The Importance Of Pharmacy Technicians

In recent years, due to immense shortages in aspects like education, training and expertise, technicians have been required to extend their reach and influence. These shortages are not limited to developing countries alone. Indeed, even in developed countries, technicians go the extra mile in providing good quality medical care and ensuring that the right procedures are followed in the dispensing of medication. According to the “Pharmacy Technician Overview,” as prepared as part of the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center: “Pharmacy technician jobs hold about 285,000 positions in the United States.”

Job Opportunities For Technicians In The Professional Sector

There are a range of possibilities in terms of pharmacy technician jobs. Placements depend largely on a technician’s level of experience, their formal education and their interpersonal skills.

Technicians In The Retail Field

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010 – 11 as directed by the United Sates Bureau of Labor Statistics: “About 75 percent of pharmacy technician jobs were in a retail setting.”
In the retail field, these technicians play roles as community helpers, working alongside qualified pharmacists in the dispensary and performing tasks which include:

• Filling prescriptions and dispensing the appropriate medication to patrons who have obtained formal prescriptions from their general practitioners and other medical specialists.

• Giving advice on how to use the medication appropriately, how to deal with any potential side effects and what to do if the medical problem persists.

• Recording personal details and medical records for future reference.

• Obtaining approval from the resident pharmacist before prescribing or dispensing certain medication.

• Distributing medical documents and receiving prescriptions from other local pharmacies in order to attend to the needs of patrons.

• Monitoring stock and facilitating the ordering and intake of medication and medical supplies.

• Administrative tasks relating to the operation of the pharmacy, its staff constituent and its medical stock.

In addition to these professional tasks, these technicians need to be able to interact with people on a deeply personal level. Often, these technicians interact with community members when they are at their most vulnerable emotional states. They therefore have to have to have the ability to build a rapport with their customers and be trustworthy and approachable.

Pharmacy Technician Jobs In Prisons And Other Institutions

In institutions, technicians perform vital roles similar to those performed at a retail level. In this field, they may work in conjunction with and according to governmental procedures and ensure that facilities run as effectively as possible. There tasks therefore extend to those including:

• Performing formal audits of the work and consultancies of general practitioners who treat patients in correctional facilities, primary care institutions and armed force treatment centers.

• Ensuring a constant supply of the right kinds of medication through procurement of medication and the use of ordering systems.

• Administering injections and medication as prescribed by other medical professionals.

• Assisting with the treatment of minor ailments like colds and influenza, which are potentially life-threatening in these environments where infected patients live in close proximity with their fellows.

• Administering medication according to state laws and legislation.

• Monitoring the condition of patients and treating them accordingly in conjunction with other specialists and internal practitioners.

As in the retail sector, these technicians will often have to undergo specialized pharmacy technician training to deal with their immediate environments, which can prove very challenging. They will also be trained in emergency procedures to ensure that outbreaks of disease or acts of violence can be contained on a medical level without disrupting the operations of the institution. Although they may not perform the role of professional counselors, they need to have the knowledge and level of assertiveness to deal with patients who may be incarcerated and/or living under highly stressed conditions within an institution.

Mail Order Medical Dispensary Jobs

Ordering medication and filling prescription via mail orders is fast becoming one of the most rapidly growing fields in the industry. The large demand for these kinds of services is influenced greatly by society’s constant need for more convenient service delivery. It requires less effort and time on the part of the customer and works just as effectively as ordering pharmaceutical drugs over-the-counter does. Benefits for these kinds of companies are lower operating costs and the ability to stipulate one’s own working hours according to fluctuations in the level of demand. The duties of technicians in these types of positions include the following:

• Receiving the orders and relevant prescriptions which need to be filled.

• Recording all the orders and tracking the activities of customers for future reference.

• Meeting delivery deadlines to ensure that customers receive the medication they need in the right quantities and within the correct time frame.

• Labeling medication accurately and ensuring that all usage instructions follow legal and medial health protocol in the interests of protecting the well-being of customers.

• Constantly processing the inflow of new orders and ensuring that supplies are kept at sufficient levels.

These kinds of technicians do not play the kind of roles as those in the retail field do, largely because they do not spend much time with customers and in fact, rarely come into direct contact with the people they serve. Thus, they need to practice extreme discipline, as their time constraints and work ethic is not dictated to them directly by the public but is largely reliant on their own sense of responsibility and commitment to doing their job to the best of their ability. They need to be just as meticulous as any technicians in other fields because a mistake in this industry can be a matter of life and death.

Careers In Clinics And Hospitals

Among the range of certified pharmacy technician jobs which are available, are those in hospitals, clinics and medical treatment facilities. Here, it is integral that technicians have the ability to work as a part of a team. The unity of any workforce in this field of medicine plays a central role in its overall success and there simply can be no room left for error. Technicians in this environment also need to be able to use their initiative. Although their work is always done in conjunction with a certified pharmacist or doctor, a large amount of responsibility lies on their shoulders, especially in emergency situations where decisiveness is the key. Their duties include but are not limited to:

• Providing patients with advice on how to use their medication safely while they are in hospital and when they are discharged.

• Checking and recording the different kinds of medication which are prescribed to each patient on a daily basis.

• Helping doctors to prepare specialized medication administered to specific patients with special medical needs.

• Ensuring that all medication is prepared or modified in environments free from bacterial infection and the infiltration of harmful chemicals.

• Helping in the making of special medicines which are not commercially available or which do not arrive in the form in which they will be administered to patients.

• Preparing creams and ointments.

• Measuring, counting and preparing medication for distribution to different wards.

Technicians in this field have to be adaptable and flexible in terms of their abilities. Their services may be needed in different areas in the facility throughout the day and they need to be readily available to help wherever they can. They may be required to work in shifts which may range from day or night shifts to those which require technicians to work in the early hours of the morning. While they may be able to prepare their tasks in advance, they can never be sure when an emergency situation may arise and should be prepared for anything in this fast-paced work environment.

Fields Of Work Requiring The Expertise Of Trained Pharmacy Technicians

In any area of work, whether it be in the retail or the hospital arena, technicians may undertake or oversee the facilitation of certain aspects of work in this industry. These aspects become almost like areas of specialization and technicians may wish to focus on one or more of these areas during their studies and further education.

Medicines Management

According to Richard Seal, Program Consultant in Medicines Management for the NHS: “Medicines management is about enabling people to make the best possible use of their medicines.”
Therefore, in short, it is the discipline whereby the medicine prescribed to each patient is monitored closely to avoid negative side effects which may occur when two or more different types of medication are taken simultaneously. It regulates different medication to ensure that the process runs smoothly and that any medication issued to the patient is directed in a safe and responsible manner. It also requires that technicians be able to assist with a level of forecasting. That is to say, a technician needs to be able to predict which medication may be needed by a patient in future, having taking into consideration their medical history and their present condition. These patients may include cancer patients or pregnant women. This forecasting ability will help them to ensure that the hospital or treatment facility is well stocked with the appropriate kind of medication to adequately supply patients with the assistance they need.

Medicines Manufacturing

The industry of medicines manufacturing is one of the largest and plausibly, the most influential medical industry in the world. It is the boiling pot for the new technologies and medication which have led to the phenomenal increase in worldwide life expectancy and the capability of medicine to sustain and support life for longer. Needless to say, technicians in this industry work in plants and laboratories which are often closely linked with governmental institutions and initiatives and are constantly looking at ways in which to develop the medical industry further.

This particular field of work for technicians has evidently led to the establishment of large-scale companies and medical manufacturing plants.

Quality Control

In this field, all medicines are thoroughly tested to ensure that they are safe for usage, that they produce the desired results and that they perform according to the required standards. Technicians will be involved in tasks like:

• Testing medicines and recording data regarding its effects on patients.
• Technical preventative procedures to ensure that all medication can be safely used.
• Quality management procedures as stipulated by lab scientists and authoritative bodies.
• Ensure that governmental quality standards are followed during the manufacturing, developmental, packaging and distribution procedures.

These tasks are of a highly technical nature and technicians will liaise with medical scientists and technologists.

Medical Supplies Procurement

Procurement technicians work closely with medicine manufacturing companies and plants to determine which suppliers would best suit their company’s/institution’s/hospital’s/retail pharmacy’s business model and individual needs. While working in conjunction with pharmacists and practitioners in different fields, they will have the following responsibilities:

• The ordering and purchasing of patient care supplies, medication and medical equipment.
• Supply sourcing
• Planning services according to available budgetary stipulations.
• Facilitating automated ordering systems and implementing changes where necessary.
• Managing information technology systems for these purposes.

These tasks are imperative to ensuring that the operations of medical facilities run effectively.

Changes And Job Prospects For Future Pharmaceutical Technicians

According to various studies on what the future holds for technicians in these fields, pharmacy technician job prospects look increasingly positive. This is due to a number of factors including:

• New developments in medical technology and the subsequent emergence of new medication which can cure previously “incurable” diseases and conditions.

• A rise in worldwide life expectancy and therefore the longer need for each individual to use medication.

• The opening up of entry-level positions due to the rapid advancements of former technicians and aides who study and fulfill managerial and leadership positions.

• The rising trend in insurance companies using pharmacies and treatment facilities to monitor and track the health of their insurance members.

• The increase in demand for more efficient administrative organisation and technicians’ abilities to fulfill the needs of this demand.

Statistics show that the, “employment of pharmacy technicians is expected to increase by 32 percent from 2006 to 2016, which is much faster than the average for all occupations,” (“Pharmacy Technician Overview” Sloan Career Cornerstone Center (www.careercornerstone.org)).

For many aspiring medical field workers, striving towards obtaining a pharmacy technician job is an obtainable and sustainable prospect. With studies showing the rise in opportunities for these talented and hard-working individuals, the earning potential for technicians is increasing, much to the benefit of the industry as a whole. Although these positions are demanding and personally challenging at times, the rewards always seem to prove greater. Besides playing a major role in the very sustenance and maintenance of human life, helping people is always a self-fulfilling undertaking.

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How The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Serves Pharmacy Technicians

Pharmacy technicians are trained professionals who aim to assist pharmacists in the dispensing of medication. The pharmacist is legally responsible for all of the actions of the pharmacy technician. In order to ensure that the pharmacist receives the best level of assistance possible, the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board exists to ensure that a high standard is maintained within the profession. This is for the sake of the patients receiving the medication above all else. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board offers a number of services to pharmacy technicians which they can use in their daily lives:

• MyPTCB
• Apply to take the PTCE
• Recertify
• Reinstate
• CPhT Connection
• Career Info

State Associates

In order to ensure that as many pharmacy technicians as possible are made aware of the certification process and that as many pharmacy assistants as possible are given the opportunity to become certified, the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board has teamed up with a number of pharmacy assistant associations, including the following:

• Alabama Pharmacy Association
• Alabama Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Alaska Pharmacists Association
• Arizona Pharmacy Foundation
• California Pharmacists Association
• California Society of Health-system Pharmacists
• Colorado Pharmacists Society
• Connecticut Pharmacists Association
• Connecticut Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Delaware Pharmacists Society
• Delaware Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Florida Pharmacy Association
• Florida Society of Health-system Pharmacists
• Georgia Pharmacy Association
• Georgia Society of Health-system Pharmacists
• Hawaii Pharmacists Association
• Idaho State Pharmacy Association
• Idaho Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists
• Illinois Pharmacy Association
• Indiana Pharmacists Alliance
• Iowa Pharmacy Association
• Kansas Council of Health-System Pharmacists
• Kansas Pharmacists Foundation
• Kentucky Pharmacists Association
• Kentucky Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Louisiana Pharmacists Association
• Louisiana Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Maryland Pharmacists Association
• Maryland Society of Health System Pharmacists
• Massachusetts Pharmacists Association
• Massachusetts Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Michigan Pharmacists Association
• Minnesota Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Mississippi Pharmacists Association
• Mississippi Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Missouri Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Montana Pharmacy Association
• Nebraska Pharmacists Association
• Nevada Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• New Hampshire Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• New Jersey Pharmacists Association
• New Jersey Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• New Mexico Pharmacists Association
• New Mexico Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• New York State Council of Health-System Pharmacists
• North Carolina Association of Pharmacists
• North Dakota Pharmacists Association
• Ohio Pharmacists Association
• Ohio Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Oklahoma Pharmacists Association
• Oklahoma Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Oregon Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association
• Pennsylvania Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• South Carolina Pharmacy Association
• South Carolina Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Tennessee Pharmacists Association
• Texas Pharmacy Association
• Texas Society of Health-system Pharmacists
• Utah Pharmacists Association
• Virginia Pharmacists Association
• Virginia Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Washington State Pharmacy Association
• West Virginia Pharmacists Association
• West Virginia Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin
• Wyoming Pharmacists Association
• Wyoming Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Certification

About The Exam

The certification exam comes in three parts:

• Assisting the Pharmacist in Serving Patients, which makes up 66% of the exam
• Maintaining Medication and Inventory Control System, which makes up 22% of the exam
• Participating in the Administration and Management of Pharmacy Practice, which makes up 12% of the exam

In total the exam will be 2 hours long. The first 5 minutes of the exam comprises of a tutorial that you must complete before writing the exam. Following the tutorial you will need to answer 90 multiple choice questions in 110 minutes. It is important to note that 10 of those questions will not count towards your final score. This is because they are new questions being piloted for their suitability in future tests. However these questions are randomly distributed throughout the test, so you will not know which of the questions will count towards your final score and which will not. You will not be penalized for guessing, so it is important that you attempt all questions to the best of your ability. The final five minutes of the test consists of an exit survey that you are also required to complete.

The tutorial that you complete before completing the exam is there to give you an idea of what the test will look and feel like. However, if you would like to prepare more thoroughly for the exam, there are a number of practice tests that you can buy from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. These tests will allow you to not only test your knowledge, but also to become comfortable with the online testing system used by Pearson VUE, the body that administers that pharmacy technician certification exam.

Apply

If you want to become certified, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must have a high school diploma or equivalent educational diploma
• You must receive a passing score on the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE)
• You must provide full disclosure of all criminal and State Board of Pharmacy registration or licensure actions
• You must comply with all applicable PTCB Certification policies
• There must not be any record of criminal conduct involving you
• There must not be any evidence of State Board of Pharmacy registration or licensure action against you
• There must be no evidence that you have violated a PTCB Certification policy, including but not limited to the Code of Conduct

In order to apply for certification you must pay a fee of $129. You can only apply online, unless you have special needs or disabilities that make this difficult for you, in which case you will be allowed to apply for a hardcopy of the application form. During the application process you will have to indicate that you have met all of the eligibility requirements. Action will be taken against you if you lie on the form about your eligibility for certification.

Schedule

When it comes time to schedule your examination, you will be given a 90 day period in which you are allowed to do this. If you apply online, your 90 period to schedule your exam begins immediately. You will then own exam appointment directly with PTCB’s test administrator Pearson VUE, either online or by phone at (866) 902-0593. There are a number of exam venues available across the country for you to choose from. Once you have scheduled your exam you will receive an email notification to confirm your appointment within 24 hours. If you want to cancel or reschedule your appointment, there is no additional fee charged, but you must contact Pearson VUE at least 24 hours before the start of the exam to give them fair warning of your cancellation. If you do not, you will be marked as absent from the exam. If you miss an appointment due to your own fault, you will forfeit the exam fee and you will have to pay the fee again in order to set anther date.

On Test Day

On the day of the test you should arrive at least 30 minutes before your appointment. If you arrive 30 or more minutes late for your appointment, you will be deemed to have missed your exam. Things to bring to the venue include:

• An approved form of identification that matches the name on your Authorization to Test (ATT) letter
• Your ATT letter

Your personal belongings, except for comfort aides, are stored in a locker before entering the room. You may not bring your own calculator unless special permission has been granted.

During the exam you must behave in accordance with the Code of Conduct outlined by the PTCB. You will then have the option of completing the tutorial after which your exam will begin. You should answer all questions as there is no penalty for guessing. You will also have the opportunity to write notes about questions that bother you and submit concerns about the test directly to the PTCB, although these will not be addressed during your test.

Becoming certified as a pharmacy technician through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board is easier than you think. Once you have completed your training the test itself will not be very difficult to complete. In addition there are a number of aides available online as well as from other sources that exist specifically to prepare you for your exam.

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What A Regulated Pharmacy Technician Can Do

Becoming regulated as a pharmacy technician effectively means that you will have more responsibility for your own actions. The scope of practice for a pharmacy technician with pharmacy technician regulation status includes receiving and transcribing verbal prescriptions from practitioners, ensuring that a prescription is complete and authentic, transferring prescriptions to and receiving prescriptions from other pharmacies, ensuring the accuracy of a prepared prescription, performing the final check of a prepared prescription, and ensuring the accuracy of drug and personal health information in the PharmaNet patient record. In relation to these tasks the pharmacy technician will be held liable for any actions taken and any mistakes made. The following tasks will, however, remain the responsibility of the actual pharmacist:

• The pharmacist must be involved in every new and refill prescription

• The pharmacist is still responsible for assessing the appropriateness of drug therapy

• The pharmacist is still responsible for patient assessment

• The pharmacist is still responsible for confirming dose and interval amounts

• The pharmacist is still responsible for checking the relevant PharmaNet profile

• The pharmacist is still responsible for identifying any drug related problems in a patient

• The pharmacist is still responsible for providing patient consultation

So, although the pharmacy technician will have far more freedom and independence, double-checking the work of the pharmacy technician remains the responsibility of the pharmacist in charge of that technician. If a pharmacist does not perform the above roles, the medication in question cannot be released to the patient as there is no guarantee that is has been accurately measured or that the appropriate instructions have been included n the packaging.

Becoming Regulated

Steps to regulation for current technicians:

The following steps need to be completed by current pharmacy technicians employed in Canada if they intend to become regulated:

• They must have worked in ‘pharmacy practice’ for a minimum of 2000 hours in the past 3 years.

• They must complete both the PEBC Evaluating Exam and the College of Pharmacists (CPBC) Bridging Program (these two steps can be completed in any order).

• They must successfully complete a Jurisprudence Exam to test relevant provincial legislation and ethics which is not included on the national PEBC Qualifying Exam.

• They must complete the PEBC Qualifying Exam consisting of two parts – a written multiple choice question exam (MCQ) and a performance based exam called an Objective Structured Performance Exam (OSPE).

Steps To Regulation For Future Technicians

The steps that future pharmacy technicians are advised to take in order to become regulated (whether or not it is required in their province as the rules are changing across the nations) are as follows:

• They must complete an accredited program offered by either a public or private post-secondary institute that has met the accreditation standards for a regulated pharmacy technician program established by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP).

• They must successfully complete a Structured Practical Training (SPT) program which is a supervised competency based training period within a pharmacy that includes regular assessment by a pharmacist or another regulated technician.

• They must successfully complete a Jurisprudence Exam to test relevant provincial legislation and ethics which is not included on the national PEBC Qualifying Exam.

• They must complete the PEBC Qualifying Exam consisting of two parts – a written multiple choice question exam (MCQ) and a performance based exam called an Objective Structured Performance Exam (OSPE).

FAQ

What Is Pharmacy Technician Regulation?

Pharmacy technician regulation is very similar to pharmacy technician registration or certification. All of these words essentially imply that the profession will be monitored and manage din some way in the best interests of all those who work within it. Through regulation you will be established as a regulated healthcare professional which essentially speaks volumes for your professional demeanor and your ability to do your job well. In fact the title of pharmacy technician is now restricted in Canada to refer only to those pharmacy technicians who are regulated (or certified, or registered). This is a trend that may become more and more prevalent in many different countries as people begin to understand the benefits involved in ensuring that pharmacy technicians are properly monitored.

It is interesting to note that becoming a regulated pharmacy technician is voluntary but you will not be able to use the title of ‘pharmacy technician’. Those who choose not to become regulated, or are unsuccessful in becoming regulated, will no longer be able to refer to themselves as pharmacy technicians as of January 1, 2011 and will likely be called ‘pharmacy assistants’, a more lowly position that may affect your salary and employment opportunities within the pharmaceutical industry. Through the process of pharmacy technician regulation you will become responsible, accountable and liable for a specific scope of practice, which is the same as your job description.

Generally speaking, pharmacy technician regulation means that you have more power, but also that you have more personal responsibility in your role as a pharmaceutical expert within your specified scope of practice in the industry.

Liability Insurance

As a regulated pharmacy technician you will, due to the marked increase in your responsibilities and liability, need liability insurance. The insurance that you will need to have does, according to bcpharmacists.org, have to meet the following basic criteria:

• Your insurance package must provide a minimum of $2 million in coverage.

• Your insurance package must provide occurrence based coverage or claims made coverage with extended reporting period of at least 3 years.

• If your insurance package is not in the pharmacists’ or regulated pharmacy technicians’ name, the group policy covers the pharmacist or pharmacy technician as an individual.

It is important to remember here that, although the pharmacist for whom you work will still be in charge of overseeing and double checking all of the work you do, you yourself will also be held liable for any mistakes that are made. Remember as well that no matter how careful you are, you are human and you will make the odd mistake form time t time, most of which will not be serious. In addition there have been many cases of pharmacy technicians being sued even though they did not do something wrong. This can arise due to a basic misunderstanding or as a result of a deliberate ploy by a patient or colleagues in order to get money out of the situation or to discredit you for some reason. The bottom line is that you cannot assume that you will not need liability insurance as even the best pharmacy technicians have run into trouble of this nature from time to time. Therefore it is a requirement that you have liability insurance in order to become regulated.

Continuing Education And Assessment

Like many healthcare professionals across the board pharmacy technicians are required to engage in continuing education and assessment. This will depend on the rule of your province. The purpose of this form of continuing education is to ensure that the standards in the industry remain high and that patients and clients receive only the best care and treatment from the pharmacy technicians who serve them. This is an essential aspect of pharmacy technician regulation. Specifically you will be required (in the same way as a qualified pharmacist is) to complete the Professional Development and Assessment Program (PDAP) which includes a continuing education component and an assessment component.

Continuing education should be looked at in a positive light. It is a way for you to improve your knowledge and a way for you to ensure that you are up to date with all of the developments in the field. This will in turn make you more marketable when the time comes to look for a new job. In addition it will improve your confidence in your role and allow you to work more quickly and more efficiently as a pharmacy technician. Continuing education and assessment is a fairly new standard for pharmacy technicians in Canada, but this is another sign that the discipline is becoming more professional and gaining greater significance in its own right. It is therefore important that you, as a member of the profession, embrace these changes and complete the necessary continuing education with the correct attitude. The idea of pharmacy technician regulation is very strong in Canada at present and it is believed that it is a concept that will soon spread to other nations, such as the United States of America.

How To Become A Pharmacy Technician In Canada

Because at this stage pharmacy technician regulation applies mainly to Canadian pharmacy technicians, we will now look at the steps involved in becoming a pharmacy technician in Canada:

• The first step involves doing some careful research. The different territories and provinces within Canada have different rules when it comes to regulation. In other words some require you to be a regulated pharmacy technician while others do not. In addition there may be examination and certification requirements that differ between these areas. Finding out well in advance what will be expected of you in that territory or province can make your path to becoming a pharmacy technician far easier.

• Once you are aware of what requirements you will need to meet you can enroll in a pharmacy technician program. These will take about 2 years to complete and they tend to include a work placement program in Canada. If you are interested in pursuing this career and if you are still in high school, you should consider taking math, biology, chemistry and English in order to start preparing yourself for the coursework you are likely to cover in your course.

• The next step involves taking the Pharmacy Technician Evaluating Examination. This exam is absolutely essential and necessary if you want to work in a province where pharmacy technicians are required to be regulated. Even if your province does not have that requirement, it will still be better to take the exam and pass it as this will improve your resume. To become licensed in areas that require pharmacy technician regulation this exam is an essential step in the process.

• The final step involves applying for a license in your home province (although this is not required in all Canadian provinces). Generally, applying for a license involves submitting proof of your education and evidence that you passed the Pharmacy Technician Evaluating Examination. Once you have submitted these documents you will be well on your way to working as a regulated (or unregulated) pharmacy technician (this depends, once again, on the province you wish to work in).

Taking the examination as stated above will not take a lot of your time or money, comparatively speaking, making it a worthwhile to do even if your province does not require it. In the near future all Canadian provinces may require you to be regulated, so it is worth preparing for that change now.

There are a number f benefits to becoming a regulated pharmacy technician in Canada. It does, for one, indicate that you have the capability to work on your own without supervision and may boost your resume considerably. Although pharmacy technician regulation is a fairly new concept and does not yet seem to be a prevalent idea in countries such as the US, there are certainly a number of merits to the movement that will most likely result in a similar trend in other countries in the very near future.

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This is not so, though, and whilst there are many similarities between jobs when it comes to the pharmacist vs pharmacy technician, there are also many differences. In short, a pharmacist is more qualified and the senior of the two; the pharmacist is the only one with authority to decide whether or not a certain medication is safe for public consumption; the pharmacist handles the clinical and scientific side of things whilst the pharmacy technician handles mostly administrative duties.

Pharmacists And Pharmacy Technicians Workplaces

You will find pharmacists and pharmacy technicians everywhere that prescription drugs are dispensed. Although there are various settings in which they work, these sites all fall within two categories; hospital pharmacies and community pharmacies:

Community pharmacy workers are employed in general merchandise stores or drug stores, who employed approximately 55% of pharmacists and 68% of pharmacy technicians in 2010. Hospital pharmacy workers can be found in medical hospitals and clinics, and their ratio of pharmacist vs pharmacy technician in 2010 was 25% of pharmacists and 20% of pharmacy technicians.

Pharmacist vs Pharmacy Technician Duties

The pharmacy technician and the pharmacist share many of the duties, but whilst the pharmacist can do anything the pharmacy assistant can, the same cannot be said for the opposite.

As the more senior of the two, the pharmacist is responsible for everything that is in and that happens in the pharmacy, including ensuring that all regulations are strictly adhered to. They must also ensure that every prescription is double-checked before being handed to the patient, and that each prescription that is sold is legal and valid.

Duties Of The Pharmacist

A pharmacist in theU.S.must earn a Pharm.D. Degree, which has replaced the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree previously required. A pharmacy is one place where a mistake could have lethal consequences, such as if an incorrect medication is given to a patient. The pharmacist must be familiar with all the medical problems of the patients and what drugs are used to treat those conditions, as there are many drugs with very similar sounding names.

Most pharmacists work in community settings such as a retail drugstore, or in a healthcare facility such as a hospital, mental health institution, neighborhood health clinic or a nursing home.

A Pharmacist’s duties include:

• Compounding the actual mixing of ingredients to form tablets, ointments, powders, capsules, and solutions

• Dispensing drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners to patients

• Answering questions patients may have about medications; advising patients on general health topics; counseling patients on the use of over-the counter and prescription medications

• Advising physicians and other health practitioners on the dosages, selection, interactions, and side effects of various medications

• Monitoring the health and progress of patients in reaction to drug therapy to assure safe and effective use of medication

• Having current in-depth knowledge and understanding of the composition, use, and clinical effects, of drugs, including their biological, chemical, and physical properties

• Receive new prescription orders verbally from prescribers

• Perform identification, interpretation, , evaluation, and clarification of a prescription

• Verifying the prescription before handing the it to the patient

Pharmacists are looked upon as fonts of medical information and advice. In the pharmacist vs pharmacy technician scenario, it is the pharmacist that spends a large part of the day giving patients advice on their medical problems judging on their symptoms. They will sometimes offer over-the-counter medications and at other times they will refer the patient to a medical doctor. There are some states where pharmacists are even allowed to write prescriptions for commonly prescribed non-regulated medications such as mild pain relievers or antibiotics.

Duties Of The Pharmacy Technician

One of the biggest differences when it comes to the pharmacist vs pharmacy technician scenario is the fact that the pharmacy technician does not necessarily require any education above a high school diploma or equivalent. There are, however, many vocational schools which offer programs that make the pharmacy technician much more attractive to future employers.

Apart from helping the pharmacist to prepare medications, the pharmacy technician may also:

• Serve the customers at the counter or elsewhere in the pharmacy
• Verify insurance and other information with patients and maintain patient files
• Receive electronic prescription requests from doctor’s offices and prepare prescription labels
• Pour, weigh, measure, count, and sometimes mix medications.
• Read patient charts, prepare and deliver the medicine to patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted-living facilities
• Assemble a 24-hour supply of medicine for a patient
• Act as the cashier

In some communities and hospital pharmacies the pharmacy technician may also:

• Enter prescriptions into the computer
• fill and label prescriptions
• Pre-pack bulk medications
• Prepare pharmacy inventories together with the pharmacist
• Transport medications or equipment to clinics or nursing units
• Pick up copies of physician’s orders
• Fill medication cassettes
• Compound nutrition solutions and intravenous mixtures
• Perform routine nursing unit inspections

Pharmacist Vs Pharmacy Technician Similarities

Pharmacy technicians generally work very closely with pharmacists, and their duties are therefore very similar in many ways. Both of them count, mix and weigh medications, and both deal with pharmacy customers, insurance companies and doctor’s offices.

Both the pharmacy technician and the pharmacist play essential roles in the pharmacy and have the same goal; the health and wellness of the public in general, and satisfied customers or patients. Both generally also enjoy very satisfying careers.

Pharmacist vs Pharmacy Technician Differences

Although in the main the pharmacist and the pharmacy technician perform similar tasks, there are also some very substantial differences between the jobs. A pharmacist spends many years learning names of medications, their composition and their side effects. Only a pharmacist is allowed to note down prescriptions given and spelled out over the phone, and only a pharmacist can give a patient advice regarding a drug and its side effects.

New customers are handled by the pharmacist while pharmacy technicians generally attend to regular or returning customers; the pharmacist handles more of the medical side whilst the pharmacy technician handles more of the administrative side. The pharmacist is paid a significantly higher salary than the technician, who is generally paid by the hour.

Education And Training

In the pharmacist vs pharmacy technician debate, there is no doubt that whilst they share the same space and similar responsibilities, education and training requirements are vastly different. The pharmacy technician is not required to have any formal training beyond high school in many states, whilst the pharmacist requires at least a doctorate (PharmD) in order to be employed in a pharmacy.

Some states require pharmacy technicians to become certified whereas other do not, but a pharmacist must have a doctorate and be registered with the State Board of Pharmacy. One can become a pharmacist technician directly from school or after a short course, but a pharmacist has to study for 6 years before they can sit for the licensure examination.

Pharmacist

In order to practice as a pharmacist, an individual has to complete some three years of undergraduate studies to attain a bachelor’s degree before getting their doctorate. A PharmD degree, or doctor of pharmacy, is a six-year degree, which consists of a four-year professional program involving academic training as well as internship experience, and two years of pre-pharmacy education. Once they have qualified, they need to complete a one-year internship under a licensed pharmacist.

Once an individual has completed all his or her studies, they must sit for and pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) examination in order to gain licensure, and then register with the State Board of Pharmacy.

Subjects studied to become a pharmacist include:

• Biochemistry
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Microbiology
• Pharmacology
• Pharmaceutics

Pharmacy education includes learning how the body works; how drugs work on the body; identifying and differentiating between medications; what disease or condition each medication is used to treat and how various drugs interact with each other.

As there are continuously new drugs beings discovered and introduced onto the market, the pharmacist must continually learn in order to keep current with all the new developments.

Pharmacy Technician

In the pharmacist vs pharmacy technician race to get into the working world, it is definitely the pharmacy technician that wins, as individuals can work as pharmacy technicians with no prior training or education. Although there is no standardized national education requirement, some states do require pharmacy technicians to become certified, and this means passing a standardized test called the ExPCT which is administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), which is a national organization which develops pharmacy protocols, offers pharmacy education, and certifies pharmacy technicians. The PTCB is recognized in all fifty states.

There are many private organizations, institutes of higher education, and online schools that offer pharmacy technician certification programs and some large retail pharmacies also offer internal training programs which prepare their employees for certification.

Pharmacy technician training programs can range in duration from eight weeks to two years. The training programs that pharmacies offer generally consist of eight weeks of classroom training and up to six months of on-the-job training.

Educational institutions can offer:

• Certificate Programs which by and large take less than a year to complete
• Diploma Programs which generally take twelve to eighteen months
• Associate Degree Programs which is a two year program

Pharmacy Technician Programs normally include the following:

• Pharmacy law
• Ethics
• Medication dosage calculation
• HIPPA regulations
• Pharmacy administration
• Day-to-day operations of a pharmacy

Pharmacy technician training includes gaining knowledge in the correct way to handle private patient information; the day-to-day operations of a pharmacy; how to process insurance claims; pharmacy record keeping; an awareness of prescription requirements; how to fill prescriptions.

Once the training course has been passed, the graduate will need to sit for and pass a standardized test called the ExPCT which is administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.

Employment Outlook And Earnings

When it comes to the pharmacist vs pharmacy technician employment outlook, employment growth is set to grow for both professions. Overall, healthcare professions are growing throughout theUSdue to the baby-boomer generation now reaching an age in which they will require more nursing and more medications. Both industries are expected to show phenomenal growth in the 2010 – 2020 decade, with the need for pharmacists growing by 25% per annum and that of pharmacy technicians growing by approximately 32%, both of which are higher than the national average.

When it comes to earnings, this reflects the difference in pharmacist vs pharmacy technician education requirements and job responsibilities. A pharmacy technician is generally paid by the hour and earns somewhere in the region of $25,000 per annum and the pharmacist earns between $80,000- $120,000 annually. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for a pharmacist was $111,570 per year in May 2010, and that for a pharmacy technician was $30,020.

As has clearly been shown in the above article, when it comes to pharmacist vs pharmacy technician there are many similarities and also many differences, in the education required, the job and the salary. Whichever one you decide to become will depend on your own interests, needs, and financial situation, so do your research and enable yourself to make an informed decision that way as to what would best suit you.

In the pharmacist vs pharmacy technician debate the financial gain is much greater on the pharmacist side, and this costs money for many years of study, which puts many individuals off, but there are many financial aids available to pharmacy students, so if that is really what you want to do, do not let anything stop you!

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What many pharmacy technician students do not realize is that there are other professions in this field to pursue in addition to the traditional job and employment roles. For one thing you could choose to be a military pharmacy technician, a role that comes with a great deal of responsibility, but that also has its place in the world. This is a career in the pharmacy industry that should not be overlooked.

What Is A Military Pharmacy Technician?

The two main roles of a pharmacy technician are the following:

• Prepare and dispense prescribed drugs and medicines under the supervision of pharmacists or physicians
• Maintain pharmacy supplies and records

Because military personnel need medications as often, if not, more often, than the general public, pharmacists are needed who are able to dispense these medications. In addition these pharmacists require assistants or technicians to help them in this job in order to improve efficiency. These assistants are usually called pharmacy technicians and they are employed to increase efficiency, which is needed in all pharmaceutical settings. However, in the military, speed and efficiency can be the difference between life and death.

Army Pharmacy Specialists

There are different areas of the military in which you can work as a pharmacy technician. In order to be a pharmacy technician in the army you will need to have an 86Q military occupational specialty (MOS) qualification. To become a pharmacy technician in the army you must complete:

• 9 weeks of basic combat training
• 19 weeks of advanced individual training (AIT)

The advanced individual training required to become a pharmacy technician will include the following very important topics:

• How to mix drugs
• How to dispense drugs
• Different types of drugs
• Different uses for different types of drugs

Your main function will be to keep the army pharmacy running efficiently.

Air Force Pharmacy Specialists

In order to become a pharmacy technician in the air force you must:

• Graduate from the basic course, and
• Receive the 4P031 Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC)

You can do your training occurs at the Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, the only location for this qualification. It will take you in the region of 63 days of training in order to achieve this qualification.

Generally speaking the training regime will be similar to the training you must undergo to become a pharmacy technician in the army. The topics covered in training will be the same as in army pharmacy technician training. Pharmacy technicians in the air force are often referred to as pharmacy apprentices rather than as pharmacy technicians.

Navy Pharmacy Specialists

The qualification that you need to be a pharmacy technician in the navy is the 8482 Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) code. This requires completing advanced training. If you are in the navy and are listed as being in pay grades E1 to E5 you will be eligible to complete the training required to become a Navy hospital corpsmen (medic) and then go on to receive the pharmacy technician qualification that is required. In the course you will learn:

• Drug preparation
• Drug dispensing
• Basic pharmacy administration

To become qualified as a pharmacy technician in the navy you will need to attend the Naval School of Health Sciences in Portsmouth, Virginia, for a period of about 23 weeks to complete the program.

Job Duties

Military pharmacy technicians are required to read physicians’ prescriptions to determine the types and amount of drugs to prepare for a particular patient as well as weighing and measuring those drugs and chemicals in order to ensure that the correct quantity is administered. Technicians are also required to produce the specified prescription by mixing the necessary ingredients and prepare labels for prescriptions that contain patient information and directions for use. Last but not least the military pharmacy technician must dispense medications to patients and store shipments of drugs and medications for use in the field. Consequently the job roles are very similar to those of a civilian pharmacy technician. The main difference is occasional increased pressure in a battle situation.

Helpful Attributes

There are a number of natural personality traits and skills that you will find very useful in order to be a military pharmacy technician. Firstly you need to have a high degree of self-discipline. This is useful in:

• The military in general
• In any medical profession

As a military pharmacy technician you will need to be able to follow directions precisely and without deviating from the prescriptions. In addition you will need to be very precise in order to accurately measure and mix the ingredients required to produce a prescription. Precision is a skill that is highly value din the armed forces as well, so if you are particularly concerned about precision you will make a good military pharmacy technician on two counts.

Training Provided

You will need to have military training in order to be a military pharmacy technician. Basic military skills are required for anyone who works in a military situation as you can never be sure when an emergency will strike. In addition to this you will be required to undergo classroom training in order to learn the following:

• Pharmacy laws and regulations
• Drug types and uses
• Mixing and dispensing drugs

There are a number of programs offered for the various areas of the military and they are aimed at ensuring that you are able to perform these duties in the work environments that you will most likely encounter in your career as a military pharmacy technician.

Requirements

In order to become a pharmacy technician in the military there are generally a number of basic requirements that all applicants have to meet:

• You must possess a high school diploma
• You must attain certain minimum aptitude scores before the training will be approved
• An aptitude in math and algebra is required in the Air Force and highly recommended in the army and navy

Because there are fairly strict rules for entering the military services you will need to be aware of all of the requirements for enlisting as a soldier. These requirements will have to be met first before you can consider becoming a military pharmacy technician in any area of the armed forces.

Career Prospects

Once you leave the military you will have many career prospects in civilian society as a pharmacy technician. Although additional education is generally required, the military will assist you in receiving the credentialing necessary in order to have a career as a pharmacy technician once you no longer want to work for the military. In addition there are opportunities for advancement within the military for those who want to make it their life long career. You could, for example, become a fully fledged military pharmacist. This tends to come at an increase in pay of about $33,000 to $40,000 yearly.

Work Environment

There are a number of places in which a military pharmacy technician can be employed, including but not limited to the following:

• In hospitals on land or aboard ships
• In clinics on land or aboard ships
• In field hospitals

Generally speaking the hours and environment will be very similar to those that a civilian pharmacy technician will have to endure on a daily basis. Overall there will not be many major differences in the work environment itself other than the fact that you will most likely be employed in a situation where you will move around frequently or where you will be required to be stationed outside the country in a field hospital.

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian pharmacy technicians work in the following locations, generally speaking:

• Pharmacies
• Drug stores
• Hospitals
• Clinics

As compared to military pharmacy technicians, civilian pharmacy technicians have less power in that the generally have to work under the direction of pharmacists (whereas military pharmacy technicians are often given free rein) and they generally do not have responsibility for the compounding and dispensing of drugs.

The main differences between civilian and military pharmacy technicians are as follows:

• Civilian pharmacy technicians perform far simpler tasks and have far fewer responsibilities.
• HOWEVER military pharmacy technicians have a lower level of education and are required to undergo additional training in order to become civilian pharmacy technicians if they leave the military.

There are many considerations to keep in mind when considering a career as a military pharmacy technician. This is certainly not a job that will suit everyone and there are some crucial differences to being a military pharmacy technician as opposed to being a pharmacy technician in other occupations. However you will have the opportunity to come home to a job if you ever choose to leave the military as this will make you eligible for employment as a civilian pharmacy technician after additional education is completed if you do decide to leave. This gives you an employment opportunity you may not otherwise have had.

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The American Association of Pharmacy Technicians (which will be referred to as the AAPT from here on out) is an association for pharmacy technicians offering credentialing and resources for members. There are a number of benefits to belonging to the AAPT, and in some cases membership will even be a requirement. Basic information about the AAPT is required by anyone entering the pharmacy technician field.

Brief History Of The American Association Of Pharmacy Technicians (AAPT)

AAPT has the right to declare itself the first Pharmacy Technician Association that ever came into being in the USA. When it started it was non-profit association and it says a lot about the AAPT that it remains a non-profit association right up until this very point in time. In order to maintain this non-profit status the organization is run by volunteer pharmacy technicians. When it began in 1979 it was run entirely by volunteers, a state of being that has not changed up until the present day. This allows individual pharmacy technicians to be members without having to pay fees. The AAPT is dedicated to serving the interests of ALL pharmacy technicians regardless of race, gender, color, or creed. This is done through its Executive Board, Committees, the National Office and its many Chapters which can be found in New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington State. As the role of the pharmacy technician expands, AAPT continues to be an active participant in making decisions which affect changes at all levels of the profession. Consequently it can be viewed as a representative agency for pharmacy technicians as their interests will be represented and in many cases the desired changes that they would like to see will be met. This is one of the primary benefits of membership.

Mission Statement

According to the mission statement that can be found at http://www.pharmacytechnician.com/, the AAPT aims to achieve the following:

“Provides leadership and represents the interests of its members to the public as well as health care organizations.

Promotes the safe, efficacious, and cost effective dispensing, distribution and use of medications.

Provides continuing education programs and services to help technicians update their skills to keep pace with changes in pharmacy services.

Promotes pharmacy technicians as an integral part of the patient care team.”

From the mission statement we can ascertain that this association, like most other associations in the medical profession, exists for the purpose of monitoring those employed within it. In addition the association provides a certain amount of advocacy in that it represents its members to the public in a good light. One the primary aims is to ensure that medications are dispensed safely and accurately by pharmacy technicians at all times as this is in line with the best interests of the general public as well as in line with the best interests of the members of the AAPT. One of the main advantages offered by the AAPTP is the opportunity for members to keep their skills in the field of pharmaceuticals up to date. With increases in qualifications they may also stand the chance to receive promotions and better jobs.

About The Association’s Members

The AAPT represents members of the pharmacy technician industry who work in a large number of different work environments and sub-occupations of the profession.

• The AAPT represents pharmacy technicians practicing in hospitals
• The AAPT represents pharmacy technicians practicing in ambulatory facilities
• The AAPT represents pharmacy technicians practicing in extended care facilities
• The AAPT represents pharmacy technicians practicing in community pharmacies
• The AAPT represents pharmacy technicians practicing as educators

In brief, the association is there to provide for the needs of members in all areas of the pharmacy technician industry. In addition you will be covered by the AAPT if:

• You are a pharmacy technician student
• If you practice in the Veterans Administration Medical Centers
• If you practice in the Armed Forces facilities, and
• If you practice in industry

The association has a number of chapters that are organized at the local level. These are in New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington State. In addition to those chapters there are members of the association in all states across the country. There are also AAPT members to be found in Canada as well as in a number of international locations. There are more than 300,000 pharmacy technicians employed in the US and that number of expected to grow significantly over the coming years.

Benefits Of American Association Of Pharmacy Technicians Membership

There are a number of benefits to belonging to the AAPT. According to the association’s own website, some the main benefits are the following:

• Continuing Education Credits: In many states you are required to provide evidence that you have engaged in continuing education once every few years in order to keep your certification status as a pharmacy technician. The AAPT provides you with a number of continuing education credit opportunities.

• Professional Enrichment: In addition to the requirements of completing continuing education hours and credits, the AAPT also benefits you at a personal level in that those self-same courses can allow you to become more confident in your line of work and be eligible for more job opportunities I professions that offer higher pay packages and benefits.

• Networking Opportunities: AAPT allows pharmacy technicians to get to know each other. This means that, when you need a contact in the industry in certain state or area of the employment market, you will be able to find those contacts very easily through the association. Local chapters allow you to meet other at a local level and form both professional and personal relationships.

• Updates on Current Trends: Being aware of what is happening in your chosen profession is an important way to stay in touch with reality and with what the best pharmacy technician practices are. The association provides updates on these trends.

• Discount Rates to AAPT Sponsored Events: There are a number of events sponsored by the association that you will be able to attend at a markedly discounted rate. The vents are usually open to all pharmacy technicians, but as a member of the American Association of Pharmacy Technicians itself you will not be required to pay the same rate as everyone else.

• Voice in Pharmacy Technician Issues: The American Association of Pharmacy Technicians provides you with an opportunity to voice your opinions on pharmacy technician issues as it represents all of its members in relevant situations.

• Opportunities to Develop Leadership Skills: BU volunteering to help run the association you will learn valuable leadership skills that will boost your resume significantly. This will also help you advance your career and become a person of high standing in the pharmaceutical industry.

• Website Featuring Calendar of Events and Appropriate Links: This is a very useful resource in that it lists events related to pharmacy technicians in general and not only those b hosted by the American Association of Pharmacy Technicians meaning that you won’t run the risk of missing out.

Chapters And Contact Details

As with most associations that are formed in order to administer and monitor a certain segment of the health care profession, the AAPT has a number of different chapters that can be found across the country. There are chapters of the AAPT in 7 states across the US:

NEW YORK

Metro Protech Association of Pharmacy Technicians

Roseanne Grandinetti-Delgado

718/357-2015

Hrd123@man.com

NORTH CAROLINA

North Carolina Association of Pharmacy Technicians (NCAPT)

Alice Foust, Cpht

336/832-0772

Alice.foust@mosescone.com

NORTH DAKOTA/MINNESOTA

Northland Association of Pharmacy Technicians

Angela Buchanan

abuchanan@csmOnDemand.com

PENNSYLVANIA

White Rose Association of Pharmacy Technicians

Doris Gable, Cpht

715/586-4614

Gable717@aol.com

TEXAS

Alamo of San Antonio Association of Pharmacy Technicians

Beverly Miller

210/358-1087

Beverly.Miller@uhs-sa.com

WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State Association of Pharmacy Technicians

Uyen Thorstensen

425/210-9730

Uyen_thorstensen@yahoo.com

As you can see, if you want to join a chapter of the AAPT your options are few and far between as that are only located in a few very specific states across the country. However if you have the opportunity to join this association it is an opportunity that you cannot afford to miss out on because of the many benefits that you will then be eligible to receive once you have joined the fold. The above contact information and the necessary requirements and prerequisites are all you need to apply for membership with the AATP.

Belonging to the American Association of Pharmacy Technicians can make a substantial difference to your life in terms of your career as pharmacy technician. There are a number benefits, both obvious an implied, to having membership in an organization such as this. Throughout the medical profession people are asked to join associations. This is in order to control the profession and ensure that the standard of care is maintained, but it is also aimed at ensuring that professionals are protected and have access to the resources that they need to do their jobs as well as possible.

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Pharmacy technicians today, whether hospital- or community pharmacy technicians, are performing tasks that were once the realm of pharmacists, such as dispensing medication as well as taking prescriptions over the phone. This is a tremendous relief for the pharmacist, who is freed up to attend to other important matters. Highly trained pharmacy technicians are an important component of a  pharmacy team, but in order to take on more responsibilities, they will need more  training and education, and standardization and accreditation are being sought in all states.

Different Working Times For Hospital- And Community Pharmacy Technicians

When it comes to hospital vs community pharmacy technicians, hospital pharmacy technicians won’t only work day times and evenings like a community pharmacy technician, they will will required to work nights, weekends, or holidays, and this means, unlike a community pharmacy, you won’t always be working with the same group of pharmacists and technicians.  There will also be those who come in on a part-time basis.

All Pharmacy Technicians Need To Follow Accredited Programs

The requirements for accredited programs are stringent and students will be required to complete many hours of training and education. The training will thoroughly prepare the pharmacy technician and equip them with skills that are portable and not restricted to one pharmacy type. Programs are becoming standardized and this means that the skills they acquire will be able to be transferred from environment to environment as well as from state to state.

Pharmacy technicians come from a mobile industry, and when techs train under accredited programs, there is that assurance that they all have the same knowledge and training. They are not trained just to be a community pharmacy technician or a hospital pharmacy technician; but they have across-the-board training, and this means that if  you hire one of these pharm techs from an accredited program, you know they will all have all the experience, skills and knowledge that  non-accredited pharmacy technicians will not have. They will all have more or less the same knowledge on vaccines, sterile products, IV preparation, labeling, medicine stocks, preparation of medicines and lotions and much more.

The ASHP, known as The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, is the membership organization, working on behalf of pharmacists who practice in hospitals and health systems, and their job is to improve medication use and also enhance patient safety. Their mission is to advocate for the professionalism of the pharmacy technician workforce, and  The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy also advocates that pharmacy technicians complete an education and training program that must meets minimum standardized guidelines. They also  recommend the use of a single accrediting agency.

Duties Of Hospital vs Community Pharmacy Technicians Much The Same

Some of their duties include packaging and labeling prescriptions, sterilizing bottles and other glassware according to prescribed methods,doing routing pharmacy tasks, counting and measuring medications, mixing and preparing ointments and dealing with prescriptions as well as some administrative tasks.

They work under the supervision of pharmacists, and spend a good deal of time interacting with customers who come in with prescriptions or are looking for advice on over the counter medications. Most pharmacy technicians learn their skills from being in the pharmacy every day and acquiring on-the-job skills. There are no standard training requirements for pharmacy technicians, but some pharmacy technicians want to get training because they realize that when it comes to looking for a job, there are some jobs and some state that require a high school diploma as well as formal training and certification. These education programs are available through a variety of community colleges, hospitals, the military, organizations and vocational schools and can last anything from  6 months to 2 years.

Much Of Their Education Is Gained On-The-Job

The things a pharmacy technician will learn will include things like pharmaceutical terminology,  pharmacy record keeping as well as pharmacy law and ethics. It makes sense that they will need to know the names of medications, their dosage and what they do.  Some training programs will include internships,  where the student gains hands-on experience in a pharmacy. In most States, pharmacy technicians must be also be registered with the State board of pharmacy. Hospital pharmacy technicians are involved in the manufacture and dispensing of medicines. Hospitals get their supplies from the pharmaceutical industry; some of which need to be made in the pharmacy and the hospital pharmacy technician will make up medications, creams, ointments as well as mixtures from raw ingredients.

They have to work in extremely sterile conditions because if any contamination gets into the medicines, it can be fatal for the patient. The pharmacy technician is involved in the labeling of dispensed items and performs accuracy checks on dispensed medicines before the patient gets them. The hospital pharmacy technician also has to monitor and order medicines and keep stocks topped up. They keep a record of expiry dates on medications and dispose of them.

Scope Of Practice Of Pharmacy Technicians Becoming Standardized

When you look at hospital vs community pharmacy technicians you will find that their scope of practice is much the same, and in fact the roles they perform are becoming standardized and inter-changeable.  Community pharmacy technicians work in retail pharmacies under the  supervision of registered pharmacists.  They also label and dispense prescribed medicines. Just like other pharmacy technicians they also advise patients on how to use the medications  in the correct way. They can also offer advise on over-the-counter treatments and supplies like toiletries, cosmetics or baby products and can advise on treatments for simple ailments like colds or minor skin rashes.

They know when they are not able to advise on more serious matters, and will call on the pharmacist to assist in cases like this. Just like the pharmacy technician working in a hospital environment, the community pharmacy technician also keeps records of patients prescriptions on a computer. That is why all pharmacy technicians need to have some administrative skills as well.

Online Training Available For Hospital vs Community Pharmacy Technicians

Most training programs to earn a pharmacy technician certificate take about a year to complete, but there is more advanced study for those students who want to pursue a two-year associate degree or a four-year bachelor’s degree.

If you want to take the pharmacy technician certification, it can benefit you in many ways and can certainly enhance your chances of employment in the future. There are many online schools offering pharmacy technician certification courses and the benefits are that they offer flexible hours  and more affordable fees than regular classes as well. These online courses are particularly useful to those who are far from a college or school where they live. To work as a pharmacy technician in some states,  pharmacy technicians are required to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam and to complete a registration process through their Board of Pharmacy.

There are some states that don’t require technicians to be certified, but voluntary certification is available through s number of private organizations. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board as well as the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians administer national certification examinations. Technicians will need to be re-certified every two years, which will require 20 hours of continuing education in the two year certification period.

Conclusion

When working as a pharmacy technician, whether you are a hospital pharmacy technician or a community pharmacy technician, you will find  that no two days are exactly the same, but one thing is certain, they will be spending a lot of time on their feet, packing and labeling boxes, checking medication stocks and retrieving supplies from high shelves. Regardless of whether they are working in a hospital setting or a community pharmacy setting, they must be able to work independently, even though they are working under the supervision of an experience pharmacist. They will certainly not be able to be asking the pharmacist for advise throughout the day or night.

A sense of  responsibility is most important as mistakes in measuring medicines can be critical to the wellbeing of customers and patients, and to this end they need to understand how to use proper techniques to ensure that medications are prepared in a sterile environment.  When the pharmacist makes use of medical terms, they need to be familiar with all of the symbols and abbreviations that are used in a prescription order, and for this reason, both the hospital pharmacy technician as well as the community pharmacy technician must have knowledge of coding and billing as well.

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Parameters That Influence Your Salary As A Pharmacy Technician

There are a number of factors that will affect your salary within this industry other than the state in which you live, such as your level of education and experience.

Education And Level of Experience

If you are working in an entry level position, you can expect your salary to be at the lower end of the scale when compared with higher level positions. As a new pharmacy technician you can expect to earn an average salary of $29,000 per year. As with almost any career, the more qualified you are and the more experience you have, the greater your opportunity will be to bring in a higher income.

As of July 27, 2012, the national average salary for a pharmacy technician is $35,000 per year. However, if this is broken down in terms of experience levels, you will see that your earning potentials could increase considerably the longer you work.

According to PayScale’s website, the average salary for a pharmacy technician with less than one year’s experience is from $17,512 to $41,090 per year. If you have one to four years of experience you can expect a yearly salary between $16,618 and $41,476. If you have been working for five to nine years, your salary expectancy would be from $19,649 to $42,005. Someone with 10 to 19 years of experience could look at a salary of about $19,671 to $56,879. Finally, for a pharmacy technician with 20 years of experience or more, the average annual salary would be from $21,639 to $50,836. These figures were last updated on 21 July 2012.

Not all jobs in this field require you to be a certified pharmacy technician (CPhT), but having that certification will benefit you in terms of your salary. So if you are uncertified, you should seriously consider sitting the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam as it will formalize your education; higher levels of education will definitely be favored by potential employers.

Continuing Education Programs

As a CPhT, you will be required to complete a minimum of 20 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years for re-certification; at least one of these hours should be spent on pharmacy law. This will help you to remain abreast of the latest developments and regulations on medicines and drugs. Your CE credits must be related to the practice of being a pharmacy technician. These topics could include the following:

• Drug distribution
• Managed health care
• Therapeutic issues
• Communications
• Pharmacy operations
• Calculations
• Drug repackaging
• Inventory control
• Drug products
• Patient interaction
• Interpersonal skills
• Prescription compounding
• Pharmacy law (one hour mandatory)
• Preparation of sterile products
• HIV therapy
• Cholesterol
• Chronic pain
• Chemotherapy

It is also imperative that you make sure that the CE programs you choose are accredited, by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE) for example, otherwise all your hard work may not apply. Both the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) offer CE courses, and these are both fully accredited CE providers.

There are also several methods by which you can complete your CE programs. Some of these are:

• live presentations
• Internet courses
• correspondence courses
• workshops
• in-service training programs
• computer-assisted instruction
• journal articles with a CE test
• audio or video recordings with a CE test

The Institution in Which You Will Work

Your salary range will also vary depending on whether you will be working in a larger or smaller company. Convenience stores and smaller pharmacies will most likely offer a lesser salary when compared to that of a larger pharmaceutical company, hospital, or supermarket drugstore. In order to justify this salary, the larger company may require additional or very specific pharmacy technician training. Such companies will, of course, only maintain that higher salary if you prove that you are worth it, so you can expect to work hard and be entrusted with more responsibilities.

Retail pharmacy is the institution in which the vast majority of pharmacy technicians currently work (about 75 percent of them), and this role encompasses processing prescriptions, labeling prescriptions, checking patient files to avoid allergic reactions, and administrative tasks such as answering phones and receiving medication payments. However, around 15 percent of the pharmacy technician population works in 24-hour pharmacies in hospitals, and if you choose to do this you should be prepared to work some night and weekend shifts. The remaining ten percent work in nursing homes, pharmaceutical wholesalers, and the Federal Government.

• Some of the different pharmaceutical sectors include, but are not limited to:
  • Retail or community pharmacies:
• Chain drugstores such as Walgreen and Rite-Aid.
• Independent drugstores such as Seashore, Medicap, and Medicine Shoppe.
• Mass-merchandises such as Walmart, Target, K-Mart and Costco.
  • Compounding Pharmacies: These hold special medications which are not available commercially; mostly for the elderly, children, and animals.
  • Insurance companies: CPhTs may be hired by these companies for their prior authorization departments, and this is where you could earn the highest salary.
  • Hospital pharmacies
  • Clinic pharmacies
  • Home health care pharmacies
  • Long term care pharmacies
  • Mail-order prescription pharmacies
  • Pharmaceutical companies

A Positive Job Outlook For Pharmacy Technicians

The demand for pharmacy technicians, and thus their employment opportunities, is said to grow by about 32 percent by the year 2016. The entire health care industry is constantly growing; this is a result of the advancing levels of technology which increases the number of elderly individuals, who, in turn, take more medication. It is also expected that the administrative roles of pharmacy aides may soon be taken over by licensed pharmacy technicians.

Average Pharmacy Technician Salary By State

Below is a comprehensive list of the average salaries earned by pharmacy technicians in their respective states, in ascending order. Have a look to see where your state stands, and whether you should consider moving; or perhaps you already live in the highest paying state. Remember that the average salary for the entire United States is $35,000 per year.

These were last updated on July 27, 2012.

Hawaii is the lowest paying state with an average salary of $26,000 per year.

Louisiana is the second worst state to work in in terms of salary with an annual average of $28,000.

Both Nebraska and South Dakota are at $29,000 per year.

Alaska and Wisconsin offer an average of $30,000.

Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, and Pennsylvania have an average of $31,000.

Kentucky, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and South Carolina are also below average at $32,000 per year.

If you live in Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Utah, or Washington, you can expect a salary of $33,000.

The states of Delaware, Florida, Maine, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Tennessee are only slightly below average at $34,000.

If you choose to work in Arkansas, Missouri, or Vermont, you will most likely earn the national average of $35,000 per year.

The average for Maryland, Montana, Virginia, West Virginia, and New Hampshire is an annual salary of $36,000.

Pharmacy technicians in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Rhode Island, and Wyoming earn an average of $37,000 per year.

The average salary in the state of California is $39,000 annually.

If you live in Massachusetts you will happy to learn that you are in the third highest earning location. The average is $41,000.

Not surprisingly, the metropolitan state of New York boasts the second highest earning potential of $42,000 per year.

Finally, the state which offers the highest pharmacy technician salary is Mississippi, with an average yearly salary of $43,000.

Your Cost Of Living Will Also Vary By State

It is very important to remember that you need to factor in the cost of living in these states. For example, people who live in metropolitan cities such as New York, Washington, and Los Angeles have much higher living expenses than those who live in smaller towns. So if you are planning on making the move to a higher paying state, make sure that you calculate the average living expenses and compare them to the salary that you will be earning. You may find that they cancel each other out and that you are just as well off remaining in your state which pays less, but where you also spend less.

How To Boost Your Earnings As A Pharmacy Technician

When considering your pharmacy technician salary by state and workplace, it is obvious that not everyone can simply pack up and move to another state in order to chase a higher paycheck. There are alternative ways to increase your earnings.

As previously mentioned, PTs who are certified will automatically earn a higher income; so the greatest advantage for you would be to obtain that certification if you have not yet done so. This certification could give you leverage when being considered for a promotion or negotiating with your employer for a higher salary; as a CPhT you will almost certainly be considered with greater thought for a promotion than your colleagues who are not certified, as a direct result of your formal training and qualifications.

Staying with the same company for three years or longer could also give you a greater opportunity for a wage increase.

Working a few hours overtime could also boost your earnings. Your job as a pharmacy technician will be demanding, and at times you may find that business is booming, and you will therefore be very busy. This gives rise to the opportunity to work over weekends in some cases, or to work a few hours after you are scheduled to stop for the day. Since you get paid a higher wage per hour when working overtime, this could greatly increase your annual wage should you find that you may need a bit of extra money for the year.

Another factor to take into account is bonuses. Although this may not be something that you can count on as not all companies or hospitals will offer bonuses, it is definitely worth enquiring about. There are even some employers who will offer a sign-on bonus in order to attract possible employees, and this will be a great initiative for you to earn some additional income simply by choosing to accept the job offer. Do make sure that you hold up your end of the deal though, by showing that you are a hard worker and that you deserve that initial bonus. This could even lead to further bonuses down the line of you demonstrate that you are a model employee and an asset to your workplace.

In Closing

The good news is that the annual wages for pharmacy technicians are definitely on the rise, and have been increasing steadily with each new year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Department of Labor, and Indeed.com, these are the total average salaries since 2009:

• 2009 – $28,940
• 2010 – $32,011
• 2011 – $34,000
• 2012 – $35,000

The career of a pharmacy technician is not a stagnant one, and it is clear that there are many opportunities for you to further develop your skills, thereby proving your worth to the institution in which you work. So make sure that you remain on top of the current events within your industry and that you obtain your re-certification. The figures for a pharmacy technician salary by state should also indicate to you in which areas it would be more profitable for you to work, so if you are considering moving to a different state, make sure that you choose the right one.

The post Look At The Pharmacy Technician Salary By State appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

Today you find pharmacy technicians in hospitals, clinics and the retail industry. One of the tasks they have is the receipt of prescriptions, and they always have to verify that the information on the prescription is accurate. To prepare the medications, the pharmacy technician has to count, pour, weigh, measure and mix medications, and be extremely accurate in doing so. Apart from this very responsible task they will also package and label medications. Pharmacy Technicians scope of practice includes working under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist in preparing medications. Because of this, they will need to learn medication names and what they are used for.

Pharmacy Technicians Have Plenty Of Responsibilities

They will need to know about medical and pharmaceutical terminology; data entry and record keeping as well as law and ethics. A pharmacy tech cannot afford to be careless as they handle medicines because a simple mistake can put the lives of patients at risk. Taking four tablets instead of two can jeopardize the health of a patient. Computer knowledge is also very important as the pharmacy technicians scope of practice will include plenty of computer work, calling up patient’s profiles and adding in important medical information. With this kind of responsibility you would think that it is imperative for the pharmacy technician to have extensive training, but the fact is that they don’t. Most pharmacy techs decide on their own to to various courses, diplomas and degrees to become a certified pharmacy technician. Getting certification opens doors of employment.

To become certified, a student must attend an accredited institution and then sit the PTCB exam. They are the only organization offering the certification exam for pharmacy technicians and they have accreditation from the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). The certification exam consists of three sections: assisting the pharmacist in serving patients, maintaining medication and inventory control systems as well as participating in the administration and management of pharmacy practice.

Different Types Of Training To Cope With Scope Of Practice

Formal pharmacy technician education programs require that the student complete both classroom and laboratory work. Certificate programs provide the skills needed for the job and they take about a year to complete. The requirement for this is a high school diploma. Diploma programs are longer and also prepare the graduates for certification exams. A pharmacy technician’s associate degree program takes around two years to complete. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board administers the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination. More states as well as employers are requiring certification as reliance on pharmacy technicians grows. Students who pass the exam earn the title of Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). Certified technicians must be re-certified every 2 years.

There is no requirement for pharmacy techs to be certified, and many people feel unhappy about this because they feel there has to be a benchmark of establishing one’s qualification for such an important job where you are working ultimately with people’s lives. It is highly recommended to become certified because many pharmacies prefer techs who have been certified and therefore have a certain level of training. If you are able to get a job in a pharmacy and you are able to study for your certificate at the same time, online pharmacy technician courses are very helpful for working and studying at the same time.

Licensing Not Always A Requirement

Pharmacy technicians scope of practice differs from state to state and some states require pharmacy technicians to be registered or licensed while others do not. Some states will also check for a criminal record. If you want to know what is expected of you in your state, the state board of pharmacy will provide answers to your questions.

The Pharmacy Technician Must Wear A ‘Pharm Tech’ Badge

Pharmacy Technicians have to conform to certain standards of practice. In fact it is the responsibility of the pharmacist in charge to ensure that their pharmacy technicians are registered with the board as pharmacy technicians. While on duty the tech must also wear a name tag which says ‘Pharmacy Technician’. The scope of practice is not set and it it the pharmacist who will determine the duties of the pharmacy based on the way the pharmacy is run. Pharmacy technicians will perform tasks in the preparation of legend drugs as well as providing technical support services. The pharmacist will need to verify and confirm the accuracy of tasks undertaken by the pharmacy technician.

Pharmacy technicians are assistants to pharmacists, and they help the licensed pharmacists in their work, whether it is administrative or working with medicines. Although there are no particular educational requirements to become a pharmacy tech, they will certainly need to have a basic knowledge of the different pharmaceutical tasks. They are under the direct supervision of a pharmacist, and are becoming more and more in demand. The pharmacist could not cope with all their chores without the help of a pharmacy technician. You do not have to study at a university to be a pharmacy tech but many do study in order to get a better job and a better salary.

Many Pharmacy Tech Programs Offered

If you want to enroll in a pharmacy technician school, there are many schools which offer pharmacy tech programs. Once you have decided on the specific course you are going to take you can enroll in a two year associate degree course or a 4-year bachelor’s degree course. The important thing is to make sure that the college you intend studying at is properly accredited. Selecting an unknown college which is not accredited will simply not be recognized by future employers.

The Scope of Practice for Pharmacy Technician’s Duties

• assist pharmacist in labeling and filling prescriptions
• participate in the research and development quality assurance and risk management policies
• create and maintain patient profiles
• purchasing and billing
• destroying drugs or hazardous supplies or substances,
• communicating with insurance providers
• instruct patients about the use of health aids and devices, and
• entering prescriptions into the computer
• verify that customers receive correct prescription
• ordering of medicines
• pre-packing bulk medications
• compound ointments, oral solutions and intravenous injections
• prepare chemotherapeutic agents

Some of the things a pharmacy technician cannot do:

• override warnings on the computer
• counsel patients
• take new prescriptions over the phone
• advise on health and drug-related queries
• certify dispensing
• perform extemporaneous compounding
• remove medications until checked by a pharmacist
• assess drug therapy or discuss therapy with patients

The duties of a Pharmacy Technician are regulated by the state but a pharmacy tech can basically perform most of the duties that a pharmacist performs so long as a pharmacist is close by and the pharmacist is confident with the knowledge that the technician has. The role that technicians play in pharmacy and scope of practice has been debated for years and the Society for the Education of Pharmacy Technicians was created by technicians who have practiced for decades and teach accredited training programs.

Scope of Practice for Hospital Pharmacy Technicians

Hospital pharmacy technicians are involved in the dispensing and safe administration of medicines. They need to know all hospital regulations in regard to the dispensing and handling of medications and also keep accurate records for billing purposes The manufacturer supplies medicines that are ready for use by the patient. The correct product needs to be selected, measured and the product labeled with instructions.

Because some medicines are not available from commercial sources, pharmacy technicians are trained to make medicinal products from raw ingredients. Some medicines are custom made for certain patients, for example injections used to treat cancer patients. They also help patients with understanding how to take their medicines when they get home. The pharmacy technicians the medicines in rooms known as isolators and they are then sent to the wards where they are administered. The pharmacy tech needs to be accurate and ultra hygienic as the slightest inaccuracy or contamination can be fatal to the patient. The technicians are also involved in the labeling of dispensed items, after which they also perform the accuracy check on dispensed medicines.

Pharmacy technicians also monitor stocks of medicines and ensure that they are re-ordered timeously. They consult with nurses on the correct storage of medicines as well as keeping up to date with medicines that have expired. , and helping patients to understand how to use their medicines safely on the wards, and when they return home.

Scope Of Practice For Community Pharmacy Technician

Community pharmacy technicians work in retail pharmacies and they also fall under the supervision of pharmacists. Their range of tasks is much the same as other pharmacy technicians; dispensing proscribed medicines. In many states a retail pharmacist technician is qualified to sell and advise on over-the-counter products like toiletries, ointments and creams and can advise on minor ailments like itchy skin, colds and coughs. The retail pharmacy’s scope of practice will extend to supplying items like oxygen or walkers to nursing homes and clinics for patients with disability problems as well as breathing problems. As with other pharmacy technicians, the retail pharmacy tech’s scope of practice and rules and regulations will be determined by the place of employment they find themselves in as well as by the state they are employed in. Some of the community pharmacy technician’s tasks will include administrative work as well. Generally their scope of practice includes:

• restocking shelves and ordering medicines
• receive verbal prescriptions from practitioners
• ensure the accuracy of a prepared prescription,
• answering the phone
• filling prescriptions as well as entering information on the computer
• collection patient information with regards to medical aid as well as personal medical information and ensure the accuracy of drug and personal health information
• working with insurance companies

Military And Emergency Pharmacy Technicians

Pharmacy technicians in the military and emergency section have to work in demanding conditions because they work with relief and humanitarian aid organizations. Their scope of practice will include tasks that are similar and standard across all pharmacy technician fields such as preparation of prescription medicines, mixing of ingredients, printing labels as well as organizing shipments of medications and dispensing medications to patients. Military pharmacy technicians have more job responsibilities than community or civilian pharmacy techs but they do not have the scope of practice to do the job of civilian pharmacy technicians.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that pharmacy technicians play an important role in alleviating the workload of pharmacists, and these days they are being required to extend their reach even further by offering excellent medical assistance to patients. There are a range of excellent job possibilities for pharmacy technicians and placement will depend on the technicians level of experience by they all ensure a constant supply of medications according to their particular state’s laws and regulations.

According to a number of studies, the future for pharmacy technician jobs looks brighter than ever and this is because there are always new developments in medical technology and newer and better medicines coming out. The fact that the human population is bursting at its seams means that living conditions are not going to be improving and stress and substance abuse is on the increase. Pharmacy Technicians scope of practice is going to become more involved and technical in the future and they will need to be well trained to cope. The need for all kinds of medicines is on the increase and pharmacy technicians have a huge role to play in the preparation and dispensing of medications for the burgeoning population of the future.

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Getting a job as a pharmacy technician will not only be financially rewarding, you will have a broad selection of jobs to choose from. With a shortage of pharmacists as well as a growing consumer demand for prescription medications, the pharmacy technician will have an even greater opportunity in the future to play an ever more important role in today’s pharmacy industry. Health services are one of the largest industries in the country when you take into account those they are self employed as well, and according to the US Department of Labor, employment of pharmacy technicians is expected to increase. Graduates should find employment easily with local community pharmacies, hospitals and retail pharmacies etc.

Continuing Education Important

The American Association of Pharmacy Technicians (AAPT) was founded in 1979, and they are an international not-profit organization dedicated to the improved delivery of pharmaceutical services. With the growth in pharmacy technologies, educational requirements are essential for pharmacy technicians. The Association recognizes the value of continuing education, and to this end they have established a Continuing Education Service and the chance for participants to get CE credits. The Association plays an active role in providing continuing education opportunities so that pharmacy technicians and always be updating their skills to keep up with changes in the pharmacy practice.

The Association represents pharmacy technicians who practice in community pharmacies, hospitals or as educators. There are thousands of technicians practicing in the United States and with the evolving role of the pharmacist as a patient consultant, there is promise of substantial growth in this industry. The American Association of Pharmacy Technicians encourages recognition of pharmacy technicians as well as standardization of their responsibilities. They want to develop formal training programs and with certification, they can be sure that pharmacy technicians have a certain level of competence.

Being a member of this Association offers certain benefits, of which the following are some:

• updates on trends in the industry
• continuing education credits
• a quarterly newsletter
• discounted rates to Association sponsored events

Pharmacy Technicians must know all about pharmacy laws and ethics and will work under the supervision of a pharmacist; assisting them in the dispensing of prescription medicines as well as the running of the dispensary. The technician will:

• check that prescriptions are 100% accurate

• read a prescription, count, pour, weigh, measure, and mix medications

• maintain computerized patient records

• keep a computerized medication data list up to date; enter prescription details, prepare labels and dispensing medicines

• explain to patients how to use their medications

• do lots of administrative duties – preparation of invoices, filing, answering phones

• pack medicines into prescribed packages for retirement home residents

• pharmacy technicians also work in the retail area of the pharmacy advising customers on creams, lotions, grooming products etc.

• monitoring stock supplies

What Qualifications And Training Must A Pharmacy Technician Have

Levels of training will vary in different states and pharmacies, and currently there no specific requirements for formal training or certification in pharmacy technician industries. However, with the right training and knowledge, you have a much better chance of landing a job in this competitive industry. Training programs are offered by vocational skills, some hospitals, community colleges and health schools. Many training programs include internships where the student will gain hands-on experience in a pharmacy. Examinations are offered by two certifying bodies:

• Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) – offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)

• Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT) – offered by the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT).

Once these exams are complete, the candidate is granted certification, where after the technician will need to complete continuing education to maintain certification. Students can either receive a diploma, a certificate, or an associate’s degree. The programs offered can last anything from six months to two years after which the pharmacy technician will have a certificate or diploma.

Certification Differs From State To State

Some state make getting a certificate voluntary while other states require a certificate. The programs will include a mixture of lab work, medical ethics, record keepings and medical terminology. Students wanting to write exams will require a high school diploma or GED. Technicians must be re-certified every 2 years which requires twenty hours of continuing education within the 2-year certification period.  For more information on Pharmacy Technician Training, you can look at www.pharmacy-technician-salary.org for more information.

To become a pharmacy tech, you need to pass certain requirements, and each state has an exam that you will need to pass. With certification you become part of the medical industry as a pharmacy technician.

Online Training Programs

Flexibility is the draw card for these programs and training can be done from any computer that has an Internet connection and access to the course work and assignments. Online training is very similar to that of attending classes.

Must A Pharmacy Technician Be Registered?

Registration as a pharmacy technician became mandatory in July 2011. This is to ensure they have the approved competency based qualification and have completed a minimum of 2 years relevant work-based experience. Anyone working in Pharmacy Technician Industries will need to be registered. Anyone who is not registered  but practices as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician, or refers to themselves as such, is breaking the law and can be prosecuted.

CphT stands for Certified Pharmacy Technician. Pharmacy Technician industries have different educational and certification requirements which are set by each state’s Board of Pharmacy. Pharmacy technicians will need to be certified within 2 years of registration with the Division of Professional Regulation. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies and technicians who pass the ExCPT Pharmacy Exam will be given the title of Certified Pharmacy Technician.

Criminal Tests And Finger Printing Required

To perform any duties in a pharmacy, the pharmacy technician or pharmacy technician trainee must have an active registration with their state Board of Pharmacy. There are some states that require that their pharmacy technicians get fingerprinted first, and in fact applications will not be processed until fingerprint results are received.

The Pharmacy Technician Board develops and administers a nationally accredited certification and re-certification program for pharmacy technicians for the benefits of patient safety.

The pharmacy technician certification program will enable technicians to work more effectively with pharmacists in the delivery of safe and effective patient care. Certification is achieved by meeting specific eligibility requirements.  The candidates’ competence will be assessed by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board and all procedures are directed by a council of expert pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

Graduates are prepared for national certification which is offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. With certification the technician will certainly enjoy increased pay and more flexibility to choose from a wider selection of jobs.

The Cost Of Training

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that training as well as the salaries for pharmacy technicians varies significantly from state to state. As with all medical training, it pays to get tuition from a reputable and accredited school. Financial aid is available at most pharmacy technician schools, allowing students to pay far less or even nothing for their tuition. Many pharmacy technician schools offer extensive financial packages, and for students who don’t qualify for grants and scholarships, there is the option of student loans.

Conclusion

Pharmacy technicians play an important role in the medical industry; handling a wide assortment of essential tasks that the pharmacist would never be able to handle in the course of the day. Although it is mandatory in some states to be registered, there are other states that do not license, register, or certify Pharmacy Technicians as there is no legal requirement. However they still require that candidates for pharmacy technician industries be 18 years of age, possess a high school diploma, pass an examination approved by their state’s Board of Pharmacy and also submit to a criminal records check.

The industry associated with study will focus around the relevant drugstore ethics and pharmaceutical practices. Completing internships may be required as part of the training and accreditation by a local or national pharmaceutical Drug board may also be required; but if it is not, it is in your best interests to get yourself certified and this tells future employers that you are in fact competent to do the job of a pharmacy technician.

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