Pharmacy Technician Career Outlook

Pharmacy Technician Career Outlook

The need for pharmacy technicians is increasing. As retailers expand their pharmaceutical services and scientific advancements continue, the role of the pharmacy technician will grow.

The National Pharmacy Technician Association reports that there are over 39,000 pharmacy technician job openings each year. They also report that pharmacy technician job growth is expected to be over 28 percent in the next decade with a median annual salary of $23,650.

Reasons for this hearty job growth are due to the fact that pharmacists are beginning to take a more active role in direct patient care. This will cause pharmacy technicians to take on some of the duties currently held by pharmacists.

Additionally, people in North America are simply living longer, creating a higher demand for services.

The health care industry further increases the demand for pharmacy technicians by constantly exploring new medical treatment. Pharmacists will always be looking for qualified pharmacy technicians to assist them.

Pharmacy Technician Job Description

Pharmacy technicians are supervised by licensed pharmacists. They perform duties such as labeling prescription bottles and counting medication.

Unlike pharmacy assistants who run the cash register or answer phones, pharmacy technicians work closely with the pharmacist, specifically to ensure safe and accurate handling of each prescription.

A pharmacy technician's duties may include:

• Assisting with prescriptions by counting pills
• Measuring medications
• Labeling products
• Verifying prescriptions from doctors
• Maintaining patient records
• Tracking insurance information
• Assisting patients with insurance forms

Technicians are not permitted to consult with patients about their medication. Those questions fall under the expertise of the licensed pharmacist.

Read the pharmacy technician interview for more details about the duties of a pharmacy technician.

Where Pharmacy Technicians Work

Retail

There are many employment opportunities for pharmacy technicians in retail pharmacies like you find in your local grocery or drug store. Working for a large retail chain often provides some of the following employee benefits:

• Working regular steady hours
• Health insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Promotion opportunities

Working in retail means working with people. If you like an active environment where keeping customers happy and comfortable is important, retail offers some great advancement opportunities.

Mail Order

Mail order pharmacies are a rapidly growing business, primarily because of lower operating costs and the ability to service a wider range of customers than local retail pharmacies. For the pharmacy technician, this translates into good pay, benefits and the possibility of a flexible work schedule.

Perhaps the most solitary of the three workplaces, mail order is great if you like to work independently or behind-the-scenes.

The duties of a pharmacy technician working in a mail order facility include:

• Receiving mail order prescriptions
• Accurately reading prescriptions
• Determining if they are complete
• Counting the medication
• Labeling the prescriptions

Hospitals and Nursing Facilities

In hospitals and nursing facilities, the pharmacy technician becomes more involved in patient care. Pharmacy technicians in health care facilities, such as hospitals and nursing homes, often fill prescriptions for patients and deliver them on a daily basis. They also record their dosages on the patient’s chart.

If you are the kind of person who likes one-on-one personal care and being an active part of a medical team, working in a hospital or nursing care facility is a great choice.