Pharmacy Technician
A pharmaceutical technician or pharmacy technician is the one who assists a licensed pharmacist to perform his or her duties. Most of the time, the task involves administrative and clerical tasks in line with managing the pharmacy. Included in the job description of pharmacy technician is acting as cashier and ensure that all supplies and stocks are placed in the shelves. Among the administrative duties include answering phone calls and help keep records of the pharmacy.
Another job duty of pharmacy technician is maintaining the records of patients. He or she is also the one in charge of handling supplies as well as the insurance claims of the patients. Good communication skill is very essential because a pharmacy technician would often communicate with third parties. Keeping records of inventory is one of the vital tasks of a pharmacy technician. This would ensure that the supplies are sufficient and would keep the pharmacy stocked with all the supplies needed.
Generally, the pharmacy technician job description is often dependent on the size of the pharmacy. Those who work in small clinics have different duties compared to those who work in bigger pharmacies. The pharmacy technicians who are assigned in large pharmaceutical companies are focused on medication measurement and mixing. They are also the ones responsible for acquiring prescription requests and labelling the medicines based on the prescription provided. Some states allow processing of prescription request over the phone. But the pharmacy technician must ensure that all things are done accurately most especially if it involves mixing of medications.
Pharmacy technicians are expected to be always on their feet, on some occasion they even have to use ladders to check on the supplies of the pharmacy. Just like other medical related tasks, pharmacy technicians may sometimes be required to work at night time. This would happen if he or she is employed in 24-hour pharmacies. Aside from working for licensed pharmacists, a lot of pharmacy technicians are employed in various drugstore chains. In fact only a small number of pharmacy technicians work in hospitals; they normally work in drugstores and local pharmacies.
The pharmacy technician’s nature of work may overlap with that of the pharmacy aides. Normally, the pharmacy aides are the ones in-charge of the administrative work. There is a very thin line of demarcation between the two jobs. However, pharmacy technicians often do the most complicated tasks. A pharmacy assistant may use his or her job as the stepping stone to career advancement like becoming a pharmacy technician in the future. On the other hand, pharmaceutical technicians may take on supervisory positions as they advance in their careers.
With the growing number of people who use prescription medicines, there is an expected increase on the employment opportunities for a pharmacy technician. With the continued growth in the population of the elderly, employment opportunities are expected to increase by 25% in the year 2018. With a scenario like this, more and more people are encouraged to pursue a career in this field. More colleges offer programs that would make a person become a pharmacy technician.
Requirements to be a Pharmacy Technician
There are several requirements that people who want to become pharmacy technicians must meet which may vary depending on your location. It is a must that a person who wishes to become one be a high school graduate. Initially, a person must study a program or course that is related to being a pharmacy technician. If a person is interested in learning more about prescription drugs but do not have the means to pursue a degree to become a pharmacist, then becoming a pharmacy technician is the next best thing. This program is offered in different community and technical colleges. It is normally a one-year completion course and a graduate of the program should pass the board exam in order to assume the pharmacy technicians’ job duties. It became a requirement to be a board passer to prevent any errors which are often incurred by untrained pharmacy technicians.
Although pharmacy technicians do not have specialized training and is not really a big requirement, it is still much better to get all the trainings and certifications that one can have. Internship is part of the training before one can perform the pharmacy technicians’ job duties and he or she is required to complete an internship program. Most of the certifications would cover training on pharmaceutical terminologies, medical calculations and of course, job ethics, and regulations. They are also trained on how to read and comprehend a doctor’s complicated handwriting. They are also trained in the area of customer care, human physiology, and even inventory management.
Aside from the academic qualifications and certifications, there are certain characteristics that a pharmacy technician must possess. These characteristics are very important in order to perform their tasks one of which is being detail-oriented. Since pharmacy technicians are the ones in charge of receiving the prescription requests, it is essential that all details are verified. Everything should be complete and accurate because there are times when they are required to weigh, count, and measure medicines. There is no room for error in this kind of job. Since pharmacy technicians prepare medications, it should be precise and accurate or risk the health of the patient.
As mentioned earlier, good communication skill is a must for pharmacy technicians to possess. Part of the pharmacy technician job description is to communicate with patients and sometimes even with the suppliers of the medicines and medical stuff for the pharmacy. When communicating with patients, it is a must that he or she would be able to explain well what is required by the doctor based on the prescription received. When it comes to giving instructions on how medicines should be taken, it is also the responsibility of a pharmacy technician. Subsequently, a good communication skill is a must for those who want to become of the growing population of pharmacy technicians all over the world.
Pharmacy technicians’ salaries
The pharmacy technician salary is somehow dependent on the experience and qualifications. Even if there is work experience through on-the-job training but do not have the formal education, the salary range would be much lower compare to those who have formal training. Around 90% of pharmacy technicians receive an annual income of $41,000 and 10% get a yearly salary of $19,800. The median pharmacy technician salary in the United States is around $32,559 and for those who work as pharmacy technician supervisor the median salary is $47, 638. The hourly rate would be within the salary range of $10 and $17, however if these technicians are new in the field would start with the wage of $9 – $11 per hour. Those who possess better qualifications can earn as much as $17 per hour.
Several factors may affect the pharmacy technician salary, one of which is the type of pharmacy that he or she works in. If the pharmacy is in the big hospitals and clinics then chances are they would receive bigger salaries. This is in comparison when a pharmacy technician works in a local community pharmacy.
The location is another factor to consider regarding the salary levels of pharmacy technicians. Working in bigger cities and highly urbanized areas will net a high salary because the cost of living in these areas is much higher.
Another factor that can affect the salary scale of pharmaceutical technicians would be their certification. Those who are certified in this field would receive better salaries than those who are not. A certification in this field could mean better job position because they know the uses and effects of medications in one’s body. To be a certified pharmacy technician means that a person is aware of the laws pertaining to medicines and other medical ethics. Most employers look for pharmacy technicians who are certified although some states would not actually require it.
The Future of Pharmacy Technicians
There is not much of career advancement in this field unless the person decides to study higher programs or be promoted as supervisor because of excellent work performance. But with the current situation, the employment opportunities would continue to rise. This can be attributed to the growing number of elderly people who would need more medications. Internet pharmacy is also a good way to receive better incentives and salary. It is because most companies would be willing to pay pharmacy technicians who can distribute the products in remote areas. Employment opportunities are expected to increase around 25% until the year 2018.
