Secure Your Future as a Pharmacy Technician
Picking up a prescription at your neighborhood pharmacy may seem like a relatively simple task, but a lot goes on behind the scenes! A team of trained professionals must make sure that medications are filled correctly, all while interacting with patients who are often not feeling well.
If you’re interested in medicine and have compassionate people skills, working as a pharmacy technician may be a perfect choice. The National Pharmacy Technician Association reports that the position is one of the 100 fastest growing jobs in the country. The aging Baby Boomer generation and the fact that more Americans are seeking health care thanks to the Affordable Care Act have led to an increased demand for prescription medications and therefore, pharmacy professionals.
Pharmacy Technician Earning Potential
The national average salary for pharmacy technicians in 2012 was $29,320, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Techs can also reasonably expect to see their incomes increase over time. According to Salary.com, the earning potential for entry-level pharmacy techs can be over $40,000 per year.
Common Job Duties
Some pharmacy technicians work in pharmacies that are at hospitals and medical offices, but many are located inside drug stores and supermarkets. Technicians assist licensed pharmacists in measuring, mixing, counting, labeling, and recording the correct dosages of prescription medications. They may receive and verify prescriptions or refill requests from patients and doctors’ offices. Other job responsibilities include verifying inventory, processing medical insurance forms, and operating cash registers to accept payments from customers.
Training and Education
High Desert Medical College prepares its students for the fastest growing careers in the healthcare industry, including a full slate of pharmacy technician classes. Students can successfully complete our comprehensive pharmacy technician program in just nine months. The curriculum covers all necessary topics, including:
• Pharmacy Laws and Ethics
• Communication and Customer Service
• Insurance, Billing and Coding
• Microbiology
• Prescriptions Processing
High Desert Medical College also offers job placement assistance to its qualified graduates. Learn how to begin your path to a career as a Pharmacy Technician today by stopping by either of our campuses in Lancaster or Bakersfield, completing an online form or calling us at 888-633-4362.