How to Become a Pharmacy Technician and Start a Career in the Health Care Field

People who are thinking about pursuing a career in the how to buy xanax online eu field should consider becoming a pharmacy technician. Many people find the career to be a rewarding one. Those who become a certified technician in the United States will not have trouble finding a job because there are over 39,000 yearly job openings available in a variety of different work settings. Technicians can work in a pharmacy, hospital, nursing home or other clinical setting.

Pharmacy techs work alongside a supervising licensed pharmacist. Pharmacy techs dispense prescription medication and medical devices such as inhalers. The technicians read and fill the prescription and then offer usage advice to patients. They are usually required to deal with insurance companies, carry out inventory and contact doctors offices to discuss prescription requests. The majority of pharmacy technicians are required to perform a variety of administrative duties as well answering patients questions and filling prescriptions.

People who are considering becoming a pharmacy tech need to have good math and computer skills and have the ability to pay attention to detail. When distributing medicine a technician must be extremely accurate. There is no room for error, especially when the wrong dosage can harm an individual. Technicians should be personable and be able to communicate well with patients who are picking up their prescriptions.

In order to become a pharmacy technician in the United States someone must earn their high school diploma and complete a college level program. High school students should focus on courses in health, science and mathematics. Most colleges offer one-year programs and online programs are available for people who wish to study at home. Certain states require students to receive hands on training during a pharmacy internship, but it is a good idea for students to gain experience by working at a pharmacy whether or not it is required by the state. Many people choose to work as a pharmacy assistant while they are taking a technician program. This gives them valuable experience and can help someone to get a job once they graduate.

Many employers only hire certified technicians. After a person finishes their college program, they can earn their certification by passing an exam and paying a certification fee. The Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT) and the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) both offer certification exams. Once someone earns their certification, they must continue with ongoing education in order to maintain their certification.

Although certified technicians are more likely to find a job quickly, they only earn a couple of dollars more per hour than technicians that are not certified. The annual income of pharmacy techs is around $30,000, but many pharmacies pay lower employee wages. Most new technicians earn a salary of around $20,000, and pharmacy technicians who have at least ten years of experience usually make about $40,000 each year. The low starting salary is discouraging for some recent college graduates, but over time, a technician will continue to receive wage increases.

Related Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *