If you’re considering a career as a pharmacy technician, you may be wondering if this field is right for you. Understanding what the educational requirements and also the job requirements of being a pharmacy technician can help you make an informed decision. Pharmacy technicians enjoy many of the benefits of being in the healthcare industry with less training and educational requirements than many other careers in health care.
Consider the Educational Requirements
Before looking for pharmacy technician jobs, you should investigate the educational requirements for the position. The minimum educational requirement to become a pharmacy technician is a high school diploma or GED. Most vocational schools or community colleges will offer coursework to prepare you to take the National Pharmacy Technician Exam. Coursework may take up to two years but in general does not take more than one year for most people. If you’re already in the midst of working full or part time and have other family obligations, many schools will offer evening or weekend coursework so you can prepare for your certification exam.
Career Outlook for Pharmacy Technicians
The field of pharmacy technology is growing at a pace faster than many other health care disciplines. Once you complete your certification examination, you have a variety of settings to choose from, including private health care clinics, hospitals and pharmacies. The environment you’ll work in is generally very clean and comfortable however you will be required to stay on your feet for several hours each day.
Duties of a Pharmacy Technician
As a pharmacy technician, you’ll work under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. Some of your duties will include working directly with customers, providing them with their completed prescriptions and recording the sale in the cash register. You’ll also be taking information from customers when they submit a prescription to be filled. You may be required to prepare the prescription according to the information provided by the customer and this may require you to weigh, count or measure out specific amounts of medication. Preparing the container for the medication, which includes printing and applying a sticker to the container and inputting the information into a database, may also be a part of your job.
Salary for a Pharmacy Technician
Salaries for pharmacy technicians can vary according to geographic location but in general, you can expect to make the national average of approximately $27,000.00 a year. Working more than 40 hours a week or working evening or overnight shifts typically raise the earnings potential for a pharmacy technician. If you work full time, you can also expect to have health insurance benefits, vacation time and you may also be provided with a travel allowance and paid leave.
If you’re wondering if becoming a pharmacy technician is right for you, consider the above factors when making a decision. Pharmacy technician jobs are typically available nearly anywhere you live, so relocation usually isn’t necessary. In addition, you can continue to work at your present job and take courses to prepare you to take the National examination.
