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Pharmacy technicians help licensed pharmacists provide medication and other health care products to patients. Technicians usually perform routine tasks to help prepare prescribed medication, such as counting tablets and labeling bottles. They also perform administrative duties, such as answering phones, stocking shelves and operating cash registers.
In hospitals, nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, technicians have added responsibilities, including reading patients’ charts and preparing the appropriate medication.
Pharmacy aides work closely with pharmacy technicians. They often are clerks or cashiers who primarily answer telephones, handle money, stock shelves, and perform other clerical duties. Pharmacy technicians usually perform more complex tasks than pharmacy aides, although in some States their duties and job titles may overlap.
How long will it take?
Although most pharmacy technicians receive informal on-the-job training, employers favor those who have completed formal training and certification. At Amarillo College you can train to be a pharmacy tech in just 28 semester hours!
How much can you earn?
Average salaries in 2006 ranged from $10.00 to nearly $15.00 per hour.
Where can you work?
About 70% of pharmacy technicians work in retail pharmacies, either independently owned or part of a drugstore chain, grocery store, department store or mass retailer. About 18% of jobs are in hospitals and a small proportion work in mail-order and internet pharmacies or doctors' offices.
AC can help you get there!
