Being a pharmacy technician is really enjoying the best of both worlds. On the one hand you get to interact with patients but on the other, responsibilities that go with informing patients about what medicines work with each other, their side effects and other general cautions are outside of your purview. Can it get any better? Having just completed a few courses from one of the top rated online colleges with a bunch of weird scholarships, I figured it was time to straighten up and fly right!
The pharmacy technician salary, according to the US Department of Labor statistics is upwards of $60,000 in most metropolitan areas. For this reason alone, no self-respecting organization however small, hires pharmacy technicians who do not have formal pharmacy technician training. Considering that, a growth of 31% is expected for pharmacy technician jobs; this is a smart career choice - especially given the aging population of baby boomers and increased need for medication along with the people that dispense it. Also given peoples increased life expectancy these days, it is no wonder that a tremendous increase in this job sector will be seen.
Pharmacy technician training is being accomplished increasingly through online courses. Online programs are designed to allow for the working individual to pursue training without one’s income being affected. Most online courses take only 12 months while the course for a certified pharmacist can take as long as 6 years. The coursework that one will undertake in online classes are very similar to those taken in campuses. The other consideration is that one can go at one’s own pace. Especially if you are employed in a related field, there may be subjects that allow you to breeze through the course-work. For other courses that are not in one’s comfort zone, a longer period may be required; so online courses can be customized to fit an individual’s needs.
Coursework Requirements for Online Pharmacy Technician Programs: Remember that you are not alone just because it is an online course. Most good schools will have available, professors that are available over the phone or online for questions and guidance. Online pharmacy technician programs are divided into sections referred to as modules. Electronic tests are provided which measure one’s mastery of a module. The modules are Anatomy and Physiology – a core course for any healthcare program; Pharmaceutical Calculations and Measurements, intended to instruct students in the correct dispensing of medication; Poison/Drug Emergencies; Medical Terminology and Label and Prescription Information.
After the online course, pharmacy technicians should pass a licensing exam called the pharmacy technician certification examination. The PTCE will set you up on the road to becoming a pharmacy technician with a reliable pharmacy. Once the training is complete, the sky is the limit as pharmacy technicians are an integral part of the prescription medication industry and considering that the demand is greater than the number of candidates, finding an opportunity in this field will be a breeze for a well equipped candidate.
The truth of the matter is, no matter what economy we are in and no matter who is being bailed out by the government, the sick, the old, and the infirm are always going to need medication. Who is better than a pharmacy technician to provide this?
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