Several educational avenues can be pursued to become a pharmacy tech, depending upon the goals of the prospective student and the state of residence. These range from on-the-job training to much more formal programs that result in certification or an associate's degree. While the least formal options may be appealing to those who seek employment in the field in the shortest possible time, formal pharmacy-tech programs often provide one with the qualifications necessary to have greater flexibility in the job market and higher earnings potential.
What Pharmacy Techs Do
Pharmacy techs assist a licensed pharmacist in dispensing medications and other pharmacy products to patients. These duties include assisting in the preparation of prescriptions, with pharmacy techs performing such tasks as counting tablets and labeling prescription bottles. Pharmacy techs may also be required to perform support duties, such as stocking shelves, attending the cash register and answering phones. Pharmacy techs may work in retail pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, wholesale and online pharmacies, or in health clinics and government organizations.
Certification
For most pharmacy techs, training is done with a licensed pharmacist as on-the-job training. Some states require that pharmacy techs become certified by passing a state or national exam, while in others certification is optional. To be eligible to take a certification exam, candidates must have a high school diploma and be free of any felony convictions within five years and must have never been convicted of a drug-related felony. Certification is required by many employers seeking pharmacy techs, especially those offering higher paying positions.
Formal Pharmacy-Tech Education
While pharmacy techs trained on-the-job can become certified, the most desirable employment opportunities are often available only to pharmacy techs who have undergone formal training and certification. Formal pharmacy-tech schooling can be obtained in many community or vocational colleges and trade schools, as well as in the military and some hospitals. Formal training includes both academic and laboratory study. Students are required to master pharmaceutical skills in a number of areas, including terminology, calculations, record-keeping, law, and ethics. Medication names, uses and dosages must be learned. Many students will be required to complete internships, gaining hands-on experience in pharmacies. Depending upon the program, graduating students may receive a certificate, diploma or associate's degree.
Additional Training
Pharmacy techs can become IV certified as well, allowing them to be employed in work environments that require such qualifications, such as hospitals. Certified pharmacy techs must be recertified every two years, which is done by completing 20 of continuing education within the two-year certification term.
Advancement
Well-trained pharmacy techs can be promoted as they accumulate experience, moving on to supervisory positions, training and advising other pharmacy techs who are new to the field. Specialization is quite common with some pharmacy techs advancing into areas such as chemotherapy or nuclear pharmacy.
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