Types of Pharmacy Technicians
Pharmacy techs are vital in healthcare. They help pharmacists give out meds safely. They work in stores and hospitals, each with its own job. Before we talk about the types of pharmacy technicians, let’s understand what they do. They help pharmacists prepare and give out meds, working in places like stores and hospitals.
What Pharmacy Techs Do
Pharmacy techs do a lot to help pharmacists:
Help with prescriptions: They check and make sure prescriptions are correct.
Get meds ready: After checking prescriptions, they count pills, measure liquids, and make creams following the rules.
Manage supplies: They watch and make sure the pharmacy has enough meds, order more, and check expiration dates.
Help customers: They talk to patients, answer questions, and may help with insurance and payments.
Keep records: They write down what meds they give out, fill in prescriptions, and keep track of inventory.
Types of Pharmacy Technicians and What They Do
- Retail Pharmacy Techs
In regular pharmacies, helping people with:
- Advising on over-the-counter meds.
- Putting in prescription orders and checking insurance.
- Labeling and packing meds.
- Watching supplies and making sure there’s enough.
- Hospital Pharmacy Techs
Work in hospitals, helping with meds:
- Making sterile meds like IV solutions.
- Keeping track of patient meds.
- Working with healthcare pros on meds.
- Helping with meds and supplies in the hospital.
- Long-term Care Pharmacy Techs
In pharmacies for long-term care places, making sure meds are right:
- Working with healthcare pros for residents’ meds.
- Packing and labeling meds for delivery.
- Keeping track of meds for each person.
- Compounding Pharmacy Techs
Work in places that make special meds:
- Making meds based on what a person needs.
- Be careful with ingredients and storage.
- Working with pharmacists to get the right mix.
- Nuclear Pharmacy Techs
Work in unique places with radioactive meds:
- Helping make and prepare radioactive meds.
- Being very careful with safety rules.
- Working with pharmacists to get meds to hospitals.
- Keeping records for radioactive meds.
Where Pharmacy Techs Work
Here are the different places pharmacy techs can work in:
- Regular pharmacies: Like in drug stores or grocery stores.
- Hospitals: Helping with meds for patients.
- Long-term care places: Making sure residents get their meds.
- Special pharmacies: Making custom meds.
- Mail-order pharmacies: Sending meds to people’s homes.
- Nuclear pharmacies: Handling and giving out radioactive meds.
How to Become a Pharmacy Tech
If you want to be a pharmacy tech, here’s how:
- Finish high school: You need a diploma or GED.
- Go to a training program: Many schools have programs to teach what you need.
- Get certified: You only sometimes need it, but it helps show you know your stuff.
- Learn on the job: Some programs let you work and learn simultaneously.
- Get a license: Some places want you to have a license, so check your state.
- Keep learning: The pharmacy world changes, so keep up with new things.
Salary and Job Outlook for Pharmacy Techs
How much you make depends on where you work and your experience. On average, it’s around $34,020 a year. But some make more, up to $47,000.
Getting a job as a pharmacy tech is a great choice. The number of jobs will grow by 4 percent from 2019 to 2029. More people need meds, so pharmacies need more help.
Final Thoughts
Pharmacy technicians are a big part of healthcare. No matter where you work, you have a specific job. To be a pharmacy tech, get the proper education, a certificate, and keep learning.
Contact CCI Training Center today to learn more about their pharmacy tech training. Start your journey to an excellent pharmacy tech job!
