A Pharmacy Technician Diploma Can Start a Rewarding Career
Pharmacy technicians do an important job supporting pharmacists in providing medication and other healthcare products to patients.
What Pharmacy Technicians Do
Pharmacy technicians prepare prescriptions by counting tablets, pouring, weighing, and sometimes mixing medication. They prepare and affix labels and carry out administrative tasks such as filing prescriptions, answering phones, and stocking shelves. These skills can be gained through informal, on-the-job training, but a pharmacy technician diploma can give you a competitive edge with employers. Although national certification in most states is voluntary, some states do require it, so it's a good idea to pursue your certification.
As retail stores branch out into pharmaceutical services and mail-order pharmacies become more prevalent, the need for pharmacy technicians will increase. Pharmacy technicians continue to be in high demand in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospitals, and medical centers. Pharmaceutical wholesalers as well as the federal government also employ pharmacy technicians. With a diploma, certification, experience, and training, many pharmacy technicians can move into lucrative supervisory positions. Other technicians choose specialized careers such as chemotherapy technician.
Your Job Outlook As a Pharmacy Technician
A career as a pharmacy technician can bring you into contact with a wide range of people as well as provide job security. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) employment of pharmacy technicians is projected to increase by 32 percent between 2006 and 2016.(1) The overwhelming majority of pharmacy technicians work in health and personal care stores, although those who work in dentist's offices receive the top pay.
