A good investment: Pharmacy technician field growing
The health care industry is still expanding
in today’s economy. Pharmacy Technician programs
are increasing in popularity because the field is
growing rapidly even compared to other healthcare
industries. With increasing demand and employment
opportunity, it is a great time to look into programs
for pharmacy technicians.
Pharmacy technicians work directly under licensed
pharmacists. The various job duties of a pharmacy
technician include giving medication, working with
third-parties and doctor’s offices to solve problems
with patient’s insurance policies, counting tablets,
labelling bottles and administrative duties.
Pharmacy technical schools
The most secure and affordable way to enter the field as a pharmacy technician is by going to pharmacy technical schools. These programs typically last six months to two years. The programs include classes on topics including chemistry, pharmacology, medical/pharmaceutical terminology, dosage calculations, drug reactions, pharmacy record keeping, interpreting prescriptions, pharmacy law and drug preparation. Students who complete these programs should be knowledgeable about basic medical information, pharmaceuticals and customer service.
Some students will take part in a clinical externship during their time enrolled in the program. These allow students to use what they have learning in a classroom in a more practical environment. It also an lead to future employment opportunities.
Pharmacy technician exams
After graduation students can decide to take one of two national certification exams offered in the United States. One of these exams, the ExCPT, is given by the Institute of Pharmacy Technicians. This exam is supported by the community pharmacy industry, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association. The other exam is offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). This exam is called the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination and is the only pharmacy technician examination endorsed by the American Pharmacists Association, the American Society for Heath-Systems Pharmacists and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.
Both certification tests require that students get recertified every two years. Some students chose to also go back to school and study to become a license pharmacist after some experience in the field.
Job prospects for pharmacy technicians
Right now there are about 285,000 pharmacy technician program graduates employed in the United States. Seventy-one per cent of them are employed by retail pharmacies that are either independently owned or part of a larger drugstore chain, grocery store or department store. Eighteen per cent are employed by hospitals and a small per cent is employed by mail order and internet programs, physicians’ offices, pharmaceutical wholesale companies and the federal government.
Growing employment
The pharmaceutical field is expected to continue to grow in the next years. The U.S. Department of Labor said that the employment of pharmacy technicians is supposed to increase 32 per cent from 2006 to 2016. The large demand for this occupation is because of the large percentage of the population that is living longer. There are higher numbers than ever before of elderly and middle aged people that rely on pharmacies to get their medication. Also as scientific advancements find more cures to more diseases, there are more pills for pharmacy technicians to prepare. Finally, insurance companies are very cost conscious. They have figured out that relying on pharmacists for more routine tasks instead of doctors is a more cost efficient option.
It seems like the future will still demand a high need for pharmacist technicians and a need for strong pharmacy programs in the United States.
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