Pharmacy Tech Schools and Career Options

Pharmacy technicians have become more sought after over the last decade. It's estimated that the demand will go up consistently and reach up to 50% or more in less than five years! Their position is highly coveted and a very important one in the health sector. The average annual pay in the US for pharmacy techs vary between $20,000 - $36,000. If you are looking to pursue this as a career you are likely shopping around for pharmacy tech schools in your area.

Course Material

There are many online and offline schools to consider before enrolling. The syllabus will vary with every institute, however the subject material will remain similar. Pharmacology, physiology, chemistry, anatomy, pharmaceutical calculations, medical and pharmaceutical terminology, pharmacy law, compounding medications, dosage forms, drug preparation, pharmacy administration, pharmacy computing and medical billing are the various subjects covered by most pharmacy tech schools.

Certification

Pharmacy Technicians play an important role in preparing and crosschecking prescriptions, so professionally qualifying through a Pharmacy Tech school is crucial. After graduating, you should also consider sitting for the certification exam. While few states require certification for employment, it will help you to become a skilled technician and improve your chances of getting a higher paying job.

Qualified pharmacy techs are most often recruited by hospitals, pharmacies, health care centers, nursing homes and even assisted living facilities. Though they generally work regular hours, they might be requested to work during weekends or the night shift for 24 hour pharmacies.

Only two leading institutes handle pharmacy certification in the US: the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT). To qualify for certification, the individuals should have completed their high school diploma and be free of convictions or felonies. Even after certification, you will need to check-in every two years and get a re-certification. National College, Everest College and US Career Institute are listed among the top 10 best Pharmacy Tech Schools.

You will likely want to attend a pharmacy tech school that's close to you and offers your subject of interest. The topics covered for a basic pharmacy technician degree program are as follows:

• Pharmacy administration

• Pharmaceutical calculations and dosage

• Anatomy and physiology

• Digestive, respiratory and reproductive systems

• Nutrition

• Medical terminology

• Pharmacology

• Health care systems

• Medical Legal and Ethical Issues

• Pharmacy/Insurance Billing Software

• Professional Communication

There are many websites that will help you locate the right institute for you or you can simply do a Google search to research the schools you are interested in. One thing to look for is professors who have practical knowledge of the field and who have worked as a pharmacy technician themselves. Whichever school you choose you can be sure that you are entering a field that will be in high demand for many years to come.

There are many websites that will help you locate the right institute for you or you can simply do a Google search to research the schools you are interested in. One thing to look for is professors who have practical knowledge of the field and who have worked as a pharmacy technician themselves. Whichever school you choose you can be sure that you are entering a field that will be in high demand for many years to come.