How to Become a Pharmacy Technician

Tips for Finding Employment in Pharmacy Technology

As the healthcare system expands to meet the needs of an older, more health-conscious population, there are more career opportunities at every level, from specialty surgeons to pharmacy technicians. The pharmaceutical industry is expanding, so there is no shortage of jobs in this field. There are an increasing number of retail stores that have in-house pharmacies, and franchise drugstores such as Walgreens, CVS, and Duane Reade are expanding their presence in cities and towns around the country.

Every pharmacy needs a pharmacist, and every pharmacist needs a skilled pharmacy technician to help in safely dispensing medicines. Licensed pharmacists are responsible for reviewing prescriptions written by physicians and accurately dispensing medications to customers. They often give customers instructions on properly using medications and answer questions. Once a prescription is verified, the pharmacy technician helps prepare and package the medication. They also gather information from customers, take care of billing and payment, including insurance claim forms, manage inventory, and help with other pharmacy operations. In hospital settings, pharmacy technicians prepare and deliver medications to patients.

If you want to start your career as a pharmacy technician, take the following steps to get the training and certification necessary to find the job you want.

  1. Get the proper training. The requirements to work as a pharmacy technician vary from state to state, so research the specific educational, training and certification you will need before you decide which training program is best for you. If you have a high school diploma or GED, you have several options:
    In order to fulfill the duties of a pharmacy technician, you will need to know the names and mechanisms of action of many drugs, as well as standard doses; pharmacy law and ethics; how to process insurance claims; and how to prepare and compound medications.
  2. Get certified. Some states and many pharmacies require that pharmacy technicians be certified to work in this field. Certification is available through 1-year certificate programs or the following professional organizations:
    Eligibility to apply for certification includes a high school degree or equivalent and completion of a recognized training program; there may also be a criminal background check. Certification is awarded based on a passing grade on an examination and must be renewed every two years with continuing education courses.
  3. Pharmacy technician job opportunities. Most pharmacy technicians find employment in a pharmacy or drugstore. There are also jobs in hospitals, and in other retail outlets like grocery and department stores. All of these settings are expected to hire more pharmacy technicians in the near future. In any of these jobs, expect to spend a lot of time on your feet, interacting with many different customers. Attention to detail is crucial; there can be no room for error in a job such as this.
  4. Salary. The most recent figures show the average annual salary for pharmacy technicians to be $28,400. Hospitals and pharmacies pay more than general merchandise stores.

Being a pharmacy technician may not be the most lucrative profession, but with a year of training, your certification and some hands-on work experience, it is likely that you will find steady employment in this field. If you enjoy working with customers, have excellent organizational skills and a keen attention to detailed instructions, this could be the right career path for you.