Become a Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacists expect more, require more, and depend more of pharmacy technicians than ever before. Federal and state laws now require not only a technician to be licensed in their state they practice in, but certification is now a requirement and many employers require certification.

As the demand for qualified technicians increases; so does the pay scale. This is where being a CPhT Certified Pharmacy Technician offers you even greater and more promising career opportunities.

Pharmacy is a rapidly growing field that is both challenging and exciting. Becoming a Pharmacy Technician is extremely rewarding for motivated individuals seeking a promising career in the medical field.

Pharmacy technicians work in a wide variety

of practice settings including:

• Retail pharmacies
• Hospital pharmacies 
• Extended care facilities
• Mail order pharmacies
• Home health care
• Nuclear pharmacies
• Sales/marketing
• IV infusion companies
• Information technology
• Education/training
• Management/Technician coordinator
• Federal institutions
• Correctional facilities
• and much more

The need for pharmacy technicians is increasing exponentially. The Bureau of Labor Statics expects job growth around 32 percent by 2016. Pharmacy technician careers are growing much faster than average.

There are many  factors contributing to the phenomenal growth of pharmacy technician careers. Due to the role of pharmacists taking more active roles in direct patient care and assisting patients, pharmacy technicians are taking on many of the  duties previously performed by pharmacists. Technician roles vary widely between retail and hospital pharmacy or similar clinical settings. For more information on the different responsibilities between practice settings, please see Retail Pharmacy Technician and Hospital Pharmacy Technicians.

As Pharmacists continue to rely and depend more on pharmacy technicians, they will expect qualified and educated technicians to fill these roles.  The advantages for pharmacy technicians is just starting and is only going to continue with growth and higher pay. As long as the demand for pharmacists grows, so will the demand for qualified technicians.

Pharmacy technician jobs  increasing by 32% through 2016

This is not a completely accurate pay scale as more an average of salaries of pharmacy technicians in all fields. Technicians can earn up to $50,660 per year at the highest end in my experience.

Pharmacy technician careers are proving to be a wise choice in today’s economy.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2008-09 report estimates employment for pharmacy technicians to grow much faster than the average occupation—up to a 32 percent increase by 2016. Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhT) are an integral part of the pharmacy team and are relied upon to deliver vital services from assisting with the medication dispensing process, to making IV sterile products, to working in a pharmacist-run specialty clinic. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for certification in this recession-proof field having certified over 355,000 pharmacy technicians since 1995.

A trusted pioneer in the industry, PTCB’s Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) program is the only program endorsed by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Over 40 states now regulate pharmacy technicians—and more than 70 percent of those have endorsed PTCB.

As the demand for pharmacy technicians continues to grow, certification is  an increasingly more important role in assuring the public of safety, accuracy, and efficient patient care. In fact, many national pharmacy chains,  including Walgreens, CVS,  and Target Pharmacies recognize the importance of PTCB certified technicians and even offer to pay the examination fees. Technicians who can obtain these credentials will benefit by increased salaries, expanded job responsibilities, and also opportunities to further their career.

“PTCB certification shows a commitment to excellence on the part of the Certified Pharmacy Technician and the employers who require PTCB certification,” says Melissa Murer Corrigan, RPh, Executive Director and CEO of PTCB. “We applaud the efforts of CPhTs who are dedicated to being trained, tested and trusted.”

PTCB has recently made several enhancements to its program making it easier than ever for pharmacy technicians to become certified. Exams are available at more than 200 Pearson Professional Centers nationwide and pass/fail results are given immediately after completing the PTCB Exam. Candidates are able to schedule their PTCB Examination Monday thru Friday and should check with their local Pearson Professional Center for hours and possible Saturday availability. PTCB offers testing flexibility, meeting the needs of pharmacy technicians, educators, employers, and state boards of pharmacy.

Visit www.ptcb.org for more information on pharmacy technician certification.

Pharmacy  technician job duties vary widely

and include many opportunities to pursue.

• Prepare medications under the direction of a licensed pharmacist.
• Measure, mix, count, label and record amounts of dosages of medications.
• Receive written prescriptions or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
• Maintain proper storage and security conditions for medications.
• Answer telephones, responding to questions or requests when appropriate.
• Fill bottles with prescribed medications and type and affix labels.
• Assist patients by answering simple questions or referring them to the pharmacist for medication information.
• Price and file prescriptions that have been filled.
• Establish and maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.
• Sterile product preparation, including TPNs (total parenteral nutrition) and chemotherapy treatments.
• Mix pharmaceutical preparations according to written prescriptions (compounding).
• Deliver medications and pharmaceutical supplies to patients, nursing stations or satellite locations.
• Maintain merchandise over-the-counter, medications, products and supplies.
• Order, label and inventory stock of medications, chemicals and supplies.
• Clean and help maintain equipment and work areas.
• and much more