A pharmacy career is challenging and rewarding. It can involve frequent patient contact as well as consulting with other health care professionals. Pharmacists are an integral part of the healthcare team and provide invaluable information to physicians, mid-level providers, nursing staff, patients and patient’s families. Working along side the pharmacist are pharmacy technicians and pharmacy aides. Each has a valuable role to play in making sure the right medication is dispensed to the patient. If you think you’d like working in a pharmacy as a career, then check out these tips for becoming a pharmacist, pharmacy tech, and pharmacy aide. Learn about the pharmacist training and education requirements. Here’s is an overview of various pharmacy careers.
- Know about dispensing medications. There are many duties of a pharmacist, but the most important element of pharmacy jobs is to understand medication and how it should be administered. A pharmacist needs to know all of the detailed information about drugs. When a doctor prescribes a certain medication to a patient, the pharmacist has to understand how the drug is to be taken and how the drug can possibly affect the patient. They must also look at the other medications the patient is taking to assess for drug interactions. Contrary to popular belief, pharmacists are not limited to simply legally dispensing drugs. They can also give patients advice on how the drug should be taken.
Pharmacy technicians work under the supervision of the pharmacist. They can receive the prescription from the patient, verify the information, and also take electronically transmitted prescriptions. They can count out the number of pills to be dispensed and put them in the correct container and apply the label after it has been made. They can also get other medications ready to dispense, such as insulin pens, creams, ointments, and drops. All medications must then be checked by the pharmacist prior to being dispensed.
Pharmacy aides stock shelves, order supplies, and run the cash register. They can also answer the phones and deal with the public for all questions that do not deal with the prescription. - Complete education and testing requirements. The entry level degree awarded in pharmacology is the PharmD or a doctorate of pharmacology. A PhD in pharmacology is also available but this degree is for those going into research in pharmaceuticals. It is not necessary to have a bachelor’s degree, but rather only the pre-requisites for admission to pharmacy school. The total hours of pre-requisites total 57-80 hours depending upon the school to which you are accepted, so completing a degree makes some sense. During the last semester prior to application to pharmacy school, you will need to take the Pharmacy College Application Test (PCAT). Pharmacy schools are highly competitive.
Training necessary to become a pharmacy technician varies widely from state to state. Some states do require a formalized training program while others only require on-the-job training. A significant portion of pharmacy technician jobs are filled by those who are going on to become pharmacists and are working while also going to school. Generally, all pharmacy aide training is done on the job. Most employers will require a minimum of a high school diploma before starting employment. - Pharmacists need to be licensed before they can practice. Most pharmacists will need both the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy license as well as the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam. Some states have a different licensure exam, so become familiar with your particular state’s requirement for practice. Once the appropriate exams are passed the pharmacist is granted the R. Ph designation or registered pharmacist.
- Get certification. Pharmacy technicians in some states may be required to obtain certification. In other states it is purely voluntary, but usually the pay will be higher for those who do become certified. The Pharmacy Technicians Certification Board (PTCB) is one organization that administers a certification exam.
- Take continuing education units. Several states also require that pharmacists maintain their education by collecting a specific number of education hours known as CEUs. The American Council of Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE) is in charge of approving the providers for CEUs. Technicians may also need CEUs to maintain their certification.
- Salary. The median annual salary for pharmacists is $106,000 with a range of $79,000 to $136,000. Technician salaries range between $23,000 and $47,000 per year. Pharmacy aid salaries range between $14,000 and $30,000 with the median being $19,500 per year.
- Job outlook. Job prospects look strong for the next ten years for pharmacists, although the numbers of pharmacists have increased over the last five years. Economic down turns have had an impact on the number of pharmacists needed, but the field still has room for growth. Job growth will remain just as strong for pharmacy technicians and aides.
- Other job options. Some pharmacists can also work as pharmacy administrators, or as developers and researchers in pharmacological companies. As directors and developers in these fields, the pharmacists will be tasked with researching new drugs, marketing the drugs, and controlling the production of the drugs. Usually, however, only pharmacists with a PhD are admitted into this type of work.
Now you know some of the pharmacy careers available. Becoming a pharmacist takes years of education, but the rewards are worth all of the work. There are several venues available from starting your own business, to working in a clinical hospital setting, to working in a big box retail setting. It is also possible to specialize in areas, such as dispensing chemotherapy in a large hospital or being the only pharmacist for a small community hospital. All of these jobs will require dedication and attention to detail. Some will involve more patient contact than others. Pharmacy technicians can also become specialized, especially when working in a hospital or outpatient infusion center. All members of the pharmacy team are indispensable when it comes to providing safe and efficient care to those they serve.