North Carolina has specific requirements for medication techs.
A medication technician, also called a medication aide, is a support staff health care worker who administers medicine to patients in an intermediate-care or long-term-care facility. She usually works with patients who are taking several medications, and maintains records about the type of drug provided, dosage and time of administration. Medication techs work under the supervision of a licensed practical nurse or registered nurse. The average medication tech salary in North Carolina is a bit less than the average national salary for this occupation.
Requirements
All states that have approved the occupation of medication technician or aide regulate it by requiring state certification. In North Carolina, certification involves completing a 24-hour training program approved by the North Carolina Board of Nursing and passing the state medication aide competency exam. Those who wish to work in an adult care home setting must pass an exam administered by the North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation, Adult Care Licensure Section. A medication aide working in a nursing home in North Carolina must be a certified nursing assistant (CNA).
Salary Range
The median salary for a certified medication technician nationwide is about $27,400 per year as of January 2011, according to Salary.com. The middle 50 percent of those on the earnings scale were earning $25,250 to $29,900 per year. The bottom 10 percent had salaries below $23,300, and the top 10 percent were making more than $32,000 per year.
Comparisons
The median medication tech salary in North Carolina varies by city. Those in Greenville, for instance, were making about $24,170 per year in January 2011, while those in Charlotte had a median annual salary of $27,190. Medication technicians in Jacksonville had a median annual salary of $24,470, in Fayetteville $24,620, in Asheville $24,840, in Winston-Salem $26,530 and in Raleigh $27,165. The middle 50 percent range for this group of cities was $26,300 to $29,600. Medication techs in the bottom 10 percent of the earnings range were making less than $20,550 per year, and those in the top 10 percent earned more than $31,790.
Specifics
Job listings appearing at the job search website Indeed.com in January 2011 seeking North Carolina medication aides or technicians all preferred or required a CNA. Posted pay rates ranged from $10 to $12 per hour. Full-time positions typically provide health and dental insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, a 401(k) or other savings plan and paid time off including vacations, holidays and personal days. As of January 2011, most of the available positions were with Brookdale Senior Living Inc., in various cities around the state. This company manages independent-living, assisted-living and continuing-care retirement communities.
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