Pharmacy Technician Career

pharmacy-tech-500Under the supervision of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians help prepare medications for customers. The technician may measure, mix, or count out the medication and then label the item with information that includes the amount and dosage. Administrative and customer service duties are also usually performed by these individuals. If a pharmacy aide is not on staff, the technician may stock shelves, answer the phone, and operate the cash register. Technicians work in a pharmacy setting and can increasingly be found in retail pharmacy environments.

Pharmacy Technician Career Assessment

Take our Pharmacy Technician career assessment. This 30 question quiz let’s you know if you’re cut out for a career as a pharmacy technician by analyzing your abilities, skills, and interests.

1. Do you have good customer service skills?

2. Do you have at least a basic knowledge of math like arithmetic, algebra, and geometry? Can you use math to solve related problems?

3. Do you have a good knowledge of the English language especially the understanding of written sentences and paragraphs?

4. Are you OK using computers especially word processing programs?

5. Can you manage files and records?

6. Do you have knowledge of medicine and dentistry including the information needed to diagnose human injuries and diseases? This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug interactions, and pre

7. Are you OK giving your full attention to what others are saying? Can you take the time to understand the points they are making and ask the appropriate questions?

8. Can you talk to others effectively?

9. Do you have good critical thinking skills? Can you use logic and reasoning to find alternative solutions and to solve complex problems?

10. Do you actively look for ways to help people?

11. Do you find that you are aware of other people's reactions and understand why they react the way they do? Can you adjust your actions based on their reactions?

12. Can you see details at close range?

13. Do you have the ability to use sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways?

14. Can you arrange things in a specific order or pattern according to specific rules?

15. Can you keep your hand and arm steady?

16. Can you grasp, manipulate or assemble very small objects?

17. Can you see details at a distance?

18. Do you have the ability to focus on a specific task over a long period of time without being distracted?

19. Can you adhere to safety procedures?

20. Do you have the ability to maintain procedures concerning quality assurance?

21. Can you communicate with supervisors and co-workers?

22. Are you OK with prioritizing and organizing your work?

23. Can you interpret the meaning of prescriptions for others?

24. Can you help train and teach others?

25. Are you OK with having numerous telephone conversations throughout the day?

26. Are you OK with being in contact with others for at least 95% of your day?

27. Are you OK with spending most of your time standing indoors?

28. Can you deal with unpleasant or discourteous people in a professional manner?

29. Are you OK with strict deadlines?

30. Can you handle exposure to disease or infections?

Pharmacy Technician Snapshot

Pharmacy technicians work alongside Pharmacists. They are often employed at hospitals and other businesses which sell prescription medications. Individuals thinking about a career as a pharmacy technician should be willing to spend a lot of time standing and may be required to work evenings and weekends.

The following outlines more information on a career as a pharmacy technician (statistics from Bureau of Labor Statistics and Onet Online):

$30,410

is the average earnings for pharmacy technicians per year.

9%

increase in employment between 2014 and 2024.

77%

have some college, but no degree.

Pharmacy Technician Education

Most states do not currently have formal requirements for becoming a pharmacy technician. However, formal training is available and may help gain employment. Pharmacy technician training programs educate their students in the laboratory and classroom setting. It is also possible to gain a certification as a pharmacy technician. This type of certification will only help to secure employment, but the costs of obtaining one should be weighed with the potential earnings of this profession.

Pharmacy Technician Job Duties

Pharmacy Technicians help provide prescription medication to their patients. They often count pills and label the medication bottles. Pharmacy Technicians also help run the pharmacy by answering the phone, helping explain medications to patients, and taking payments.

Pharmacy Technician Salaries

The average pay for Pharmacy Technicians ranges from $20,950 to $45,030 an hour according to the Occupational Employment Statistics survey program. Individuals who are certified may earn more as will those who work weekends and evenings. Learn more about pharmacy technician salaries.

Pharmacy Technician Job Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment to increase faster than average for pharmacy technicians and it characterizes job opportunities as good, especially for individuals with certification, formal training, or prior experience. An employment increase of 9% is expected between 2014 and 2024.

Pharmacy Technician Career

Find out the tools pharmacy technicians work with along with the required abilities from the table below.

Pharmacy Technician Skill Set:Required Abilities:Tools Used by Pharmacy Technicians:Typical Work Activities:
• Active Listening
• Reading Comprehension
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Near Vision
• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Written Comprehension
• Dose Machines
• Laboratory Balances
• Laboratory Blenders
• Sterile Filling Machines
• Getting Information
• Interacting with Computers
• Working with the Public
• Processing Information

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