Pharmacy Technicians Career : Job Description, Education & Employment Outlook

Technicians work with and assist licensed pharmacists. These professionals assist pharmacists in providing medications to patients. Labeling the bottle, preparation of prescribed medications for patients, reading patient charts and delivering medicines are done by the aides. Technicians report to the pharmacist regarding any kind of drug information and health matters. Job responsibilities of technicians may vary depending on where they work. Pharmacy technicians can work nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living facilities and other healthcare facilities. The technicians also need to abide by the rules and regulations of the state they work in. Usually, the technicians need to perform routine task.

Job Responsibilities
Pharmacy technicians spend maximum of their time on their toes. They may also get prescriptions sent to them electronically from the physician's office. It is the responsibility of the technician to ensure that the information on the prescription is accurate and precise. Depending on the prescribed medication by the doctor, technicians may need to measure, weigh and then mix different drugs to prepare the medication which is given to the patient. Once the medication is ready, technicians also label bottles. Everything is done under the supervision of the licensed pharmacist. Even before the delivery of medicines to the patient, it is the licensed pharmacist who gives their approval and checks out the accuracy.

Technicians spend maximum amount of time working on their feet. They need to be very active throughout the entire procedure of preparing and delivering the medication to patients. The work environment for these professionals is good. They perform their task in clean, well-lit and organized areas. Usually, the pharmacy technicians need to work the same number of hours as the pharmacists do. They may also need to work round the clock, depending on where they join. If it is a hospital or a retail pharmacy, 24 hours service will be required by technicians. They may need to work even at weekends, in the evenings and during holidays.

Educational Requirements
Those most of the pharmacy technicians receive their training on-the-job, formal training is required to land jobs easily. Today, employers search for technicians who have been formally trained. There are multiple professional schools, technical colleges and some hospitals that offer education programs to train and prepare candidates for pharmacy technicians' jobs. While obtaining the education or pharmacy training, students do both classroom and laboratory work.

Pharmacy technician education programs train students in multiple areas including medical terminology, pharmaceutical terminology, pharmacy laws and ethics, pharmacy recordkeeping, pharmacy calculations and pharmaceutical techniques among others. Students can also avail of internship programs in pharmacies offered during the training program. Technicians also need to obtain some certifications. They can obtain certification administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. A high school diploma or GED is the required eligibility criteria to sit for the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination.

Employment Opportunities
Today, licensed pharmacists need more and more technicians to assist them. Most of technicians job positions are available in retail pharmacies. Apart from that, these professionals can land jobs in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other healthcare facilities. Not only full time, but technicians can also be employed in part time jobs. Employment opportunities will be good for those who are formally trained in pharmacies and carry previous pharmaceutical experience.

Job Outlook & Salary
According the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment growth rate for pharmacy technicians' jobs is expected to grow faster than the average of all occupations through to the year 2012. Salaries vary depending on where technicians join. Median earning of these professionals is $10.70 per hour. Hourly wage and salary is higher for positions in general medical and surgical hospitals, where the hourly wage is $12.32. Technicians who work in grocery stores earn $11.34 per hour. Hourly earnings for those who work in health and personal care stores is around $9.70.