What Does the Professional Career of a Pharmacy Technician Look Like?
Do you have an interest in the medical field? Have you ever considered being a pharmacy technician? If so, read on to learn more about what this profession entails.
Pharmacy technicians are responsible for handling and preparing medications before they’re administered to patients.
They work with pharmacists to ensure that all prescriptions are filled correctly and in compliance with state laws. This blog post helps you know what the career of a pharmacy technician is like including the qualifications.
What Does a Pharmacy Technician Do On a Day-To-Day Basis?
Pharmacy technicians work primarily in hospitals and retail pharmacies. The medications they handle range from simple antibiotics to complex chemotherapy regimens.
First, they operate automated medication-dispensing equipment such as the Pyxis machine (designed for use by healthcare providers who do not require extensive technical knowledge).
Second, they inspect and count tablets and capsules, measure liquids, prepare intravenous medications, label containers for dispensing, or return to the pharmacy’s storage area.
How Do I Become a Pharmacy Technician?
Aspiring technicians should enroll in an accredited two-year program that offers mathematics, general chemistry, microbiology, and pharmacology courses.
Students can find these programs through local vocational schools or community colleges. They should also check with a school’s placement office to see if it has any contacts with pharmaceutical manufacturers or distributors that might be looking for new hires.
These days, well-established centers offer top-notch programs to anyone wanting to become a pharmacy technician. There are specific pharmacy technician requirements you need to have before you start practicing.
One of the major ones is having the proper certification. Reliable facilities will prepare you well for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE).
What Skills Does a Pharmacy Technician Need?
Aside from experience in working with machines and tools, pharmacy technicians need to have good judgment and strong listening skills. They must be detail-oriented, as mistakes can lead to medication errors that could result in injuries or even death for a patient.
Most employers look for candidates with an associate degree in science from a vocational school, although some will hire those with a high-school diploma or GED. Those who wish to advance in the profession should consider taking courses related to chemistry and medication administration.
How Much Money Will You Earn as a Pharmacy Technician?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that pharmacy technicians earn an average annual wage of $30,950. The median annual salary for this profession is $32,920.5, but this is dependent on experience, location, and other various factors.
What Are the Job Prospects?
The BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) reports that employment opportunities in the United States for Pharmacy Technicians will increase 8% by 2024, which represents 4,700 new jobs. This is slightly below the 9% national average for job opportunity growth among the professions for which they collect data.
However, even though the job growth is expected to be less than average, the career as a pharmacy technician is promising and rewarding.
If you want to be a part of this industry, ensure that you have all the necessary skills and knowledge since it gives you competitiveness..
