The majority of pharmacy technicians work in pharmacies within a retail or customer service-style setting, like a grocery store, drug store, department store, or even with an online company. A significant number of pharmacy technician workplaces are part of a chain or franchise, while some pharmacies are still independently or family-owned. Let’s take a look [...]
Did you know there is a faster than average job outlook for pharmacy technicians? That means the projected increase in pharmacy tech jobs is higher than the average for all occupations overall. Another benefit of getting into the pharmacy technology field is there are significant opportunities for advancement. As we shared in a previous article, [...]
If you are going to work as a pharmacy technician in the U.S., it’s important to check with your state’s Board of Pharmacy to find out about their specific regulations. The majority of states regulate pharmacy technicians in some fashion, such as requiring them to be registered, licensed or certified. Even if certification is not [...]
While requirements for practicing pharmacy technicians vary by state, being certified will definitely improve your chances of landing a job. Many to most employers prefer pharmacy technicians to have the CPhT credential because it means they meet standards or have the qualifications to perform successfully in a pharmacy setting. Plus there is a real push, [...]
Happy Twentieth Birthday to the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board! “PTCB’s 20-year anniversary represents a time to celebrate the invaluable contributions of Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhTs) to the pharmacy team,” said PTCB Executive Director & CEO Everett B. McAllister, RPh, MPA.
Want to be in a fulfilling career with plenty of opportunities without having to spend tons of time and money beforehand? Then you might like to think about working as a pharmacy technician. Is Pharmacy Technician a Good Job Choice in 2022? The demand for pharmacy technicians is greater than the average for all occupations [...]
Completing a degree online is very appealing, particularly to those who need a flexible and convenient option. With many online programs, you can control much of your study schedule, plus you do not have to pack up everything and relocate or commute. As telecommuting becomes more common place in many facets of life, so too [...]
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) had just named Hannah Peabody the PTCB certified pharmacy tech of the year. “Hannah Peabody has distinguished herself by making a difference in the lives of patients undergoing treatments for a range of complex cancers and other disorders. These treatments are life-changing, and Ms. Peabody has made them accessible [...]
Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas started its pharmacy technician program the fall of 2012. A few months ago, it was announced JCCC’s program received six-year accreditation with the ASHP (American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists). This speaks to the pharmacy tech program’s success—one or two-year accreditation is a lot more common than a [...]
A pharmacy technician program can be intense. With classes on a variety of subjects, such as pharmacology, medical terminology, pharmacy calculations, anatomy and physiology and pharmacy computer systems…plus labs…plus at least one clinical externship/practicum…it can seem overwhelming to begin with. “Strong study skills, including time management and organizational skills, are essential for success in this [...]
True or False? Pharmacy technician jobs are the same across the board, no matter where or how long you work in the field. That statement is a big, resounding: FALSE! Pharmacy technicians work in a variety of settings which require some varying functions. With experience and continuous education, they can become specialized, which can lead [...]
In this article we just briefly take a look at the complex problem of employees in the pharmacy who steal. Note the sources we’ve consulted do not represent the whole country, but rather some examples at state or regional levels. Consider the following headlines: “Haggen pharmacy tech charged in theft of thousands of pills” (The [...]
Last month it was announced that Johnson County Community College (JCCC)’s pharmacy technician program earned six-year accreditation from the ASHP (American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists). “Accreditation is for one, two, three or six years… A first-time, six-year accreditation is a rarity,” Philip Schneider, the Treasurer with the ASHP Foundation’s Board of Directors, is quoted as [...]
As the responsibilities of pharmacy technicians and pharmacy setting practices continue to advance, continuous learning is essential. Many state Boards of Pharmacy require pharmacy technicians to complete continuing education (CE) courses; CE credits are also required to maintain CPhT certification through the PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board) and NHA (National Healthcareer Association). (You can learn [...]
“So what do you do?” “I’m a pharmacy technician informaticist.” “A what!?!” Wouldn’t it be cool to be a pharmacy technician informaticist (PTI) also known as a pharmacy technician informatics specialist? But what exactly does it mean? “…Pharmacy informatics…has been defined as ‘the use and integration of data, information knowledge, technology, and automation in the [...]
1. The History of Pharmacy Technicians Hospital pharmacies and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) were major advocates for employing pharmacy technicians in pharmacy settings beginning in the 1950s. At that time, the job title “pharmacy technician” had not yet been utilized. Pharmacy technicians were initially more standardized in hospital pharmacies versus community or [...]
To prepare you to start a pharmacy technician career, various settings offer degree, certificate or diploma programs. For example, a great number of community and technical colleges, and some universities, medical centers, health systems/hospitals, vocational schools—even some retail pharmacies—offer pharmacy technician training programs. Many are delivered on campus or onsite, while others allow students to [...]
Do you love animals? Are you considering a career as a pharmacy technician (or are you already a pharmacy tech but are looking for new opportunities)? Why not consider becoming a veterinary pharmacy technician… Veterinary pharmacy technicians work in pharmacies at animal clinics, animal hospitals, at university veterinary teaching hospitals and other workplaces. Also some [...]
A recent Great Falls Tribune article by Peter Johnson (“Providing rural health services”) describes a telepharmacy that was set up in Big Sandy, Montana. Until 2010, the small town of went without a pharmacy after the local drug store closed in 1992. During those 18 years, staff at Big Sandy’s nursing home, rural health clinic [...]
A couple weeks ago, the Buckeye Career Center in New Philadelphia, Ohio inducted over 20 students into the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS). The 24 inductees are studying various career programs including Pharmacy Technician, Intro to Nursing, Law Enforcement, Cosmetology, Construction Technology, Computer Technology & Networking Systems, Medical Assisting and more. NTHS has over 200,000 [...]
Consider these stats: Approximately 6.8 million Americans abuse prescription drugs, says the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). That’s nearly double the number of Americans that use cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens and inhalants combined. Visits to the emergency department due to prescription drug abuse/misuse has increased 98.4% since 2004, according to AWARxE. In 2010, over 22,000 people died [...]
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that as of May 2013, there were 362,690 pharmacy technicians employed across the United States. Career opportunities for pharmacy technicians exist in every state, and, according to Projections Central, are estimated to increase everywhere (except the Virgin Islands) from 2010 to 2020. However, some states come out [...]
Earlier this year, we did a piece on long-term care pharmacy. It was inspired by pharmacy technician Jillian Hernandez after she was named Professional Woman of the Year (2013/2014) by the National Association of Professional Women. Hernandez has been working as a pharmacy technician for over a decade. She is currently the e-MAR Specialist at [...]
Sacramento is the capital city of California and is located in the northern portion of the state’s Central Valley. The city itself has a population of over 470,000 people. The Greater Sacramento Area (Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Yuba City, California-Nevada) has been described as one of the country’s fastest growing regions and boasts over 2 million residents. The Sacramento [...]
Central City Concern’s Old Town Clinic (located in Portland, Oregon) meets the pharmaceutical needs of nearly 4,000 low income individuals. Over the last few years, it has grown from filling 200 prescriptions per day to 500 (and it is predicted this could increase to 1,000 scripts per day in the coming year). Two generous gifts [...]