How To Start Pharmacy Technician Training

Pharmacy technician training is not just about being a technician, the pharmacist aide is also a highly skilled assistant and skills such as those that are similar to a medical assistants or nurses are also expected of a pharmacy tech. A must have skill is good people skills as well as honesty. A pharmacist tech needs to be able to multitask as well as think critically. In addition problem solving, good customer service skills and flexibility, and you must be detail oriented.

After a student has completed their training they can expect to find jobs in hospitals, retail pharmacies, retail chain pharmacies, nursing home facilities and drug distribution companies. There are also opportunities for pharmacist to become drug representatives for pharmaceutical companies. A typical pharmacist’s day includes entering info into the computer, supply heath care to patients and customers, working with insurance companies, labeling printouts and also filling the actual prescriptions.

Pharmacists that work in hospitals their tasks will include preparing ad mixtures for IVs, preparing medicine orders, basic pharmacy work as well as updating patient records. A starting salary for a newly qualified pharmacist ranges between $11 and $15 an hour. An experienced pharmacy technician earns around $18 to $20 an hour. Better benefit packages as well as higher salaries are paid by hospitals. After one has completed their pharmacy technician training, which is a fantastic career, they are assured of a job placement.

For pharmacy technician training students that are unable to afford the outlay of costs there are federal student loans as well as Pell grants available. There are also pharmacy technician programs in place that have formed relationships with the pharmacy industry that employ students that have graduated. On every campus there is a department that is dedicated to assisting students in job placements which includes CV writing and interview techniques as well as other fundamental skills.

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Brief Overview of Pharmacy Technician Continuing Education

Continuing education credits, classes or certificates are a requirement for many professionals, whether they are licensed, accredited, or certified. The law requires that these individuals meet certain job requirement training, annually. Pharmacy technicians need 20 clock hours to maintain their certification. Guidelines are specific as to how many hours a pharmacy tech can obtain, either on the job, or in a classroom. Ten of the twenty hours the tech needs can be done at work, on the jobsite. There are several additional ways for pharmacy techs to earn their remaining hours. For instance, they can register at their local college, an accredited class, or online, and complete an approved course.

Approved courses in the area of math or science are preferable. Many continuing education classes are free, and are offered by the employer. Classes that are no free, usually costs very little. The internet has a compiling list of online schools that offer the C.E. classes that pharmacy techs will need to become, or remain current in their certification. The National Pharmacy Association is also responsible for helping students receive the hours they need. Students are encouraged to check with the National Pharmacy Association, regarding the requirements they need for their state. This is due to the variability of each state requirement pertaining to licensure, certification, and re-certification.

The pharmacy technician must continue their training and learning in areas of medicine and pharmaceutical job related issues. They must remain up to date in their jobs requirement, and functionality. It is vital for the tech to register for classes prior to the expiration date of their certification. It is the responsibility of the pharmacy technician to check the accreditation of the issuing company. The certificate should be nationally recognizable to prevent non-recertification. Some states will not accept certificates from non-approved institutions.

The Pharmacy Board may have other methods the pharmacy technician can pursue to obtain their continuing education hours, or C.E.U.’s. The total number of hours needed to complete may or may not be the same in each state. Each state has there own requirements, regarding the certification, issuing of licensure, and the required number of hours the pharmacy tech may need. Students or candidates who are in need of continuing education hours can talk to their employers, or contact the appropriate board of pharmacy association. Credits must be earned on or preferably, before the expiration date listed on the certification.

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