Understanding The Pharmacy Technician Job Description
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Here's to give you an idea about the pharmacy technician job description if you are eyeing to start a career in this fast growing medical field. Pharmacy technician schools have grown in the last decade to develop the skills of support staff in various areas of the health care system. The role of the pharmacist has become so vital in addressing the needs of the population so, a knowledgeable assistant has likewise become in demand.
The role of the pharmacy tech
Even without formal medical training, the pharmacy technician is expected to be familiar with most of the tasks performed by a licensed pharmacist, which is his direct supervisor. This includes dispensing medication, formulating prescriptions, labeling and maintaining patient records. The tedious tasks of counting pills, calculating and measuring medication and verifying prescriptions are usually handled by the pharmacy assistant.
With a growing population that relies more on medication for treatment and their well-being, employers now prefer candidates with some training and experience to support their operations. In the past, you could be accepted as pharmacy technician with just a high school diploma and trained on the job. While smaller retail or community pharmacies may still follow this practice, education and training has now become mandatory in big retail chains and hospitals. The pharmacy technician job description has simply become more sensitive thus the preference for competent and knowledgeable employees.
Without training and experience, you may be taken in as a pharmacy clerk or aide whose tasks are limited to stocking shelves, manning the cash register and other minor tasks. But with diligence and a strong desire to learn, you can probably work your way up to technician position.
Requirements of the job
Whether you find work at a hospital pharmacy or the national retail pharmacies such as Walgreens and CVS, the same is required of you as a pharmacy technician. You are expected to:
be able to multi-task
work well independently but also be a team player
focus even with constant interruptions
deal with stressful situations
possess good customer skills
have good written and oral communication skills
be computer literate
be organized and detail oriented
have strong math skills
Working in a pharmacy is not as simple as it seems. Dealing with drugs and medications is very sensitive. That's why completing formal training and passing the certification exam is increasingly being preferred for new applicants. Aside from some science courses like anatomy, physiology and chemistry, you are also expected to learn the proper ethics for health care workers.
The pharmacy technician job description can both be daunting and challenging. With the additional tasks related to insurance, the need for training has become even more vital. You must be able to answer questions pertaining to insurance and be able to track insurance information of patients. In the age of computers, you must be well versed in computer operations.
Opportunities for growth
Most technician jobs are entry points for more professional positions. It serves as good training ground to become familiar with the field you wish to build a career on. The outlook for pharmacy technicians is bright, because the need for competent, knowledgeable and skilled workers is increasing. For the relatively short training period, it is a job that pays better than most.
You can gain as much experience as you want then eventually continue on to become a certified pharmacy technician, where the salary is definitely more rewarding. Or you can use your expertise to move on up the ranks, especially in retail pharmacies with several branches nationwide.
There are others who go into sales and marketing, using their extensive background in pharmacy. There are careers open to pharmacy technicians either in the same field or in related fields. And the experience you gain over the years fulfilling the pharmacy technician job description can develop your knowledge and skills not just in the area of pharmaceuticals and health care but in whatever you choose to pursue.
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