There are dozens of careers in the field of healthcare: patient-facing positions like those of physicians and nurses, administrative positions like medical coding and clinic administration, and medication-based positions like those of pharmacists and pharmaceutical salespersons. With so many options, it can be hard to choose the one that’s right for you.
If you have an interest in a fast-paced, constantly-growing career working with medications but aren’t interested in the potentially long, costly education involved in becoming a pharmacist, a job as a pharmacy technician could be the perfect option.
What Is a Pharmacy Technician?
A pharmacy technician is a medical professional who works under a pharmacist providing prescribed medications in either a clinic or outside pharmacy setting. Pharmacy technicians are tasked with dispensing the appropriate amount of medications, transcribing prescriptions into computer systems, making sales, organizing and stocking pharmacy shelves, and other various administrative tasks.
Unlike pharmacists, pharmacy technicians are not allowed to make determinations regarding medication interactions or verify that the dosage is accurate. Pharmacists also generally take on pharmacy tasks that require a higher level of authority, such as verifying that the pharmacy technician has filled a medication correctly, discussing symptoms and medication usage with patients, and referring patients to doctors. Even so, pharmacy technicians are required to become familiar with prescription shorthand, as well as the names and uses for dozens of medications.
A Fast-Growing Career Path
Over the last several years, the pharmacy field has continued to grow—especially in the realm of pharmacy technicians. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, the expected growth rate for jobs in the pharmacy technician career between 2014 and 2024 is 9%.1 That’s 2% faster growth than the average career, and it’s expected to continue, due to an increase in the demand for prescription medications.
Working as a pharmacy technician can be lucrative and fulfilling in a variety of ways. The job is in high demand, with pharmacies all over the world regularly seeking to fill technician openings, and there’s good money to be made. Many pharmacy techs also feel a sense of personal satisfaction knowing they’re serving patients and helping them stay healthy.
Plus, if you decide that you want to become a full-fledged pharmacist later on in your career, you already have ideal experience and can easily seek additional education to become a pharmacist whenever you choose.
Start a Lucrative Career as a Pharmacy Technician with ABC Training Center
If a career helping people by providing them with much-needed prescription medications sounds appealing to you, ABC Training Center’s pharmacy technician training in NYC can help you get started. Our affordable, convenient courses prepare students to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board national certification exam. With this certification, a pharmacy technician can start at a higher rate of pay than they would otherwise.
To learn more about ABC Training Center’s pharmacy technician courses or explore any of our other career training programs, call us today at (718) 618-4432.
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