Choose The Pharmacy Technician Career
The pharmacy technician career is an exciting career. As a technician, the person works shoulder to shoulder with a licensed pharmacist. Approximately 71 percent of the pharmacy technicians work in places such as department stores, retail pharmacies, mass retailers and grocery stores.
Let’s take a look at some of the things a pharmacy technician can do. Their actual jobs vary according to their workplace. However, their basic job is to take care of the medication and health care needs of patients under the watchful eye of a licensed pharmacist.
You can help the pharmacist fill prescriptions that doctors have ordered. This may include labeling bottles, counting pills or mixing medicine. You might also do things such as attend the cash register, answer the phone or stock shelves.
The technicians that work in retail or mail order pharmacies can have other responsibilities besides those mentioned above. They can receive the prescriptions the doctors have ordered or refill orders. These may even be sent electronically straight from the doctor’s office.
When you work in mail order or retail pharmacies, you would have to read and verify prescriptions to make sure all of the information is included. Preparation of the medicine includes such things as weighing, counting, mixing or measuring. When the medication is prepared, the pharmacy technician has the job of labeling it, pricing it and filing it so it is ready to be picked up or sent out. Taking inventory and filling out insurance claims is, also, part of their job.
Pharmacy technicians never have to worry about their work environment. It will always be in well lighted, clean and comfortable areas. This job does require you to be on your feet a lot, climb ladders and lift heavy boxes.
Your schedule, as a pharmacy technician, can be quite variable and will mainly depend on the type of establishment you work for. You could be asked to work days, evenings, nights, weekends or holidays. This is especially true if you work in a place that is open 24 hours. As with any job, you will have more control over your hours, the more time you work in a place. There is also part time work available in retail or hospitals.
Formal training is not necessary to become a pharmacy technician. Most of them are trained on the job by a licensed pharmacist. If they decide to become certified, they can take a two and a half month course that will prepare them for the certification exam.
In order to become a pharmacy technician, you need to enjoy mathematics, be able to follow orders and have a love for people. In the first 10 years, salaries average between $25,000 and $35,000 a year. There are always job openings in the pharmacy technician career.
Want an exciting Pharmacy Technician Career then check out my blog where you will find information on pharmacy technician employment outlook, pharmacy technician duties, and tons of other pharmacy technician training tips.
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