If you’re considering a healthcare career, has becoming a Pharmacy Technician crossed your mind? Traditional pharmacy technicians and mail-order pharmacy technicians are rewarding, fulfilling career paths in the medical & pharmaceutical fields.
Pharmacy technicians help pharmacists locate, dispense, and prepare prescription medication for customers or other health professionals. If you’re passionate about a career in healthcare, can provide excellent customer service, and ensure the pharmacy runs smoothly, this could be the path for you.
Learn more about the current hiring market, where you can work, the responsibilities, and how to start your career as a Pharmacy Tech.
A Strong Job Market For Pharmacy Technicians
Healthcare jobs, in general, are exploding in the US. As a result, the job forecast for Pharmacy Technicians is bright. Pharmacy Tech jobs are expected to increase 6% across the US between 2022 and 2032. While 6% may seem like more limited employment growth, around 44,900 job openings for Pharmacy Technicians are projected each year.
A lot of pharmacies across the US are seeking dependable Pharmacy Technicians to process and fill prescriptions while completing other tasks under the direction of a pharmacist.
Where Can You Work as a Pharmacy Technician?
To be a Pharmacy Technician, you must be detail-oriented and reliable. This is a high responsibility position, and patients, coworkers, and other healthcare personnel are dependent on you. Additionally, excellent communication skills and an aptitude in using computers are a must.
Many Pharmacy Technicians work in major retail drug store chains, but there are plenty of other opportunities for Pharmacy Technicians.
Some other options include:
- Community pharmacies
- Pharmaceutical companies
- In-home health care settings
- Long term care facilities
- Managed health care organizations
- Compounding and specialty pharmacies
- Military medical facilities
- Nursing homes
- Hospitals and other health care clinics
- Mail service pharmacies
Most Pharmacy Techs work full time. It’s also important to note that some pharmacies may be open for business 24/7, meaning Pharmacy Technicians could work nights or weekends.
What is a Mail-Order Pharmacy Technician?
Mail-order pharmacies don’t deal directly with the public. Instead, medications are mailed from the pharmacy and delivered straight to patients’ homes.
As a Pharmacy Technician in a mail-order pharmacy, you can expect to fill prescriptions, process packages, refill medication requests, and mail shipments daily. You can start a job at a mail-order pharmacy after graduation from a traditional Pharmacy Technician Program.
Job Duties & Responsibilities of Pharmacy Technicians
A day in the life of a Pharmacy Technician will often include supplying medicines to patients, assembling drugs for prescriptions, and working closely with a pharmacist to provide the best possible care and services.
The primary role is helping measure out and dispense prescription medications for patients. However, if you work in a public pharmacy, you can also expect to frequently speak to customers, take prescriptions, and advise patients and customers on the correct use of medications.
Some other responsibilities of a Pharmacy Tech may include:
- Collecting patient data
- Data entry
- Maintaining pharmacy records
- Managing inventory
- Filling out prescription forms
- Dispensing filled scripts
- Accepting payments
Pharmacy Technicians may need to take on greater roles in running and operating the pharmacy if the Pharmacist is preoccupied performing patient care activities, like administering a vaccine. These additional duties could include collecting patient information, preparing more types of medications, and verifying coworkers’ work.
Interacting with patients and customers is a big part of the day, and it’s essential to have a friendly, sympathetic, and understanding attitude.
Hear From a Pharmacy Technician Program Graduate
 Have you ever wondered what the day-to-day life of a Pharmacy Tech looks like? The typical day in the life of a Pharmacy Tech revolves around prescriptions and refill requests, including verifying that all information is accurate and complete. Your specific roles may depend on where and what type of pharmacy you decide to work in. Click here to learn more about the training, everyday responsibilities, and what life is really like as a Pharmacy Tech.
How to Start Your Career in Healthcare
If you’re interested in becoming a Pharmacy Tech, Arizona College of Allied Health’s Pharmacy Technician Program is designed to prepare you for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). You must pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification exam and the Licensing Exam before becoming a Pharmacy Technician. This program gives you the hands-on training you need while learning how to use technical equipment and pharmacy management software.
Take the first steps. The Arizona College of Allied Health’s Pharmacy Technician Program is the first stop on your journey to becoming a certified pharmacy technician. You can earn your diploma in just 8 months with this Pharmacy Technician Program.
Information in this blog post is accurate as of January 12, 2022.