As of 2015, the number of community pharmacies stood at over 67,700, which was up 6.3% from 2007.
Considering a good portion of the population needs medications from time to time (or chronically), the need for pharmacies will never die out. In fact, it’s almost guaranteed that the demand for them will only grow.
Because of this, a career in this field can be very lucrative, not to mention stable as well. Becoming a pharmacist isn’t for everyone, so perhaps you’re looking into becoming a tech instead.
In this article, we’ll discuss the pharmacy technician job outlook so you’ll know if it’s the right career for you or not.
What Is a Pharmacy Technician?
At first glance, a pharmacy technician’s job may seem like an easy one. Yes, it’s true they assist pharmacists in dispensing prescription medication. This may be why many don’t think it’s a complicated job.
However, the fact that they handle such important things means they must be responsible, detailed, and precise. Part of their job is not just helping to dispense medications, but to do so in a timely fashion, as many patients have time-sensitive needs.
These technicians are also responsible for measuring and mixing the medicines, as well as counting and labeling the dosages. As you can see, they play a vital role in the pharmacy, as any mistakes can be dangerous or even fatal.
While they do tell patients some information about their medications (such as dosages and side effects), this is usually left to the pharmacist, as they have more medical knowledge and training to ensure the medicines are taken correctly.
Requirements for Becoming a Pharmacy Technician
What’s great about this career is you don’t necessarily need to have any higher education to get a job. Of course, it’ll definitely help, but in most cases, all you need is a high school diploma or an equivalent to become a pharmacy tech.
In this scenario, the most important thing is you receive complete and thorough on-the-job training so you know what you’re doing.
Also, depending on the state you’re in, you may need to get the proper certification from either the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or National Healthcareer Association before you can become a working pharmacy technician.
If you want to get higher education to better your job and salary prospects, you can do that as well. You’d go to a postsecondary program through either a vocational school or community college. This should take you less than a year to do; you can always find out more details about training online.
No matter which path you take to become a pharmacy technician, you’ll have to go through continuing education. Every 2 years, you’ll need to get certified again. You can only qualify for recertification if you complete at least 20 hours of continuing education.
How Much Do Pharmacy Technicians Get Paid?
The pay you’ll receive depends on where you work and what your qualifications are. For instance, if you’ve completed a postsecondary program, then your pay will probably be higher than a pharmacy technician who only has a high school diploma.
In general, you can expect to be paid around $16 an hour, or $32,700 a year. However, this is just the starting pay, so you can expect your salary to grow as you become more experienced in this field.
Benefits of Being a Pharmacy Technician
Are you on the fence about becoming a pharmacy technician, even after reading all of the above? Then let us tell you some benefits you’ll enjoy from this career.
Quick Entry
For many careers, you’ll have to spend lots of time and money on education to get the proper prerequisites. For example, pharmacists have to go through years of education before they can become a professional.
As a pharmacy tech, you don’t need anything besides a high school diploma, and maybe some postsecondary education. But even if you decide to go through a postsecondary program, this should take you less than a year to complete.
Good Pay
As we mentioned above, starting pay is around $16 per hour or around $32,700 per year.
As of 2017, the average pay for people 16 to 24 years old was between $21,944 to $27,300 a year. So if you’re younger than 24 and become a pharmacy technician, you’re earning higher than the national average straight off the bat.
Great Job Security
Considering the human population will always have ailments and illnesses, the demand for institutions that provide the appropriate medications will never die out.
Because of this, pharmacy technicians have some of the best job security out there. So long as you have the right certifications in place, it’s pretty much guaranteed that you’ll find employment.
Lots of Job Opportunities Across the Nation
Within your own state, you’ll find plenty of opportunities already. But what if you don’t want to be stuck in your local area and are open to traveling the nation?
In this case, you can get a national certification, which allows you to relocate to any part of the US and still have valid certification to work as a pharm tech.
Not only that, but you don’t always have to work in a pharmacy. Your qualifications mean you can also be employed in places like nursing homes, hospitals, mental health institutions, and even mail-order pharmacies.
The Pharmacy Technician Job Outlook Is Great
As you can see, the pharmacy technician job outlook is great! Take into account the fact that pharmacies are growing in number and that training doesn’t take very long, this is a career that you can quickly get into, even if you don’t have a science or medical background.
So if you’ve been thinking about switching jobs, or you’re graduating soon and aren’t really sure what career you want, becoming a pharmacy technician may be ideal for you.
For more information about careers and education, please take a look at our other blog articles.
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