A pharmacy technician is someone who assists pharmacists in putting together prescriptions and giving them out to customers. This is a position with growing demand, which means it could be a good job option for you.
If you are trying to decide if going to pharmacy tech school is the right decision for you, you first need to determine what the job involves and what your education must consist of. If after additional research a pharmacy technician job and schooling sound intriguing to you, it may be something you want to pursue. Find out more about a typical day as a pharmacy technician and what you will learn in pharmacy technician school below.
A Typical Day as a Pharmacy Tech
When you work as a pharmacy technician, your primary job function is to be the point of contact for customers when they come to collect their medication. However, there are also a variety of other tasks and duties you will regularly perform as well.
As a pharmacy tech, you will have a lot of different responsibilities and assignments to manage every day. Some of the most vital tasks include:
- Receiving and confirming prescriptions and dispensing medication.
- Dosage Calculation for Customers
- Assisting customers with questions
- Preparation of Insurance Claims
- Usage of Medical Terms
- Stocking supplies
- Managing inventory
- Maintaining records
When working in this role, you will receive prescriptions via computer software, confirm the prescription and verify customer information. Dispensing medication is also be a significant role of a pharmacy tech which includes verifying medication information and dosage as well as labeling the prescription.
Your exact job duties and job description will depend upon your specific employer, but these are many of the typical responsibilities of a pharmacy technician. To make sure you know how to perform everything your boss expects of you, you may want to attend a pharmacy technician program.
What Can You Expect from a Pharmacy Technician Program?
The demand for health care professionals is increasing, and this includes the pharmaceutical industry. There is a growing demand for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, and while becoming a pharmacist takes years of education, you can start as a pharmacy technician with little to no education beyond a high school degree. The amount of further education you will need depends on the employer. Some businesses do not require additional schooling. However, others do expect their applicants to complete a pharmacy technician program. The good news is that you can finish such a program in under a year and be qualified to work in hospitals, pharmacies, nursing home facilities, and more.
Typically, pharmacy technician programs are just nine months long and teach you what you need to know to work under a pharmacist in the pharmaceutical industry. Some programs even give you an option to get real-world experience.
If you choose to attend our Florida pharmacy technician program at the FVI School of Nursing and Technology (FVI), you can expect courses like Anatomy and Physiology, Pharmacy Calculations, Pharmacy Law, Pharmacology, and more. At FVI, you will even do a pharmacy technician externship to help you gain on the job experience, and we help you get certified by the State Board of Pharmacy in Florida.
After you complete your pharmacy technician training at FVI, you will be able to identify different medications and make pharmacy calculations like finding the correct dosage or solution strength. Additionally, your pharmacy technician training will teach you all about pharmacy laws and ethics which you can apply to your work in a pharmacy. Once you have finished pharm tech school, you will be prepared for a job where you put together prescriptions and help customers understand how to use their medicine.
Getting the Pharmacy Technician Education you Need
This type of job will require a diploma. At FVI the program takes just under 12 months to complete and when finished with pharmacy technician training program, you will be able to move on to the more important things, like finding a job. Once you have completed the program, FVI’s career services department will help you with career placement assistance. So here’s the big question: What are the job prospects available? Over the next 12 years according to BLS, the industry will add 34,700 jobs, which is faster job growth than the average of all jobs.
Your new job will involve assisting the pharmacist in both packing and distribution of medicine. Graduates may be able to find employment in a number of different facilities that include:
- Hospitals (private and government)
- Private and Chain Drug Stores
- Drug Manufacturing Plants
- Heath Maintenance Organizations
- Nursing Facilities
- Private Doctor’s Offices
- Laboratories
Is Pharmacy Tech School Right for You?
Pharmacy technician school could be a great way to set yourself up for a fun and meaningful career opportunity. If you are someone who likes working with others, has strong customer service skills, and is detail-oriented, a career as a pharmacy tech could be a great option for you.
All you need to do is make sure you ‘re willing to earn the education and jump head first into this highly rewarding career path. Keep in mind that within the state of Florida you do need to be registered before you can begin working in your field, which you will prepare for while attending FVI.
We have you covered, and we’re going to help you to get the best education possible for this exciting field. This is a job that involves helping people from all walks of life; you will be responsible for getting them their medications, working out the dosages, and most importantly, making sure they know how to use said medication.
Above, we discussed a typical day as a pharmacy tech as well as what you can expect from pharmacy tech school in Miami. If all of that sounds like a good option to you, pharmacy tech school could be a great next step
Tour Our Miami Pharmacy Tech School
Here at the FVI School of Nursing and Technology, we have a pharmacy technician program that you can attend today, and we can train you to work as a pharmacy technician in as little as nine months. Contact us to learn more about our program and what it can offer you. Explore all of our healthcare training programs in southern Florida. If you’re ready to embark on your brand new career, take a look at our available options. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify, so don’t let finances delay you. From your first step of requesting more information to assisting with your first job, FVI will be there every step of the way.
For more information about graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website: https://fvi.edu/consumer-information/.
