Pharmacy technicians work in hospital or retail pharmacies assisting licensed pharmacists in filling patient prescriptions. In some cases, on-the-job training is all that is required to be a pharmacy technician, but most employers now hire only individuals who have had formal training and are certified. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, pharmacy technicians are in growing demand as job opportunities are expected to increase by more than 30 percent through the year 2016.
Qualifications
Although currently there are no state or federal requirements for formal training, most employers prefer to hire certified pharmacy technicians. Training programs provide both classroom and hands-on clinical working experience. Individuals enrolling in a pharmacy technician program should have a strong math and science background. Previous courses in statistics and chemistry are helpful. To be a pharmacy technician, an individual must be proficient in basic math skills, including the ability to compute percents, fractions and decimals, ratios and proportions, and conversion formulas needed for calculating medication dosages. Computer keyboarding and a basic understanding of a word processing program are other requirements for the job. Pharmacy technicians must also be able to work well with the general public.
Training
Most training programs to earn a pharmacy technician certificate run from six months to one year. However, more advanced study is available for students wishing to pursue a two-year associate degree or a four-year bachelor's degree. Courses prepare students to do the job as well as to take the Pharmacy Technician Exam. While training, students learn about the symptoms of common illnesses and diseases and the drugs used to treat them. A pharmacy technician must also be knowledgeable about drug interactions and pharmaceutical calculations.
Education
Students must have a minimum of a high-school diploma or GED to enter a pharmacy technician training program. Basic math, anatomy and computer applications are some of the classes required. Coursework also includes medical terminology and pharmacology. In addition to learning the practical applications of the job, a pharmacy technician must be able to perform simple multiplication and division formulas.
Hands-On Training
Formal pharmacy technician training programs require that students participate in an internship program to practice the application of their knowledge. This allows students the opportunity to receive on-the-job training and practical experience before completing their programs and taking the certification exam. Specific guidelines for clinical rotations range from 40 hours of working experience to 12-week internship programs. Internship requirements can vary by state or school offering the training program.
Certification
While the qualifications to be a pharmacy technician vary from state to state, accreditation is becoming more important. Certification may eventually be required in all states. Passing the Pharmacy Technician Exam offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board proves that an individual has the basic knowledge required to work as a pharmacy technician. After becoming certified, a pharmacy technician must complete 20 hours of continuing education credits every two years in order to maintain professional accreditation status.
Duties
Pharmacy technicians are responsible for knowing the names, drug classifications and uses of specific medications. Job duties include processing prescriptions, calculating proper drug dosages, preparing prescription labels and dispensing medications. A pharmacy technician measures, counts, pours and mixes medication. Administration duties of the job include updating patient profiles, taking inventory of both prescription and over-the-counter drugs, and preparing insurance claim forms.
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