The field of pharmacy is growing steadily. The ever-increasing number of new medicines available, and new medical technologies require skilled personnel. The higher percentage of older people who require medical care and medicines are also placing greater demands on pharmacists. They need assistance to cope with heavier workloads. Pharmacy technicians can fill this need.

Pharmacy technicians assist and support pharmacists in providing medications and other health care products to patients. They have a broad knowledge of pharmacy practice and are skilled in the techniques required to order, stock, package, and prepare medications.

Community Pharmacy Technicians receive prescriptions or medication orders and check the prescription for completeness. They confirm the patient’s name, spelling, address, and the name of the product for authenticity, legality, and reimbursement information. They measure, count, package, and carefully label doses from bulk supplies. They may prepare sterile solutions, or transfer medicines from vials to syringes. They may put ointments in tubes, and reconstitute, mix, and pour certain medicines. Technicians also use aseptic techniques to add medications or nutrients to intravenous solutions.

Hospital Pharmacy Technicians have different responsibilities. They prepare and dispense medicines to patients according to notations on chart orders. After the pharmacist reviews the orders, the technicians copy the facts about each patient and the prescribed medicines on the patient’s profile. The technicians prepare medicines or other preparations for delivery to patient care wards or units. They put together a twenty-four-hour supply of medicines for each patient. For each patient, they package and label each prescribed dose separately. Then they place them in the medicine case of each patient. They keep a running inventory of the medicines, chemicals, and other supplies they deal with.

Skills Needed

Accuracy and orderliness are essential for the correct dispensing of prescriptions and medication. Pharmacy technicians must be alert, observant, and attentive to details. They should be able to follow written and oral instructions exactly. Even though a pharmacist checks the technicians’ work, the technician must never become careless. They must prepare medicines correctly and keep accurate records at all times. They should be able to work under pressure and to deal with emergencies without making mistakes. Their work must be precise because details are sometimes a matter of life and death.

Communication and people skills are very important to be a successful pharmacy technician. These workers should have a concern for people. They should get along well with customers, patients, nurses, and other staff. These workers should enjoy working as a member of a team. Pharmacy technicians cannot have prior records of drug or substance abuse.

Dollars and Cents

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in May 2006, pharmacy technicians earned an average of $24,640 a year. Earnings ranged from a high of more than $35,300 a year to a low of less than $17,120 a year. Wages vary depending on geographic location, employer, level of education, and years of experience. In large hospitals salaries may start at $28,000 a year and go as high as $40,000 a year. Certified technicians may earn more. Shift differentials for working evenings or weekends also can increase earnings.

Additional information on pharmacy technician salaries can be found at www.salary.com. Pharmacy technician salaries can be found under the ‘Pharmaceutical’ or ‘Healthcare Technicians’ job category. Choose the location where you want to work. Select either the Pharmacy Technician I or Pharmacy Technician II job title and click “create salary report”.

Education and Training

There are a number of different training methods for pharmacy technicians. Some learn their skills on the job. However, many are trained through pharmacy technology programs in private vocational schools, community and junior colleges, technical schools, trade schools, or the Armed Forces. Individuals can earn a certificate or diploma from a one-year program, or an associate degree from a two-year program.

Many of these programs meet the accreditation standards of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. This organization specifies 600 hours of training time extending over a period of fifteen weeks or longer.

Some private vocational schools offer courses in pharmacy technology, but these are not accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Graduates of accredited pharmacy technician programs can perform a broader range of duties and have a better chance of getting higher-paying jobs.

Certification and Licensing

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) administers the National Pharmacy Technician Certification examination. Those who pass the exam earn the title, certified pharmacy technician (CPhT). Recertification is required every two years. For this, pharmacy technicians must complete twenty contact hours of continuing education in pharmacy-related topics within the two-year period.

Many employers are recognizing the benefits of using CPhTs in the pharmacy. Some of the major employers who support the PTCB certification program are Albertsons, Brooks, CVS/pharmacy, Eckerd, Happy Harry’s, Hartig Drug Stores, Kaiser Permanente, King Soopers, Kmart, Owen Healthcare, Schnucks, Thrifty White, and Walgreens. These employers are not only encouraging pharmacy technicians to take the PTCB examination, but may also offer salary and reimbursement incentives to successful candidates. [source]

National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA) offers the following ACPE-accredited programs, each integrating home study learning with hands-on training, to provide CPhT specialization.

• Sterile Products
• Compounding

Most states also require pharmacy technicians to be registered or licensed through the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) lists state boards offering licensing and registration. Pharmacy technicians who work for agencies such as the Veterans Administration or state hospitals may have to take a civil service test.

Employers

Pharmacy technicians work in hospital pharmacies, community pharmacies, home health pharmacies, long-term care pharmacies, clinic pharmacies, nuclear medicine pharmacies, managed care organizations, health insurance companies, and in mail-order prescription pharmacies. They also work in government agencies and in the military.

When You’ll Work

Pharmacy technicians generally work forty hours a week. They may work evenings, nights, weekends, and some holidays. Since some hospital and retail pharmacies are open 24 hours a day, technicians may work varying shifts.

Career Outlook

There is a tremendous projected growth in career opportunities for pharmacy technicians over the next several years. Pharmacy technician is listed as number 16 on CareerBuilder.com’s list of “30 Top Jobs of 2008“. Many of those employment opportunities will be in retail or community pharmacies, especially with the chain drug stores.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities are expected to grow through the year 2016, especially for technicians with formal training or previous experience. Each year many pharmacy technicians leave the field to return to school, take on family responsibilities, transfer to another occupation, or retire. During that time, employment is expected to grow by nearly 32 percent. Opportunities for part-time work in both retail and hospital settings are also expected to be good. Certified pharmacy technicians should have little trouble finding a job.

For More Information

Pharmacy technicians may belong to any of a number of associations which support their profession. These groups offer their members professional and educational services, including publications, meetings, workshops, conferences, and other informational and networking opportunities.

National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA)

Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)

Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT)

National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP)

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)

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