Jobs and Careers: Pharmacist Technicians

Pharmacist Technicians assist pharmacists by distributing pills and helping with other health-care services in pharmacies. Technicians usually help by counting pills or labeling medication bottles. Other duties may include stocking shelves with merchandise, answering phone, or customer service. Pharmacist technicians also may work in other health-care facilities besides retail such as nursing homes, or assisted living homes.

Technicians can expect to spend the day on their feet, usually inside in an office or retail store. Their environments are usually clean, and sometimes may be expected to reach for things on higher shelves if they are responsible for restocking or assisting customers.

Pharmacy technicians can receive further education with on the job training, but have a higher possibility of getting hired when they have furthered their education with certification. Their education and training may require time in the classroom as well as in the laboratory. Required learning includes learning about the names of prescriptions and their uses, and information about their doses as well. There are two boards that are available for those who are interested in becoming a certified Pharmacist Technician. Those boards include the Pharmacy Technician Board and the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians. Both boards offer national certification examinations. Those who are interested in applying must have a high school diploma and not had any drug related felonies in the past five years. If your employer requires this certification, they often will reimburse you for the cost of the test.

For interested individuals looking to educate themselves in the pharmacy field, one school offers an online course and training program for those who may not be able to attend on campus courses. www.gatlineducation.com offers courses that offer about 117-300 hours of courses and training.

The courses consist of: Ethics of Pharmacy Practice and Role of Pharmacy Technicians
Prescription Medications
Patient Care and Interaction
Charges and Reimbursement
Medical and Pharmaceutical terminologyPharmaceutical calculations

They also offer a Pharmacy Internship Program where students can get practice and extended training in a retail or hospital setting. Students will get twenty to forty hours of hands on training. Individuals who are interested in the program will need to pass a drug screening test, get general liability insurance, and there will be background and past employment check. While this is a useful and great experience, sometimes it can take up to twelve weeks to find an opening.

Jobs as a Pharmacy Tech is expected to increase by thirty two percent by the year 2016. There should be plenty of part time and full work available as more employment growth is expected. There is a growing population of those who need mediation amongst the elderly and disabled. Also, there has began to be a nationwide shortage of pharmacists. The need of pharmacists and techs will become more important as the need continues to increase.

Resources:

http://www.collegeboard.com/csearch/majors_careers/profiles/careers/105521.html

www.gatlineducation.com

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos325.htm