Pharmacy Technician Degree

If you have had a prescription filled and watched the pharmacist at work, you may have wondered what it would be like to have a job in a pharmacy. With a pharmacy technician degree, you will get the chance to find out. A pharmacy technician works with and assists the pharmacist in filling prescriptions and getting them ready for the patients. Technicians will count out the proper number of tablets and also take care of putting the appropriate labels on prescription bottles. They go over doctors’ prescriptions to ascertain that all of the correct information is listed to fill the prescription accurately. They will work with insurance claim forms, compile patient histories and handle the pricing of medications. A pharmacy technician is a valuable assistant to the pharmacist.

With a pharmacy technician degree, you will have the opportunity to work very closely with the pharmacist. Any questions about medication would be directed to the pharmacist and would not be a part of your job responsibilities, but you would assist in so many other ways. Here is a quick look at two of the degrees that are available for those who are interested in becoming a pharmacy technician.

• Associate’s Degree: You will learn the fundamentals of being a pharmacy technician. This degree will also prepare you for taking the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam. Your studies will include medical terminology, the human structure, technical communications, chemistry, inventory management and an introduction to psychology. You will learn how to process and fill prescriptions for patients and also how to take care of patients’ needs pertaining to their medications.
• Bachelor’s Degree: You will get further instruction on the proper way to prepare medications and manage operations in the pharmacy. You will also be instructed on pharmacology, medical and pharmaceutical terminology, pharmaceutics, safety procedures, the proper procedure in dispensing medications, rules and regulations and the identification of various drugs. This degree will give you a firm foundation for obtaining a position as a pharmacy technician. Depending on the program, you may also be offered the opportunity for an internship which will give you hands-on experience in a pharmaceutical atmosphere.

When you receive your pharmacy technician degree, you will have the necessary skills to work closely with pharmacists in different medical facilities, such as clinics, hospitals and nursing homes. If you take and pass the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination, you will become certified. There are certain employers who require certification in order to hire you.

Your responsibilities as a pharmacy technician will entail more than just helping the pharmacist fill prescriptions. You will also handle paperwork and forms; wait on patients, take payments and stock pharmacy shelves. Depending on where you work, your hours may not be nine-to-five, as evening and weekend shifts may be involved. Average earnings for a pharmacy technician are approximately $11.00 an hour, but it is possible to earn a higher salary. If you have received certification, you will have the opportunity to earn more.