Why is the training of pharmacy technicians important?

Pharmacy technicians are the people who work under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. They also have the skills for customer service and sales. Most of the time, working in medical stores, grocery stores, and nursing homes, they gain experience in sales and customer service that leads to a supervisory position. Your primary responsibilities are to get the medication off the shelves according to the prescription, count how many tablets are prescribed, mix the medications accordingly, and create the prescription labels. These medical professionals also weigh tablets and handle medications. Once the prescription is filled, the pharmacy assistants and technicians value it and print the receipts. A licensed pharmacist then checks the entire prescription before giving it to the patient. While working in a pharmacy, these types of medical technicians also answer phone calls, prepare insurance claim forms, and manage inventory.

Many of the technicians start out working in medical stores, hospitals, and retail supermarkets and later gain the knowledge of prescriptions. However, there are some technical training programs offered by various universities. The duration of these courses is from six months to two years. The two-year study will lead to an associate’s degree. There are some universities that test the course for 12 weeks, the durations are different due to the schools. Pharmacy technician training includes pharmacology, drug reactions, pharmaceutical law, dosage forms, drug preparation, understanding prescriptions, pharmacology, and chemistry.

While studying in the pharmacy technician degree program, there will be some practical sections where students will be sent to hospitals, retail supermarket pharmacies or in nursing homes and supervised by the manager or pharmacist.

There is also a certification for pharmacy technicians; If students want to become certified pharmacy technicians, they can sit an exam administered by the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT) and the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). Although certification is not required for employment purposes, certification is required in some states. However, certification is always beneficial to get a job with a high pay rate or it also specifies the area in which you are specialized. There are many people who used to work in pharmacy and are now coming to schools to complete the study and complete the certification. The requirement for certification is completion of pharmacy technician training. There are great job opportunities for pharmacy technicians.

Your job is tough and requires 40 hours a week in different shifts, including afternoon and evening, but while working at a retail pharmacy it can be different. They also possess great communication skills, as the job relates to sales and customer service. They may also have to work on weekends. Pharmacy Technicians receive a salary of $22,340 up to $38,581, the variation is due to workplace, experience and skills. If you are a CPT, there will be more job opportunities for you and more chances to advance your career.