Trying to figure out what type of career is right for you is not easy but it is one of the most important decisions that you will make in your life. If you would like a job in the health care field but do not want to spend many years in college then pharmacy technician careers is a job worth looking into further.
A pharmacy technician is the name given to a staff member who works at a pharmacy and who specifically does his or her work under the close supervision of a licensed pharmacist. The technician does a variety of pharmacy-related duties as required by the pharmacist. Pharmacy techs prepare medications, maintain patient profiles in the pharmacy database and provide customer service. If you enjoy working with the public and are interested in health related topics then this might be the field for you.
Pharmacy Technician Job Responsibilities
A pharmacy technician always works under the watchful eye and the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist. His or her job is to handle all of the work that is connected to working in a pharmacy. Pharmacy techs do many routine tasks that are very important such as preparing drugs and medications for their patients and compounding medications. A pharmacy technician can answer general questions posed to them by customers. Pharmacy technicians can be thought of as assistants to pharmacists.
Pharmacy technicians find jobs at pharmacies in stores, clinics, hospitals, internet pharmacy stores, pharmaceutical wholesalers or with the federal government. The duties of a pharmacy technician depend to a large extent on where the individual works. For example, besides preparing prescription medication and labeling bottles pharmacy technicians may be required to do other tasks such as computer data entry, handling money and other administrative tasks. Some pharmacies hire pharmacy aides to do administrative tasks while the pharmacy technicians work with medication and do the customer service work. However in smaller businesses techs are called upon to multi-task.
Pharmacy Technician Education and Training
On the job training is possible for those wishing to become pharmacy technicians. However like so many fields employers are looking for workers who are well trained, skilled and those who have the proper credentials and the certificates to back up the credentials. This is the way many employers choose the right person for a job. Having formal training in your chosen field and taking the time to become certified can move you to the top of the line of eligible candidates.
Those who decide to become pharmacy technicians must have their high school diplomas. There are a variety of private organizations in the United States that offer certification. Two examples of these include the Pharmacy Technician Certificate Board and the Institute for Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT).
Pharmacy Technician Earnings
The salary of a pharmacy technician can be on par with that of a physical therapist technician or a surgical technician. Formal training and becoming certified can lead to a higher paycheck and better job possibilities. It is worth noting that pharmacy technicians who gain certification earn more than those who do not become certified. The salary for a technician is connected to the formal training the individual receives, the level of expertise and where the individual is employed.
An entry level pharmacy technician earns in the range of $7 to $10 an hour. An intermediate pharmacy tech who has two or more years of experience can earn an hourly wage that ranges from $11 to $14. A technician who has five or more years of experience has the potential to be promoted to a supervisory position if that is what he or she wishes to do. Supervisors can earn anywhere from $15 to $22 per hour.
The experience level of a pharmacy technician plays a role in how much he or she earns. The demand for pharmacy technicians is on the rise and with that salary potential is expected to increase as are the responsibilities afforded to those in this health care position.