How To Become A Pharmacy Technician - Questions Answered
Do you have plans to become a pharmacy technician? The first thing you should find out is the demand for such workers in your area, or wherever it is you want to find employment. Given there are available opportunities and the salaries offered are acceptable to you, then you need information on how you can prepare to meet the qualifications set by prospective employers.
This allied health care job is one of the few entry-level positions that used to accept employees even without prior training or experience. Veteran pharmacy technicians learned on the job and even managed to grow as professionals.
But the health care system has since become complicated because of rising costs and insurance coverage. And with prescriptions getting more sensitive, employers today prefer applicants with at least some basic training from pharmacy technician schools. You raise your chances of being hired if you can log in as much hands-on experience as possible.
How To Become a Pharmacy Technician?
Any form of training or education is an investment. To protect your investment, you want to be sure you are getting your money's worth, in this case, the quality of training that meets the standards of the industry. Whether you take up a certificate course that lasts six months, a diploma program for one year or the two-year associate degree for pharmacy technicians, the minimum criteria is a school or program accredited by the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacist or the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education.
After completing training, a pharmacy technician graduate should be able to interpret prescriptions, calculate dosages, prepare drugs including compounding of prescribed medications, and must be knowledgeable about pharmacology, drug reactions, pharmacy law and dosage forms.
Time spent for externship is invaluable to practice what has been learned in the classroom, especially in handling drugs and medications.
Advance courses in math and sciences while still in high school will give you an advantage. Other than the theory and skills taught in pharmacy tech schools, you must have the right attitude for this kind of job, which at times can be very stressful.
You may be on your feet for long periods of time especially when there is a long line to fill in prescriptions. You must be willing to do a lot of menial tasks like answering phones, taking inventory, carting supplies to restock shelves, dealing with difficult clients.
What you learn during training will be improved as you perform your duties and responsibilities at work. But having the proper mindset and willingly taking on everything asked of you takes character. People who can meet the challenges of the job are the ones that last and grow in the profession.
Retail pharmacy or hospital setting?
There are two options for you when seeking pharmacy technician jobs: work with retail pharmacies or get into hospital pharmacy. While the work is generally the same in either setting, there is a vast difference in terms of requirements for acceptance and salaries.
There are retail pharmacies that offer their own training for pharma tech applicants. It is mostly hands-on training, with internship provided in the retail outlets. Graduates are ready for work and are eventually absorbed into the company. They are not required to take the certification exam.
With a six month certificate program, you can also be eligible to work for retail pharmacies like CSV, Walgreen or Rite Aid. Most pharmacy technician programs prepare you for the exam administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certificate Board or the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians.
Landing a hospital job is a bit more tricky. Aside from education, they will usually require two-years of experience. That's not just retail pharmacy experience but with a hospital.
How do you become qualified for hospital openings? Volunteer your services with a hospital. That's going to be a lot of sacrifice but in the end it will be worth it. You can of course find part-time work with a retail pharmacy at the same time to pay the bills and the rent while getting the experience you need for the better opportunity.
Unless you end up getting paid more in the retail pharmacy setting, your target is to get into a hospital. The current $9.00 to $11.00 technician hourly rate paid in these outlets is a far cry from the $20.00 per hour that hospital workers can receive. However, you have to become a certified pharmacy technician to qualify for this salary.
How do I get certified as a pharmacy technician?
Most accredited programs, from certificate, diploma to associate degree, should make graduates eligible to sit for the PTCB certification.
Certificate programs are usually for individuals with no health care experience but have the minimum high school diploma or GED. Typically, training lasts for six months and only the most basic knowledge and skills are covered.
If you took up some other college course, especially health related programs, the diploma programs that take a year to finish, is best for you. Those who hold a medical assisting associate degree or some other technician field will benefit the most from this type of training.
The associate degree program will definitely prepare you with better skills and a broader scope of knowledge. And if you want more time provided for hands-on experience, these programs usually offer longer externships.
Not only will you be eligible to sit for the certification exams, you are prepared for them as well upon completion of your training. But there are those who learned the skills through on-the-job training and do not enjoy this benefit. You may have taken the course online or through a non-accredited facility and have been practicing your trade.
So how do you prepare for the test if you did not go to school? By doing your research about the questions they ask. There are comprehensive study books, and sample test questions that can help prepare you for standard exams that will award you with the credential.
Some pharmacy technicians ask whether it is worth taking up refresher classes. The general advice however, is just to review using online materials or books. Besides, if you've been doing the job for some time, the knowledge should come to you easily.
Remember, certification increases your market value and is a good reason to ask for a raise or higher pay.
Where are the best places to find pharmacy technician jobs?
In general, pharmacy technician jobs will continue to grow. But the reality is there are still locations where there is a higher demand for these professionals in the same way there are areas that are not ideal if this is what you want to do.
So, if you're determined to opportunities for this technician career, then you probably shouldn't be so hopeful if you're in North Dakota, Wyoming, District of Colombia, Vermont and Montana. That's because job openings each year in these states don't even reach 70.
On the other hand, Texas, California and Florida have more than 1,500 job openings each year for this position.
If salary is a primary concern, West Virginia, Alabama and Arkansas aren't very generous and pay between $10.51 to $10.89 for pharmacy techs working in the area. California is the highest paying state with an average hourly rate of $16.86, followed by Washington at $16.72 and Alaska, $16.34.
There are many factors to consider should you seriously want to pursue this line of work. And when you take them all together and still decide you want to be a pharmacy technician, then go for it.
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