Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy Technician's help licensed pharmacists provide medication and other healthcare products to patients. Technicians usually perform routine tasks to help prepare prescribed medication for patients, such as counting tablets and labeling bottles. Technicians refer any questions regarding prescriptions, drug information, or health matters to a pharmacist.
Ashworth College
- Pharmacy Technology Program
Pharmacy technology is a vital part of the healthcare delivery system. And right now, with new drug stores popping up in growing urban and suburban areas, plus new medications hitting the market, properly trained pharmacy technicians could look forward to busy careers. Let Ashworth University's convenient distance education course prepare you for all the excitement now!
Request more information from: Ashworth College
about their Online Pharmacy Technician Degree Programs.
Penn Foster College
- Pharmacy Technician
Start a rewarding career as a Pharmacy Technician with at-home training from Education Direct. You need no previous experience - just ambition, the desire to be a part of the exciting health care industry, and this great training program. This preparation will allow you to interpret product information and communicate clearly with other medical professionals and your clients. Topics include: medical terminology, human anatomy and physiology, and pharmacology.
Request more information from: Penn Foster College
about their Online Pharmacy Technician Degree Programs.
Stratford Career Institute
- Pharmacist's Assistant Program
The Pharmacist's Assistant Program prepares you to work as a professional in the pharmaceutical industry. This preparation will allow you to interpret product information and communicate clearly with other medical professionals and your clients. Topics include: medical terminology, human anatomy and physiology, and pharmacology.
Request more information from: Stratford Career Institute
about their Online Pharmacy Technician Programs.
Pharmacy Technicians work in clean, organized,
well-lighted, and well-ventilated areas. Most of their workday
is spent on their feet. They may be required to lift heavy boxes
or to use stepladders to retrieve supplies from high shelves.
Technicians work the same hours as pharmacists. This may include
evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Because some hospital
and retail pharmacies are open 24 hours a day, technicians may
work varying shifts. As their seniority increases, technicians
often have increased control over the hours they work. There are
many opportunities for part-time work in both retail and hospital
settings.
Although most pharmacy technicians receive informal on-the-job
training, employers favor those who have completed formal training
and certification. However, there are currently few State and no
Federal requirements for formal training or certification of pharmacy
technicians. Employers who can neither afford, nor have the time
to give, on-the-job training often seek formally educated pharmacy
technicians. Formal education programs and certification emphasize
the technicians' interest in and dedication to the work to potential
employers. In addition to the military, some hospitals, proprietary
schools, vocational or technical colleges, and community colleges
offer formal education programs.
Formal pharmacy technician education programs require classroom
and laboratory work in a variety of areas, including medical and
pharmaceutical terminology, pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacy
record keeping, pharmaceutical techniques, and pharmacy law and
ethics. Technicians also are required to learn medication names,
actions, uses, and doses. Many training programs include internships,
in which students gain hands-on experience in actual pharmacies.
Students receive a diploma, certificate, or an associate degree,
depending on the program.
Prospective pharmacy technicians with experience working as an
aide in a community pharmacy or volunteering in a hospital may
have an advantage. Employers also prefer applicants with strong
customer service and communication skills and with experience managing
inventories, counting, measuring, and using computers. Technicians
entering the field need strong mathematics, spelling, and reading
skills. A background in chemistry, English, and health education
also may be beneficial. Some technicians are hired without formal
training, but under the condition that they obtain certification
within a specified period to retain employment.
