The first wave of baby boomers will turn 60 in 2006. Adults aged 60 and older on average use three times as many medications as adults younger than 60, according to a study presented at a recent Pharmacy Manpower Project, Inc. conference. As the demand for medicines increases, the study points out, there will be an estimated shortfall of some 157,000 pharmacists by 2020.
It takes a high school diploma and only about 15 weeks or more of additional classes to complete a pharmacy technician program. This is one of the fastest ways to qualify for a dependable health care industry job. To become a licensed pharmacist with a pharmacist degree, on the other hand, takes about six years of study after high school.
What Does a Pharmacy Tech Do?
Because licensed pharmacists are so busy, pharmacy technicians perform almost every task that can be done without a license. A tech assists in preparing medicines, counts tablets, answers telephones, receives and verifies written prescriptions, takes refill requests, greets patients, runs cash registers, and more.How Do You Start?
Technicians may be trained on the job or by completing a pharmacy technician program. Some formal training programs meet the program accreditation standards established by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. After completing their training, technicians may become a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) by successfully taking the national examination offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.Because of increasing demand for pharmacy services, experts at places like the Texas Tech School of Pharmacy are studying how to best use the skills of pharmacy technicians in ways that make pharmacies more efficient. The job will keep changing. Continuing education plays a part.
According to the US Labor Department, median hourly earnings of pharmacy technicians in 2002 were $10.70. Technicians who get certified typically get a raise.
Sources
- Pharmacy Technician.
<http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos252.htm> - American Medical Association Pharmacy Technician booklet.
<http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/40/0405pharmtech.pdf> - American Society for Health System Pharmacists.
<http://www.ashp.org/technician/index.cfm?cfid=3698602
&CFToken=34806322>
