Like pharmacists, pharmacy technicians perform a number of duties behind the counter. Pharmacy technicians help to prepare medications by filling prescriptions to distribute to patients, ensuring that the exact number of pills prescribed is in each bottle. They are also responsible for labeling medication bottles with not only the name of the drug contained within, but also the name of the patient for whom the drug is intended. Some pharmacists train technicians on the job, while other pharmacy technicians learn their skills from training programs in college.
• Pharmacy technicians do not make as much money as fully qualified pharmacists, who make almost as much as physicians, but they also do not have to go to school for nearly as long. It usually takes at least six years to become a pharmacist, first with pre-pharmacy and then pharmacy school, but pharmacy technicians can finish their education in as little as two. Graduates of a pharmacy technician school are usually seeking an associate’s degree, but the type of degree earned depends upon the school and the length of the program. However, an associate’s degree is typically preferred within the field, especially for entry level positions. Classes include but are not limited to: medical and pharmaceutical technology, pharmaceutical techniques, pharmaceutical ethics, and pharmacy law. These classes are essentially the same as those required at the beginning of the pharmacist training programs. Like the pharmacists they serve, pharmacy technicians need to know how to handle many of the same on-the-job procedures, such as proper medicinal dosages.
• Before a student can graduate from a pharmacy technician program, he or she must complete a pharmacy technician internship under the supervision of an experienced pharmacist. The idea is to gain real-world experience in the field working with patients and medicines. An internship can take place anywhere that a pharmacist works, as long as that pharmacist is accredited with the state in which he or she resides. The pharmacy technician observes the pharmacist’s interaction with patients, learning to put into practice valuable career skills. Then, the pharmacist sends in reports on the student’s progress. If the student does well, he or she will be allowed to graduate.
• Upon graduation, pharmacy technicians have the option to take an exam in order to receive full accreditation. The Certification of Pharmacy Technicians or the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board each hold state exams designed to certify pharmacy technicians. The certification is optional in most states, but is required in others. In passing the exams, pharmacy technicians can hope for a boost in pay scale, and may also have an easier time securing a position. Certification makes pharmacy technicians more valuable to the profession.
Becoming a pharmacy technician is a good way to gauge whether or not one will be a successful pharmacist. While some people are career pharmacy technicians, many go back to school to become fully licensed pharmacists. And, if a technician realizes after a short time that he or she does not like the profession, it’s not like six years or so have been wasted, and there is plenty of opportunity to go back to school to pursue another career.