Pharmacy Tech Schools
Filed under: Career Development, Colleges And Universities, Education, Online Pharmacy Training, Pharmacy Tech Resources
A Pharmacy Technician works directly under a certified pharmacist. He basically provides the required medicine and other health care facilities to patients. He may also prepare the prescribed medication. Pharmacy technicians also look after the management of a pharmacy. He is the bridge between doctors, pharmacists and patients
A Pharmacy Tech School trains one to maintain prescribed medication for patients, prepare intravenous medicine, keep a record of pills and mark bottles accurately, receive prescriptions electronically from hospitals and nursing homes, prepare refills for patients and keep a record of the incoming medical invoice of the pharmacy. It also teaches the student to be aware of new medicine and drugs that are launched in the market.
Guidelines for choosing the best Pharmacy Tech School:
Since, the course is quite time consuming, it is always advisable to choose a pharmacy tech school that is close to one s residence. This helps in fitting the program schedule between other activities of the day.
Most pharmacy tech schools offer courses that can be completed in remarkably short time. The programs stretch for about a year or even less. Hence, the only factor to be decided upon by the student is whether to opt for a full time or a part time training program. Although it should be noted that it is necessary to keep up with the stipulated completion period of one year.
Along with the certificate, pharmacy technicians also receive on-the-field training since this is mostly a vocational course. This helps the student to adapt to the conditions of the actual job. For this reason, it is suggested that a pharmacy technician should intern at hospitals during his program.
The cost of program varies in different pharmacy tech schools, depending on the number of credits included in the course. Usually this number is around 36, and for each credit the cost might be around 200 dollars. While choosing the program one should make sure that the program offers everything: preparation for the certification examination, rigorous field training and has location advantages.
Recently, the trend of online programs has been gaining momentum. Online Pharmacy Tech Schools are also included in this context. Students receive a more or less similar program compared to their classroom counterparts, complete with instructors at hand to guide them through the course when necessary. The online program also allows the student to progress at his or her own pace. Pharmacy technicians work in a variety of locations including pharmacies, drugstores, retail stores, the Federal Government, online pharmacies, and hospitals of course.
List of Pharmacy Tech Schools:
* National American University, established in 1941 offers Associate Degrees in Pharmacy Technician. Students can opt for both classroom lectures as well as online classes. The university has campus locations in Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Minnesota and South Dakota.
* Remington College is a career college. Hence, their classes and laboratories provide on-field experience to the students. This is done in consultation with pharmacists so that the method is effective. They are also accredited to the Accrediting Commission of Career School and Colleges of Technology, recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Campus locations include LA, Texas, Ohio, Florida and Arkansas. Degrees included are Pharmacy Technician and Medical Assisting.
* With campuses in Arizona, Oregon, New Mexico and Nevada; Apollo College is a pharmacy tech school that provides reading comprehension, pharmacy mathematics, functions of calculator and training on communication skills. Apart from classroom programs, students are required to fulfill a 260 hour internship at hospitals and pharmacies to put their knowledge to practical use.
* Cambridge College in Oregon offers associate degrees in Pharmacy Technician. Its programs are updated with the latest knowledge of pharmaceutical drugs and equipments and details of the health care industry.
* Western Career College offers programs that include health care, massage therapy, pharmacy and veterinary services, criminal justice, and business and information systems. It provides associate of science degrees in Pharmacy Technology, and Diploma or Associate of Applied Science Degrees in Dental and Medical Assisting, and Surgical Technology.
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Online Pharmacy Degree
Nowadays, a large number of students of science are applying themselves to establishing a career in pharmacy. They certainly cannot be berated. There are plenty of plus points of becoming a pharmacist. A few of them are listed below:
1) You can start off with a salary that ranges between $ 75000 and $ 150000. The exact amount depends on your location and the needs of the company you will be working for.
2) Your work schedules will not be rigid. On the contrary, you can work seven on and seven off, utilize your evenings if you have another job in the afternoons, or take up a regular nine to five job- the choice is yours.
3) You will have to borrow much less than amounts required for other health professional schools.
4) You can obtain your license early. By the time you reach your mid-twenties, you can have a full-fledged career as a pharmacist. In fact, you do not need to complete a residency.
5) You will not have any dealings with blood.
You can go on adding to this list. The benefits of becoming a pharmacist are virtually endless.
You have to follow the route of a high school student if you want to become a pharmacist, irrespective of whether you are a college student or a non-traditional student. First, you have to complete the pharmacy school stipulations. Then you must take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test, or the PCAT. Lastly, you have to apply to the pharmacy school of your preference. However, there are several obstacles that an aspiring pharmacist may come across.
An online pharmacy degree may see you placed in one of the top ten jobs, according to a recent survey by Money and Salary magazine. Professionals expect a 25% growth in the sector and a rising demand for pharmacists in the next decade. You can enroll for one of the many correspondence courses or online pharmacy degree programs, no matter what your geographical location or other commitments might be.
The Doctor of Pharmacy, abbreviated as PharmD is a four year professional degree. Generally, you are expected to finish two years of pre-pharmacy courses before you can be absorbed into a PharmD school. Transition programs allow you entry to the PharmD level with an older BS in pharmacy.
The American Council of Pharmaceutical Education is responsible for the accreditation of colleges and universities that put online pharmacy degree education programs on the market. You should make sure that the school of your choice is approved by this body.
There is a lucrative job market for pharmacists. You can choose from clinics, pharmacy management companies, pharmaceutical sales companies, or work in a hospital or retail pharmacy, or a mail-in pharmacy, or engage yourself in research.
A prospective annual salary of $88000 awaits qualified pharmacists. This career is definitely an option you should be open to if you are interested in science. You will first have to get your degree and complete your internship and then take the state exam (the NAPLEX), to procure your license and start practicing.
Familial or professional obligations need not dissuade you from setting steps into this excellent job market. Online pharmacy degree programs let you complete the course requirements at your convenience, in the comfort of your own home. Internships too may be located at your city.
Online pharmacy degree program websites will give you all the information you need to zero in on a certain pharmacy school. Online applications are accepted. Details of financial aid are available online. You can discuss your prospects with a counselor- that is tenable also.
If you are a pharmacist with just a bachelor’s degree and if you want to improve or enhance your education, an online pharmacy degree is just what you need. These degrees are meant for pharmacists who need cutting edge knowledge to stay on top of things in their profession.
If you are a budding pharmacist, an online PharmD can help you with the final years of education you need to earn this degree. But it is essential for you to have at least two years of college education in a pre-pharmacy course before you are accepted to a PharmD program.
An accredited online pharmacy degree program will give you details on courses you need to take to complete the degree. After wards, you have to complete your internship, and pass the final board exam (NAPLEX). Then you can earn your license and begin with your independent practice.
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Pharmacy Technician Salary-What Can I Make As A Pharmacy Tech?
The unprecedented boom in the pharmaceuticals and health care industry has led to a rise in 
pharmacist technicians job everywhere. With this growth and high demand, there has been a consequent rise in the salary of a pharmacist and in fact, the job of a pharmacist technician is pretty lucrative. The pharmacist technician salary of course depends on particular work conditions that pay a pharmacist differently. There are a number of options available. Let’s have a look at the average pharmacy technician salary being offered today.
The two main things, on which a pharmacist technician salary, are dependent on are:
Experience and Education. Like most other jobs, this determines to a large extent the amount of salary you might be getting.
Experience determines the rate of pay to a large extent. The pharmacy technician in his/her early years is paid a meager salary that of course increases over time as the person gains more experience. The salary depends on the employer, but the average pharmacy technician salary for someone who has less than a year of job experience, is usually around $9.58 per hour.
The pharmacy technician’s job is generally rewarding whether monetarily or otherwise. The pharmacy technician is basically the person who looks after the requirements of a patient who brings in the prescriptions. Sometimes the prescriptions may also be electronically sent, via e-mail or fax. The job is rewarding in the sense it leads to the betterment of numerous lives. It also pays quite well, usually on a per-hour basis, and around $10-18 per hour.
The salary of the pharmacy technician also varies with experience. The better the experience the higher the pay. A pharmacist technician salary will be around $10.02 (on an average, hourly basis) for a person with an experience of one to four years. If a person has around five to nine years of experience behind him, he can be expect to be paid around $12.28 per hour on an average. Therefore early on in his/her career the pharmacist technician’s salary ranges from $25000-$35000 on an average.
Apart from education and experience, a pharmacy technician’s pay rate is largely determined by the place where the person works. The place of work is an important factor. For example, a person working in a general or surgical hospital gets around $13.86 per hour compared to the $12.78 a pharmacy technician gets for working in a grocery store or the $11.50 per hour the pharmacy technician is paid in a drug store.
As a pharmacy technician works on a per-hour basis, he/she can easily earn more by putting in a few extra hours. Working overtime, working in the evenings or on weekends adds to the pay scale. With the combination of a good workplace, proper education/certification, experience and extra hours out in, a pharmacy technician could earn very good money indeed.
A certificate is essential to be a pharmacy technician. Like all other people-related jobs, this ensures that you are qualified to be handing all patients that come to you, with skill and proper care. Re-certification is necessary every two years. During the re-certification period, contact hours allotted to them. Many pharmacy technicians earn more than the average payment rates in the market if they are experienced. Various sources of earning extra money come from on-the-job training stores, pharmacy colleges etc. They can earn for 10 hours a day if they are employed under a pharmacist. Often pharmacy technician training programs are also opened up to create a better consciousness and understanding of the job amongst people.
According to a reading in May 2004, nearly 505 of all pharmacy technicians’ pay ranges from $10-14. The top 10% enjoy working rates of around $16 per hour. The median hourly payment is around $11. General hospitals employing them pay them around $13, grocery stores pay them between $11-12, while in departmental stores, the pay check is the lowest: around $10 per hour.
With dedication and hard work, a Pharmacy technician salary can be quite large. The harder, more hours of work you put in the better your pay packet gets. As the technician gets more experienced, they can effectively get more money and also control, to a large extent, his/her working hours.
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Pharmacy Technician Certification
Filed under: Career Development, Education, Online Pharmacy Training, Pharmacy Tech Resources
Like many people you might know a health care related career is one of the best careers one can have. Whether it is a doctor, a nurse, a pharmacist or a pharmacy technician, health care workers’ job is to keep people healthy. What can be more important than that?
Those who are seeking a career in health care can opt out for the post of pharmacy technician. Depending on the workplace, a pharmacy technician has to perform a number of duties and responsibilities. From counting out pills to customer management each duty is important. Even routine tasks like labeling a bottle can be of utmost importance as you have to provide the right medicine at the right doses to the patients.
You are recognized as a pharmacy technician only if you have a certificate. To be certified you have to pass the national pharmacy training. The Pharmacy Technician Certification board tests your competency to become one. Certified technicians are of great help to the pharmacists, as they can handle patients and prescriptions easily.
To achieve a Pharmacy Technician Certification one has to have a high school diploma. The certificate is provided by the Pharmacy Technician Certification board. There are frequent exams held at various venues. The Pharmacy Technician Certification board conducts the national pharmacy technician examination. The successful candidates will be able to handle patients skillfully and efficiently. They are known as certified pharmacy technicians (CPhT). Technicians who have passed the exam and have a working experience in some hospital and health center are in high demand.
The Pharmacy Technician Certification is well known and certified candidates are sought out by pharmacists.
This certification process involves learning of many things. Candidates acquire confidence and independence. They are made aware of their duties and can carry out the job effectively. They learn to approach people and monitor it in accordance to certain situations. The certificate provides recognition but they also require dedication, involvement and concern for other people. They can advice for dosages which people follow, so they must be well versed with medicines and its effects.
There are some instances where people hire technicians without any training. Even if such an instance happens the pharmacists take confirmation from the technicians that they should become certified technicians within a stipulated period of time. They first have to acquire on-the-job training after which they go for the certification. A lot of schools, hospitals, vocational or technical colleges have curriculum for formal educations regarding the qualities to become a pharmacy technician. A Pharmacy Technician Certification helps a person develop his/her interpersonal skills and attitude which in turn shapes one’ self to become a perfect technician.
The hourly remuneration of a pharmacy technician may vary from place to place. The pharmacy techs who earn the most usually work in hospitals and their usual earnings are approximately $13 an hour. The lowest paid ones work in health or personal care store. Their hourly wage is approximately $ 10.50 per hour. You can choose where to work. And because hospitals and other specialized institutes pay the highest they hire only the best techs i.e. Pharmacy techs with certification.
The usual course span of such pharmacy technician training course varies from 6 months to a year. The skills one learns during this period are operation of a pharmacy, follow correct pharmaceutical procedures, and provide correct drug dosage and administrative works. This course will also make you ready for the PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board) exam of EXCPT (Exam for theCertification of Pharmacy Technicians).
There are very few federal and state laws governing the need for Pharmacy Technician Certification. Having the PTCB or EXCPT certificate has become the standard. It is very important to pass any of these exams.
If you do not have in hand the six months or one year to complete the pharmacy tech course you can look into some of the other options available. More than the course the certificate is of utmost importance to the potential employers. You can choose to focus your time in doing the studies that are required. This can be done in two ways; you can study all the test materials or you can attend any of the short ‘crash courses’ which are offered in various schools. The time span of these courses can vary from few hours to few days. They are designed to provide you all the necessary information you require to pass your PTCB or EXCPT exams.
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Job Description Of A Pharmacy Technician
Filed under: Career Development, Education, Online Pharmacy Training, Pharmacy Tech Resources
The pharmacy technicians are the leading professionals of the pharmaceutical industry. Usually a 
pharmacy technician provides a lot more than pharmacy aides. Thus the reward, benefit and career options are much brighter for pharmacy technicians.
Pharmacy techs must have a national pharmacy training certificate, because employers prefer certified techs. The certification procedure with its regular courses and programs builds the person to be dedicated. Pharmacy technicians get a lot of respect from patients for their advice and service. Because of population increase hospitals will require more pharmacy techs and their demand will be high.
To become a successful pharmacy tech one has to pass the licensing exam and be able to guide the patients effectively. Licensed techs are known as certified pharmacy technicians (CPhT). The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board is the issuers of license. Exams are conducted all over the nation at various places. There are employers who provide on-the-job training and recruit them later as pharmacy technicians. Pharmacy techs must be able to advice on diets and regular health matters. Their role does not end with prescription, they must be aware of latest medicines and their availability.
The rewards for being a pharmacy tech are quite fulfilling. With the increase of diseases and hospitals the pharmaceutical industry is having a boom and pharmacy techs also get a fair share of that. Pharmacy technicians have both part time and full time job opportunities.
Technicians only hold their ground with their certificates. Pharmacy technicians are no exception. Especially people holding a certificate and relevant job experience have a bright future.
The demand for pharmacy technicians will only go up with many more pharmacy shops opening up. Most of the techs work with retail or mail order pharmacies. Some work in the evenings or during week ends. Their job is to supply the medicines as prescribed. They also look into electronically sent prescriptions. They must ensure that the prescriptions are perfect. Then they must prepare the medicines. They stick the price tags and put the details on a separate file for each patient. Then they must cross check with the pharmacist before doing the final delivery. They must also maintain each patient’s profile and keep updating it regularly. Their job is also to look after their patient’s insurance claim forms and also take stocks into the account. They deal primarily in medicine stock.
The key ingredients of a pharmacy tech are detail, accuracy and client retention skills. If you have these skills and is flexible with timing then pharmacy tech is the job for you as the medical demands are going higher in United States.
A pharmacy technician’s job may vary a little depending upon the workplace and their facilities. 
Pharmacy technicians who are associated with hospitals or drug store pharmacies perform a different kind of task than the techs who work in mail-order fulfillment. Also a tech that work in nursing homes or care facilities has to perform additional duties than those who work in other arenas. On an average a pharmacy technician has to perform the following duties:
* Receive and verify prescriptions.
* Prepare the dosage, through mixing, counting pills and labeling bottles.
* Price and fill prescriptions.
* Get an approval from the pharmacist.
* Patiently complete the paperwork.
* Look into insurance claims.
* Keep a tab on inventory and stock medication.
Other than these a pharmacy technician also has to deal with over the counter medication and handle cash. In some states pharmacy assistants perform theses duties. Sometimes the duties of pharmacy assistant and a tech get overlapped. However the critical area of verification of prescription, mixing and filling medicines and verification with the pharmacist lies with the pharmacy technician.
Pharmacy technicians working in patient care facilities have to read patient charts, prepare the medicines, verify the prescription and deliver it to the patients.
In hospitals and nursing homes pharmacy techs has to share more responsibilities. They will first need to understand the patient’s problem, prepare the required medicines, check them and then deliver. But before delivery they should cross check it with the pharmacist. Technicians later on must maintain a profile of the patient and note down the medications. They must specify the dosage and get it reconfirmed with the pharmacist. They must be really exquisite with communication skills. This is because they have to constantly co ordinate with patients, pharmacist, and other health care professionals. These are the overall requirements one must possess to become a successful pharmacy technician.
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