How To Become A Pharmacy Technician in 2023

Helping people is one of the most enlightening and satisfying things a person can do nowadays. In a world where technology is making it easier than ever to access healthcare, and education is just a few clicks away, anyone can get into the exciting field of being a pharmacy technician. Pharmacy technicians serve an integral role in the pharmacy. It’s also a fantastic and rewarding job with a good wage and a high level of satisfaction. If you’ve been thinking about becoming a pharmacy tech over the past few years or are getting ready to launch a career, here is a guide to becoming a pharmacy technician in 2023. We hope it helps.

If you’re interested in getting into the exciting world of being a pharmacy technician, you must understand what a pharmacy technician does first.

It’s important to note that a pharmacy technician is not a pharmacist. Pharmacy technicians provide support and help pharmacists. They’re sort of like supporting troops in the battle to help people get better healthcare. Part of their job duties includes administration, communication, answering questions, and filling prescriptions. Pharmacy technicians can work in hospitals where they might deliver IV medications or dispense drugs to patients in need of them. Most of the time, however, pharmacy technicians will likely work in retail, assisting pharmacists with their work and performing their own job duties within the context of the role.

Due to its sensitive and highly subjective nature, the medical field has different requirements for practitioners in every single state. What works in Missouri isn’t going to be the same for Colorado or Arizona. So it’s imperative to understand state requirements before getting into the field. Before jumping into taking on a pharmacy technician degree, you’ll want to check with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy to obtain information relevant to your state. This website contains a list of every single state’s requirements so you can check them out and determine if you’ll be able to meet the standards and if it’s right for you.

Now that you know what a pharmacy technician does, it’s time to find an accredited program. Accreditation is an essential factor in choosing a college degree or other pursuit. Accreditation means that the organization offering the courses has met specific criteria set forth by regulatory bodies. It means that the program is going to provide a high-quality education and hands-on training. Accreditation is synonymous with quality. To find accredited programs, research online and talk to professionals in the field. Seek programs approved by your state’s Board of Pharmacy to ensure they’re up to appropriate educational standards. Enrolling in an accredited institution is essential to success in your field, so be sure to ask as many questions as possible and get things right during the research stage. That way, you can get the education you need from a reputable source (and can avoid possible scams).

In 2023, one of the best and most direct routes to becoming a pharmacy technician is to take on my course. Online courses are just as viable and sometimes even better than in-person classes. So how does that translate to being a pharmacy technician? Any aspiring pharmacy tech can get their education online from an accredited academy. These types of courses and degree programs offer online technician training, certification, exams, and everything else you need to get started in the field. Usually completed within an 18-month period, these programs prepare you for the challenges and rewards of working in the field. There are some services that offer a pharmacy technician course with an on-site externship available (more on this topic in the next section) to help students learn, develop, and grow.

To get the most out of their education and decide if the career is truly the right fit for them, pharmacy technicians should complete an externship. An externship it’s just a fancy way of saying on the job training. In this scenario, aspiring pharmacy technicians work in real life pharmacies. Doing so, they gain practical experience in a real world setting. An externship should be seen as an opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in the field. It’s also a good opportunity to ask as many questions of long serving professionals and experienced folk who can help them achieve their goals. Moreover, it’s an opportunity to build relationships and some connections that could help you potentially in your future. Doing an externship isn’t usually a difficult process and has plenty of amazing benefits for people who are just starting out in this wonderful field.