Going through formal Pharmacy Technician training is the best way to command the highest salary possible and it means you are much more likely to be chosen for a job as a Pharmacy Tech than the majority of people who apply with no training or certification.
Typically, a high-quality Pharmacy Technician training course will last from 6 months to 2 years and will include full instruction on a variety of duties required by the Tech. From medical knowledge and pharmaceuticals to good customer service — Pharmacy Tech training covers everything you’ll need.
Classes can also cover other aspects of the job, including drugs and treatment, medical law, and up-to-date Pharmacy practices.
Some of the most common Pharmacy Technician training courses are:
- Chemistry
- Pharmacology
- Pharmaceutical and Medical termanologies
- Calculating doses
- Common drug reactions
- Keeping Pharmacy records
- Understanding prescriptions
- Pharmacy laws
- Using dosage forms
- How to prepare drugs
It’s pretty common in Pharmacy Technician training course to study in the classroom part of the time, and in a real work environment for the other part to gain real world experience. This is known as a Pharmacy Technician Externship.
Working under the supervision of a Pharmacist or senior Pharmacy Tech, you will learn how to work in a Pharmacy and your supervisor will report back to the class instructor to help them evaluate your grade.
Often, the Pharmacy Tech’s who do well in the externship will be offered a job by the pharmacy, hospital or drug store after they have graduated.
Certification is an optional extra after graduation which isn’t required, but is highly recommended to improve your chances of securing a highly paid Pharmacy Technician job. You’ll need to check your state requirements to see whether you need to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT) certification.
Once you have graduated and become a certified Tech, most people then go into a real work Pharmacy Technician job full time. This experience can be used as a stepping stone to later return to school and continue your training to become a fully-qualified pharmacist.
Becoming a pharmacist will explode your earning potential and the first-hand knowledge you gain by become a Pharmacy Technician first will be invaluable. Skills like handling medicine, dealing with patients, understanding the prescriptions are essential to become a good pharmacist and Pharmacy Technician training makes it a breeze for most people.
One of the best places to start your quest to become a Pharmacy Technician is by visiting Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. You can find a local test centre and apply for your certification online.