication continues to rise. Although technicians are required to register in the state where they practice, no formal licensing or certification requirements need to be met in order to obtain employment.

Pharmacy technicians are authorized to prepare prescriptions for clients, however they are not permitted to offer advice in regards to the medication or condition it treats. Similar to other healthcare occupations, individuals working in pharmacies are expected to maintain complete confidentiality regarding the records and identification information of the clients filling their prescription orders.

Traditionally, technicians were employed in retail and hospital pharmacies, responsible for counting and labeling medications with precision. As the selection and popularity… Read the rest

Pharmacy technicians work with licensed pharmacists to provide excellent service to patients that require prescription drugs or medical devices. They may dispense medications, educate patients on how to take their drugs, review requests for prescriptions with physician’s offices, work with insurance companies to coordinate payment and may also be responsible for administration duties at the pharmacy. A pharmacy technician certification program prepares students to complete these tasks and more with confidence and professionalism.

Pharmacy Technician Requirements
Although there is no standard program for pharmacy technician training, most employers look for students that have completed certification or some form of formal training. Programs take an average of three to 12 months are available through community colleges, hospitals, the military, vocational schools and online pharmacy technician schools.

Students in these programs learn medical terminology, how to calculate pharmaceutical figures, keep accurate records and interact with patients in a professional manner. Courses… Read the rest

Pharmacy technicians perform tasks that include receiving prescription requests from customers and labeling bottles. They also have the responsibility of seeing that the prescription is correct, preparing it, and then having it verified by a pharmacist. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) also notes that pharmacy technicians who become certified are also considered to be more employable than those who are not.

Eligibility for certification as a pharmacist technician

To become certified, a candidate must be a high school graduate with no felony convictions in general, and no drug-related convictions of any category in particular. In addition, anyone whose license was previously revoked or suspended in his or her state cannot qualify for certification in this capacity.

Note that formal training of any kind is not required for certification, but it is definitely preferred by employers. It takes from six months to two years to complete such training, and on-the-job… Read the rest