As the baby boomers age, jobs in the medical and health services industries have become more and more in demand. Individuals looking to make a career change may currently have a unique opportunity to make a real impact in health services by becoming a pharmacy technician. Pharmacy technician schools offer a variety of certificates, diplomas and degrees that will prepare students to meet tomorrow’s health challenges for the benefit of their communities.
In response to the rise in doctor’s visits and prescription needs, schools have created pharmacy technician training options for busy students and working adults. Now, more than ever before, individuals looking to change careers can find resources and degree programs online and after typical work hours. There are programs to suit all level of education needs for a job change, as well as for certification in the field.
Pharmacy technicians are an important member of the pharmacy staff. They work alongside licensed pharmacists to assist with prescriptions, label bottles, and toggle between doctors and health insurance companies. Though most states do not require pharmacy technicians to be formally trained, many pharmacies prefer that their employees have graduated from a formal program or that they are certified. To become a certified pharmacy technician, one must pass a national exam administered by a private certification board.
There are several levels of education available at pharmacy technician schools. Students may choose to take pharmacy tech classes in order to complete a certificate program, which can often be finished in less than one year. These programs are designed to give students basic knowledge. For some students, completion of a school’s certificate program may be sufficient for them to pass a national certification exam. Usually, the only requirement for certificate programs is a high school diploma or equivalent.
Some schools offer diplomas or pharmacy technician concentrations. These programs, too, prepare students for national exams. In addition, they provide more advanced knowledge of the pharmaceuticals industry and may better train students for positions in retail and clinical pharmacies. A higher level of pharmacy technician training may also increase an individual’s salary options in the work place.
A pharmacy technician Associate’s Degree will take approximately 24 months to complete. These degrees, which may be found at vocational training centers and community and junior colleges, cover a wide variety of pharmaceutical and health care knowledge in depth. Classes may include advanced courses in topics such as medical terminology, pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacy inventory management, chemistry, and community practice. The degree program is designed to graduate students with all the necessary skills needed to work effectively in a pharmacy setting and to assist a licensed pharmacist so that he or she may better service customers.
Once students have completed the requirements at one of many accredited pharmacy technician schools across the country, they should have the skills and knowledge necessary to take and pass a certification exam. Upon successful certification, certified pharmacy technicians are required to attain recertification every two years thereafter. This requires several hours of continuing education in the field, as well as processing and recertification fees.
