Pharmacy Technician Career Guide

If you’re looking for a hot new career, why not consider being a pharmacy technician? You will help licensed pharmacists accurately fill up prescriptions by measuring medications, counting pills and verifying prescriptions with doctors. You will also assist with administrative tasks such as maintaining patient records, helping patients with insurance forms and tracking insurance information. A pharmacy technician can be employed in a number of professional settings, including drug stores, hospitals and old age homes. The number of pharmacy tech jobs in this profession is expected to grow substantially as the number of elderly Americans in the population continues to increase. Figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics have estimated that employment in this field is expected to grow by 31% from 2008 to 2018.

While there are no national training standards for this profession, you will have a better chance of landing a job if you are formally trained and certified. You can avail of formal training through a variety of organizations, including hospitals, the military and community colleges. Training programs generally last between six months to two years and include laboratory and classroom work; many also include internships in actual pharmaceutical settings to provide students with practical experience. Pharmacy technician certification is available on a voluntary basis from several private groups, including the ICPT and PTCB, which require you to pass national certification examinations. You will have to renew your certification every two years, which will entail at least 20 hours of continuing education before taking the exam again. However, you can still be hired if you undergo informal on-the-job training, which generally takes around three to 12 months.

If you want to pass a job interview for a pharmacy technician position, you will have to stress your qualifications and readiness for the job. Expect to answer questions related to your certification as well as if you hold any diplomas, degrees or licenses that would qualify you for the job. The pharmacy technician interviewer will also quiz you about your readiness for the position, which would encompass questions about how you would react when confronted with certain situations. For example, how would you ensure that prescriptions will be filled accurately and no oversights are made when things are hectic? How would you deal with difficult customers? Since you will deal closely with the company pharmacist, how would you work with a pharmacist you don’t get along with? If you have past experience, you should also expect to be asked questions about your previous jobs.

When confronted with difficult questions, the pharmacy tech interviewee should always answer honestly but in a positive way that would reflect what the interviewer would like to hear. For example, if you are asked a question about your weaknesses, you should use your answer to stress your strengths. To illustrate, you can say that your weakness is that you don’t like being strictly supervised but this is because you have strong personal initiative and can work well independently. And after the interview, always send a thank-you e-mail or letter to the interviewer. If you have not received an answer within a reasonable period of time, you can also call the company to reiterate that you are interested in the pharmacy technician position and to gauge their interest in you.

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or PTCB is a national Washington D.C. based agency that basically standardizes pharmacy technician certification testing across the country, so that that hospitals, pharmacies, and pharmacists will know that brand new certified pharmacy technicians all have the same basic skill sets.
The PTCB writes the certification exams and administers them as well. Interestingly enough, it’s a rather new agency, only being in existence since 1995, which goes to show that this quickly developing career path is gaining in strength and popularity.

The truth is that we have a very rapidly aging population in the U.S. and with that aging there comes a need for increased health care and increased prescription medications – thus the need for more pharmacies and pharmacy technicians.

With the baby boomers beginning to retire, the health care industry is really only just beginning to explode. Over the next ten to twenty years the growth is going to be astounding. No longer will this country be a nation based around financial services and manufacturing jobs, health care and pharmacy tech jobs are the definite wave of the future.

In order to put yourself on the path to financial security, getting into the health care industry and getting your pharmacy technician certification is a very intelligent move.

The pharmacy tech pay scale is very good in the industry, with the lowest possible starting salary being a shade below 30k (and this would be in low income areas of the country). It certainly beats flipping hamburgers, and this is a career that you can move into within around 9 months. There are schools, both online, and traditional all over the place. The health care industry is practically begging for pharm techs. Honestly, this career is ripe and waiting for those smart few that decide to act. The amount of job openings is always decent because of high turnover rates and because of growth in the industry.

Go to a good pharmacy tech school, either online or on campus, for six to twelve months, take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board test, pass it, and you’re practically guaranteed a very good paying job. But, not only that, this isn’t just a job, it’s a career. This is something that you can build a life around, you’ll make enough money to pay the bills, save money, and go on nice vacations, whatever you like. Don’t hesitate, now is the time to move forward in your pharmacy technician career.

If you want to know how to get the best Pharmacy Technician Jobs in the US then you will want to read this article. Specifically we will discuss the number of opportunities available, the qualifications you need and the application for the job itself.

Available Opportunities

There are in excess of 39,000 job opportunities each year for Pharmacy Technicians with a salary in the region of $18,720 – $32,240.

The duties that you will perform are many and varied. From Preparing and processing medical insurance claim forms and records, preparing medications under the direction of a licensed pharmacist to assisting customers with any questions that they may have.
Qualifications

There are no set qualifications required to apply for Pharmacy Technician Jobs, but as in most occupations those with the best academic background will have an advantage over the others.

Most States look for a minimum of High School Diploma or its equivalent. Pharmacy tech raining is given on the job and normally lasts between 3 and 12 months. Formal online and college programs are available and cover medical and pharmaceutical terminology, recordkeeping, calculations, techniques, and pharmacy law and ethics. These programs have a duration of between 6 months to 2 years and are both in-house and classroom based.

Tips on getting the best Pharmacy Technician Jobs

Do you have an up to date CV? If not, then you should get this sorted out as soon as possible. You may not be asked to provide this when applying for Pharmacy Technician Jobs, but it always helps to be prepared. Nowadays most employers ask prospective candidates to send them their CV before going any further in the process.

If you are not sure how to prepare your CV there are many agencies online that will be able to help you. Make it look as impressive as you can. You don’t have to tell lies, but don’t be shy about listing your good points either.

When you get to the pharmacy tech interview stage don’t go in with the attitude of hope. Be positive and tell yourself that this job is yours and the only reason that you are attending the interview is to show your prospective employer why the job should be yours.

The pharmacy tech career is bucking the trend of declining opportunities and the number of vacancies is expected to increase over the next 10 years.

So, if you are looking get the best Pharmacy Technician Jobs there has never been a better time to pursue this. Good Luck!