Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Qualifications and Training For Pharmacy Technician

By Jason Hew


If you're considering choosing a career as a pharmacy technician, then you should know what a technician does. A pharmacy tech is required to work closely with a pharmacist to meet the medical requirements of patients.

It is a requirement that a license to practice be earned through the sitting for licensing exams. Once you've passed your exams, you'll obtain a national pharmacy technician training certificate and become a CPhT or a Certified Pharmacy Technician. This certificate is absolutely necessary if you're looking to make being a pharmacy tech as a career choice.

If you are choosing a career as a pharmacy tech and already have earned yourself a position as a CPhT, you will know that it is mandatory to recertify yourself every two years or so. This helps keep your skills and knowledge current as well as give you the opportunity to widen your network of potential employers.

Pharmacy technicians are required in a variety of places from hospitals and health clinics to nursing homes. Retail pharmacy is also an area that you can find work in. Being a pharmacy technician as a career choice requires a certain level of responsibility, as an understanding about a patient's health issues is important in administering the right medication.

Pharmacy technicians are generally required all through the day. Because of this, most technicians work in shifts. The amount you earn per hour can vary based on your work experience, geographical location and shift you choose to work - evening and weekend shifts typically pay more per hour. Bear in mind that as you progress in your career, the amount of control you have over your working hours increases.

When looking to hire a pharmacy tech and if you're considering taking on becoming a pharmacy technician as a career choice, certain qualities are deemed favorable. Possessing good communication skills is an important component in becoming a successful pharmacy technician. Patients need to be able to comprehend with clarity the medication and dosages they must take in. Instructions must be clear. Being alert, organized and efficient are other key components of a proficient technician.

Being a pharmacy technician as a career choice means that you have no room for error when it comes to doing your job. Prescriptions must be filled out with the greatest detail to attention. Accuracy is of utmost importance as people's lives are in your hands. A technician should always double-check with the pharmacist before dispensing out medicines.

One of the main responsibilities as a pharmacy technician is to measure, count and weigh medicine dosages prescribed by the doctor, as well as keep track of the movement and stock of drugs carried. All prescriptions must be prepared with perfect accuracy.

With the advancement of science and modern medicine, it is highly likely that the demand for pharmacy tech will continue to increase. The unique skills attained by making becoming a pharmacy technician as a career choice will ensure stability as well as embarking on a rewarding and fulfilling profession.

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