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White Coated Wonders: The Pharmacy Technician
What Does A Pharmacy Technician Do?
A pharmacy technician performs basic jobs for pharmacists and their patients. Duties may include packaging the prescription (counting out the tablets and labeling the bottles) and taking the prescription from the patient and verifying that it is correct. Laws regarding what pharmacy technicians can and cannot do vary from state to state. In some states, the pharmacy technician may even be the one who prepares and mixes the medication. Of course, in all states the pharmacist checks the prescription before it goes to the patient, but the level of competence and responsibility required of a pharmacy technician can be quite high.
Seeking Out Certified Pharmacy Technician Jobs
So how do you become a pharmacy technician? There are several paths you can take. One is to simply begin on-the-job-training at a pharmacy. This is possible because there aren't many government regulations or rules regarding pharmacy technician training. However, pharmacies prefer to hire those who have completed one of the many pharmacy technician certification programs available throughout the country. These programs, which range from one month to two years in length, can lead to a diploma, a certificate, or an associate degree. Also, obtaining certification before beginning work can give you a higher starting salary than those who are not certified. Thus, it is highly recommended if you wish to become a pharmacy technician that you get certified so you may qualify for all certified pharmacy technician jobs.
