One requirement for a pharmacy technician that is required across the board are the hours that you must have in the education field. You must have at minimum an Associates degree and it needs to be in a direct course needed for a pharmacy technician directly. This may include health, biological physical, and natural sciences.

With all that being said here is a very detailed list of the duties that are expected to be carried out by the pharmacy technician on a day to day basis.

• You will be assisting with labeling and filling the actual prescriptions
• Assist in the dropping off or picking up of prescriptions
• Data entry of the prescription into the system when it is dropped off by the patient
• Verifying that the customer does indeed have the correct prescriptions
• You will be in charge of scheduling the work flow and watching that it is carried out
• You will be screening important and non-vital calls from the pharmacist
• Maintaining and updating any inventory sheets
• Assisting in out patient and in patient dispensing of medication
• Monitoring the purchasing and billing orders
• Maintaining patient profiles and making sure they are receiving the appropriate medication

Many people think that is a ton of work to be in charge of for the average salary that a pharmacy technician does receive. You will not become a millionaire with this as your career choice that is for certain. However they so pretty good. Depending on the amount of experience, certification, previous employment, and what location you are in will depend on how much money you will be bringing in. usually it goes anywhere from minimum wage to approximately $14.00 an hour. Right now and for the past 6 years California leads the pack in the highest paid area for a pharmacy technician to work. They pay approximately $17.00 an hour.

I have researched this career for years and I have always been under the assumption that if you are concerned with the pay, you are going into the wrong career. Because I have always looked at a career as an escape and not something that will cause more issues down the road because you are not getting enough income. Above all else, do what makes you happy. Because as long as you are happy, you will give it your all. If you are in it because you have to be, you will never be happy.

There are certain things you need to do in order to become a pharmacy tech, and the first one is to acquire your high school diploma. After you have a diploma you can begin studying in the field either with on the job training or through a training program. Please take note that on the job training is not recognized as a degree. The only way to achieve a degree is to go to a formal program. Such as a community college, a hospital, online classes or even taking classes through the military. Along with achieving the certification through a classroom setting, you will also need to participate in an internship program before actually putting your hands on that degree.

There are certain requirements that you have to meet in order to be a registered pharmacy tech; and one of them is becoming registered with the State Board of Pharmacy. Keep in mind there is a registration fee that will vary per state and this particular registration is not 100% necessary to begin working in the field. However if you are serious about obtaining the nationally recognized certifications you can take the certification exams at the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians or the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. Your likelihood of enhancing your job opportunities will be above and beyond the rest of the applicants.

To make your growth as a pharmacy tech a bit easier for you there are some qualities you will want to get a grip on.

• Perfect your customer service and communication skills
• Be abreast of the basic math, reading, and spelling skills
• Precision and extreme attention to detail

One great thing to keep in mind is the growth rate of this job. It is going up; not down. It is actually estimated that by 2018 the expected increase in this pharmacy tech career is approximately 30% to 35% in total. Compared to other careers these numbers are staggering, in only a good way. The reason why the increase is expected is due to the younger growing older and needing medications in order to sustain their lives.

Above all else, remember to only go after a career that will ultimately make you happy. If that means you go after being a pharmacy tech, then so be it. If it means a different career, then go for it. But whatever career you strive for, give it your best!

One of the worst decisions to make is between; career and family. No one should have to make this decision at all. That is why the  pharmacy technician schools that are offered online allowed people to stop making those decisions and have the best of both worlds. They can not only have family, work, and friends; but they can also have a career fit in their nicely as well.

There are a few things things that a potential student needs to keep in mind if they want to enroll in online pharmaceutical courses online. Basically there are only three steps, and they are below.

1. The first and I think the most important step is choosing a school. A word you will want to listen for and confirm along the way is, accredited. You definitely want a school that is accredited. And what that means is that when receive your degree from an accredited school you can take it to any other school and continue your education. Not only that, but a potential employer will notice an accredited degree as well. A school that is not accredited should not even be considered because you are wasting your money. There are no continued education schools or employers that will recognize a degree from a non-accredited school
2. Secondly, you will need to apply and complete the courses. You may have several courses to take. Many schools have you take prerequisite classes in order to qualify for other courses. Often times these classes will need to be done before you even begin on your major, which are the pharmacy tech classes. But remembering that all  pharmacy technician schools are not the same in this regard is very important.
3. Lastly, and this is something that you can work on while you are nearing graduation. And that is applying for and interviewing for work. I would recommend applying at larger hospitals, and ones that specialize in one illness. Based on those theories there will be more individuals traveling from other countries for treatment and that would do nothing but offer you job security. Trying to stick with newer hospitals or pharmacies is ideal, with leaving the local chains as the last resort.

Out of all of the suggestions that you will receive when you start talking about going to school, and you will get a lot of them; make sure you take advice from people who have gone through the courses and know exactly what to expect. That is where your serious advice is coming from, all others I would just nod my head and thank them for their advice and go on about my day. Because when looking into pharmacy technician schools the last thing you need is bad advice.

One thing to remember is the fact that depending on the type of facility you work for your  pharmacy technician job description may vary. To be more specific; pharmacy technicians who work in hospitals or pharmacies have different job directives then someone working in a mail-order fulfillment center. Also, those working in nursing homes, or full time care facilities may very well have completely different job objectives.

There are basic duties that will be included within all  pharmacy technician jobs, and they are ones that you will need to be very familiar with.

• You will be responsible for receiving and verifying all prescriptions coming into and leaving the pharmacy
• You will be getting prescriptions ready for customers; this includes mixing medicine, counting pills, and labeling bottles
• You will also be pricing and labeling prescriptions for customers
• You will need to remember to obtain approval from the pharmacist before releasing prescriptions
• You will need to keep all patient information in order and up to date
• You will need to process insurance claims and verify funding from insurance agencies
• You will need to stock medication and keep very detailed inventory records

Some of these responsibilities may vary depending on whether you work in retail pharmacy or not. The  pharmacy technician job description for retail pharmacies might also include stocking over the counter medications as well as acting as a cashier. Sometime the jobs of the pharmacy assistant tend to overlap those of the pharmacy technician. So, just be prepared for the requests of you to change on a regular basis, given what the pharmacist needs at that particular moment.

There are a few very important things to remember however; unless you are working within a patient care facility you should not be reading patient charts, or preparing or delivering medication for consumption. This is something very important to keep in mind.

This might seem like a lot to keep in mind, but trust me when you are going after a career that you love, it is all worth it. I just thought giving an honest opinion of what to expect would be great. That way there are no surprises either. I would hate to enroll in a course and think it is going to be a breeze and find out otherwise, when it is to late. When you make the decision and take the  pharmacy technician job description seriously then you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are ready to register and begin your career.

I am not in the business of yanking anyone out of their dream career. However, if you are anticipating riches and glory by becoming a pharmacy technician, you may want to rethink the salary. The average American pharmacy technician salary is basically in the range of $30k a year. Now, I know that is nothing to sneeze at, especially if you live along or if you have no children to care for. It is of course easier to care for one, than many. Now, having said that, there are ways to make more money in this field. Working as a pharmacy tech you will undoubtedly have opportunities to work on weekends. Because normally the techs take the odd hours, which allow for a swing shift rate in most cases.

There are a few suggestions I would personally make to someone who just has their heart set on working in the pharmacy industry.

• There is a rise in the demand for pharmacy technicians nationwide. However, stick with hospitals. And especially newer modeled hospitals that have a specialty about them.
• Memorization is key! Working as a pharmacy technician is an abundance of memorization. You are someone’s assistant and you need to be at the top of your game.
• Understand if you want to increase your pharmacy technician salary, you will need to increase your hours or your expected duties.
• Take advantage of the education and extended certification you can acquire. Such as the ExCPT pharmacy exam. These particular degrees are issued by the ICPT, better known as the NHA.

This last decision seems like it is the hardest one for any one person to make. How will they acquire their degree? How do you plan on going through the certification process? Are you going to be enrolling in online courses or attending local courses in your hometown? This could very well be the most important decision you make regarding your possible new career choice. In many cases once you choose, you can not swap or change your mind if it does not work for you. Map out your lifestyle and make a decision on whether or not local in class teachings will be the best bet for you, or do you take courses online and work at your own pace?

Any career is important to the one studying for it, no matter how it seems to appear to someone else. If you choose to tell your banker father and surgical professor mother that you want to be a pharmacy technician, they will probably raise some eyebrows about it. But if you explain how you plan on working hard, attending classes, and that the pharmacy technician salary is enough to carry you to the next level of your career, I am sure they will back you 100% just for you wanting to do it to. Making sure that you emphasize on the fact that you are not stopping at a pharmacy technician, that you do plan on furthering your career.

A pharmacy technician can earn approximately thirty thousand US dollars every year. This is a good living if you consider that you can work on weekends to be able to earn more. Also, if you are quite the hard worker and you pursue further training, you can increase your wage. An entry level employee in this field is expected to receive less than someone who has put in a few years on the job.

What you need to consider is that there is an increasing demand for technicians, especially in the health industry. This is a trend that shows no sign of changing. Right now, there are more technicians that are seeking to go up the corporate ladder in the medical field by being more diligent on the job and by going for further training.

If you choose the hospital or medical facility you will start your career in, you may even be promoted to a higher position quickly. Go for a hospital that’s new, and that specializes in curing one particular disease. These hospitals will surely attract patients all over the country that need to get treated for that particular disease. If you don’t get to work in your ideal hospital, don’t sweat it. You can train in another medical facility until you become more experienced and will be in a position to apply for a higher position in any hospital of your choice.

If you are asked to handle more duties beyond the scope of the job description, expect higher pay. The road to becoming a pharmacy technician may be tough but the rewards are definitely worth it. All you need to do is to continue working hard and open your doors to more lucrative opportunities to come.

A pharmacy assistant’s job is something that could provide you personal satisfaction and great growth potential as a person and as a professional. This is an ideal occupation for people who are meticulous and serious about helping people. You will be expected to deal with people as well as machines when you’re a pharmacy assistant. You may need to hone your memory skills if you want to do a good job.

Most institutions also require you to take a special certification exam. The ICPT is one such certification for aspiring pharmacy assistants. You may need to renew your certification every two years or so.

An online pharmacy technician course is ideal for people who want to improve their educational credentials without being absent from their day jobs simply because they have to attend class. It saddens me to think that this used to be the trend a few years back. One has to give up his source of livelihood to have the time for school. The people who did this then must have felt awful about choosing between a steady pay check and investing on their future by studying.

Now there is an alternative for someone who wants to obtain a pharmacy technician degree while working to fund his or her education. Attending traditional schools is still an option, but now there are online courses to choose from if you really have no time to spare. With something like a pharmacy technician certification, you can your dreams of a career in the health industry.

If you’re one of the people who have always wanted to obtain a job in the pharmaceutical industry, here are the steps…

First, choose a good school. There are a lot of online universities to choose from, but among these are the very best ones. Choose a school that is accredited by your state so you don’t waste the money you spend on your education. A diploma from a non-accredited school will amount to nothing when you start applying for certification. You cannot blame the school either, you have ample time to do your research before you invested your hard earned cash in your schooling. Online schools that don’t offer the appropriate certification will also need to be scrubbed off your list. What you need is a school program that complies with the requirements of your goal, which is to be certified as a pharmacy technician.

Next, complete the course with flying colors and look for on-the-job training options. After you have learned the basics of the job, and the theories that you will need to take the certification exam, you are going to need to apply your learning somehow. Although it’s rare for employers to hire you without a certification, you can simply switch your day job into something that is in the health sector so you can get used to the transition faster.

Finally, when you pass the certification examination, you can continue with a career as a pharmacy technician. Find a hospital or a clinic that is looking for a person with your credentials so that you can immediately work in the health industry.

However, there is still competition to worry about as a surge of new jobs for this career route is evident in the last five years. This means a lot of people are switching careers. In particular, those who have been laid off from their previous jobs are looking into joining the health industry because of the lucrative prospects. Some of the retired businesspersons who are looking to secure a better future for their children are even considering a career as a pharmacy technician. These things indicate that you still need to become more competitive, considering that so many people want this job.

Here are some of the factors that will make your resume stand out.

One of the factors that will set you apart is education. If you already have a background in health care, like you’ve studied nursing in the past, you may have an edge over those who are just starting from scratch. However, pharmacy is a whole new industry even for medical professionals. There are a lot of things to consider, and a lot of math and memorizing to do.

Your attitude toward sick patients will also set you apart from the rest. Believe it or not, a skilled interviewer will be able to know if your patience is too short for this job. There are also indicators in your resume that tell of your attitude toward people in general. Remember, the people you will be talking to will be distraught over their medicines. You have to calm them down as well as help them find what they need.

Mention your willingness to learn new things. The health care industry is ever evolving, and more drugs are coming out to combat today’s most deadly diseases. In order to keep up with these changes, you must be open minded and eager to receive more opportunities to expand your knowledge in pharmaceutical and safe practices in the medical field.

List all your training experiences, and mention jobs in the service industry. You never know what selection criterion they are using to screen their applicants. You need to put your best foot forward, and the way to do this is to create a good resume.

To get a job like this you need to pass the pharmacy technician certification test. After this, the world is your oyster in a sense. You can get formally certified as a pharmacy technician and get a higher paying job in a major pharmaceutical company. If you’re lucky, you can even apply for a spot in a big hospital where your skills will be invaluable in helping more people. There is a standard qualification exam given by the pharmacy technician certification board and this can be passed by anyone who goes through training.

This examination will open a lot of doors for you, but you will need to study for it. It is recommended that you get into an intensive review session just to pass the test. A higher score on the test will mean more opportunities, plus you get to apply for more job openings. After this, you will need to go for on the job training to increase your knowledge of the job. It is understood that when you apply for a job as a pharmacy technician, you already know the basics of working in the field and you know what to do in most situations in the workplace.

How to Pass the Test

Mind your study habits by preparing a specific schedule for reviews. Going through the curriculum and the reviewers will give you hints on what could possible appear on the test. A systematic approach is best. If your schedule will allow it, attend study groups so you can sponge up the knowledge that others can share. There may have been areas that you missed while self-studying. You also need to rest well so that you don’t burn yourself out.

Don’t just idly wait for the results of the test. You can scout for related jobs in the area. If it involves a hospital or a health care facility, great! If not, you can always go for a service oriented job, or you can volunteer. You can add a related work experience in your resume if you only stick with jobs that have something to do with health care or the service industry.

The pharmacist may be too busy with other things to take care of everything inside the clinic. A lot of pharmacies hire technicians because of this problem. The tasks involves making phone calls to physician and checking on refills. You may also have to get in touch with several pharmaceutical companies to negotiate and monitor the delivery of drugs. Everything from filing folders to measuring pills for the patients, to filling their prescriptions, are involved.

One more job of a pharmacy technician is to answer the questions of customers about dosages. Pharmacy technicians are not allowed to give medication advice and even to prescribe medication. They don’t have the license to do this and a doctor is needed for that task. However, if it’s a simple question like how to take the medicine, the technician can simple read the label and describe the process to the customer. Some customers are not able to do this themselves because of various reasons like poor eyesight, or they think it’s the job of the pharmacy technician to describe the process to them. This is particularly true if some device is needed for a procedure like a massage.

You might find yourself doing small errands for the pharmacist, which is also a part of your job. Making the pharmacist’s work lighter is the major responsibility of a pharmacy technician. The tasks of a pharmacy technician range from being a gofer to being the person who mans the store when the pharmacist has to go away.