To officially become a CPhT, you must also register with your state, typically within a short time of your first official role as a pharmacy tech. Each state has slightly different requirements, but you typically need a high school diploma or GED and to complete a training or certificate program.
You may also already need to have a job with a pharmacy. Learn even more in our explanation of the various career path options for pharmacy techs, or learn more about the various training programs available.
The job outlook is strong for this role, which is one of the many reasons that people want to learn how to become a pharmacy technician.
Additionally, the health care sector is expected to create the most jobs between and compared to other occupational groups. Looking at pharmacy technicians, in particular, there is a great deal of expected growth due to the increasing use of medications as a treatment.
The growing demand will also likely be driven by the growing aging population, including the elderly and middle-aged groups. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics estimated that between and , pharmacy technicians would see job growth of about 12 percent, which is quicker than average.
Read our detailed description of the career outlook fo r pharmacy technicians. Your educational level and certifications will likely influence your ability to get a job as well as your salary. Salary is also influenced by your geographic location and where you work. For example, smaller independent pharmacies typically pay lower salaries than larger retail chains or hospitals.
When you become a pharmacy technician, you should expect to work hours that are similar to those of a pharmacist. As such, you will not work typical hours. This job frequently includes working nights, evenings, holidays, and weekends.
Many jobs are in facilities like hospitals that operate 24 hours a day, so this is important to keep in mind.
As you gain seniority, you will have more control over your hours and can choose more favorable ones. Many part-time jobs are available in addition to full-time ones. Some pharmacy technicians choose to work in health care facilities and hospitals.
This environment tends to have more patient interaction as well as more opportunities for additional training and increased responsibilities. Many technicians choose to work in pharmacies in their local drug stores or grocery stores. These roles also feature a great deal of interaction with others.
Mail-order pharmacies are another possibility, with a similar role yet no patient interactions. Mail-order pharmacies will be the ideal environment for those who prefer behind-the-scenes or independent work. To give you an idea of which work environments are the most common, 52 percent of pharmacy technicians work in drug stores or pharmacies and 13 percent work in surgical and general medicine hospitals.
Customer Service: Pharmacy technicians will regularly interact with patrons. It is important that a technician's aim is to be helpful and well-mannered to assist in the understanding and disbursement of prescriptions and medical devices. Math Skills: Pharmacy technicians will need to understand basic math concepts to ensure accurate pill counts and proper medications mixing.
Detail Oriented: Serious health implications can result from mistakes in filling prescriptions. Pharmacy technicians should be educated and pay attention to detail to aid in contraindications or life-threatening mistakes. Organizational Skills: Some times of the year will be much busier than other.
It is important that a pharmacy tech can juggle the many responsibilities they are required to be a reliable and competent tech.
ASHP certified programs are available through many colleges and professional training schools. On average, a certificate programs can be completed within nine months to a year. Some student will choose to pursue an associate's degree if their educational goals later include a bachelor's degree.
Most programs will provide technicians the opportunity to gain job-specific clinical experience. While researching programs be sure to ask what job training they provide such as; clinicals and internships. Clinical experience will vary from one program to the next. Schools may have partnerships with a retailer or hospital to provide internships of clinical experience.
A student may also search job positions like indeed or LinkedIn for possible internships to gain hands-on experience. While certification is not always needed to work as a pharmacy technician, the requirement is becoming more and more common. Even in states that do not have certification requirements, earning yours may advance your career and increase your earning potential.
In this Article. Pharmacy technician certifications show that you have the needed skills and knowledge to meet job requirements. Earning certification entails studying for and passing a standardized exam from a credentialing board, then maintaining the credential—usually through continuing education. Demand for pharmacy technicians is growing nationwide.
To differentiate yourself—and make yourself potentially more competitive for jobs and increased pay—consider becoming a certified pharmacy technician. This milestone demonstrates that you have the fundamental knowledge to begin working as a pharmacy technician. You might wonder why certification requirements are becoming the industry standard.
The trend can be attributed to several factors, Gard says. On one hand, as healthcare practices and pharmacology become more nuanced and complex, pharmacy technicians need to rise to meet those higher standards. For instance, pharmacy technicians in many places can now administer vaccinations. As pharmacy technicians take on more responsibility, certification requirements become more common.
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