The best way to get a realistic snapshot of any career is to take a look at the Occupational Outlook Handbook's career profile. The handbook is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, and it provides an in-depth look of thousands of careers.
The following information was taken from the Pharmacy Technician Career Outlook page of the Occupational Outlook Handbook:
What Pharmacy Technicians Do
Pharmacy technicians help licensed pharmacists dispense prescription medication.
Pharmacy technicians typically perform the following duties:
- Take from customers or health professionals the information needed to fill a prescription
- Count tablets and measure amounts of other medication for prescriptions
- Compound or mix medications, such as preparing ointments
- Package and label prescriptions
- Accept payment for prescriptions and process insurance claims
- Do routine pharmacy tasks, such as answering phone calls from customers
Pharmacy technicians work under the supervision of pharmacists, who must review all prescriptions before they are given to patients. If a customer's question is about the medication or health matters, the pharmacy technician arranges for the customer to speak with the pharmacist.
Pharmacy technicians working in hospitals and other medical facilities prepare a greater variety of medications, such as intravenous medications. They may make rounds in the hospital, giving medications to patients.
Work Environment
Pharmacy technicians work in pharmacies, including those found in grocery and drug stores, and in hospitals. In addition, many pharmacy technicians work in mail order pharmacies as dispensing techs and as order entry techs.
How to Become a Pharmacy Technician
Becoming a pharmacy technician usually requires earning a high school diploma. Some states also require completing a formal training program and passing a state exam and/or a national certification exam.
Education & Training
Many pharmacy technicians learn how to perform their duties on the job. Others attend postsecondary education programs in pharmacy technology at vocational schools or community colleges.
How Much Money Do Pharmacy Technicians Make?
The median annual wage of pharmacy technicians was $28,400 in May 2010. The pay ranges drastically from state to state, and even city to city. Some techs make as little as $8.00 per hour and others make $19.00 per hour.
As with anything else, those with experience and certification will earn more pay, and hospitals and mail order pharmacies tend to pay more than retail pharmacies.
Licenses & Certifications
Most states regulate pharmacy technicians in some way. Consult your state’s Board of Pharmacy for its particular regulations. Requirements for pharmacy technicians typically include some or all of the following:
- High school diploma or GED
- Criminal background check
- Formal training program
- Exam
- Fees
- Continuing education
Some states and employers require pharmacy technicians to have certification. Even where it is not required, certification may make it easier to get a job. Many employers will pay for their pharmacy technicians to take the certification exam.
Two organizations offer certification: The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Job Outlook
Employment of pharmacy technicians is expected to increase by 32 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations.
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