Pharmacy Technician Career

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What You Do in This Career

Pharmacists may get the glory, but pharmacy technicians do the real work: preparing prescription medications (counting pills), speaking with customers, taking prescription orders, stocking shelves, and doing administrative work. Some work in mail order pharmacies, which reduces the customer service aspect. If you liked measuring things out in high school chemistry, or even if you’ve always been good at baking which also requires accurate weights and measures, this might be the career for you. What they don’t do is answer questions about prescriptions, drug information or health matters; that is the pharmacist’s job. The work is simple, the pay rate is good, and the hours are regular.

Salary and Career Path

Hourly wages for pharmacy technicians average around $13.32, although the highest 10% earn over $19 per hour. Certified technicians earn more than non-certified technicians. The increasing numbers of middle-aged people who use more prescription drugs than other age groups ensures that this career will be in demand for a while, so job security is another plus for this career. Unfortunately, since the job is so simple, opportunities for advancement are few unless you want to go into managerial or supervisory roles.

What Kind of Degree or Coursework You Need

There are no formal training requirements for pharmacy technicians, but job seekers will find that having formal training, certification and experience will be to their advantages. Most pharmacy technicians receive on the job training from between 3-12 months, but for those who want more education to boost their resumes, community colleges, vocational schools and the military offer programs from 6-12 months long. Classes include medical and pharmaceutical terminology, medical technology, pharmaceutical calculations, recordkeeping, pharmacy law and ethics. Technicians also have to learn the names of each drug and what each drug does, along with dosages. Because technicians are often required to do office work as well, taking courses in Excel might also be useful.

Top Online Health Services Programs

There are multiple educational paths that can be taken to become an ultrasound technician or diagnostic medical sonographer. The schools below do not offer ultrasound-specific training, but they do offer medical assisting and other healthcare programs closely related to sonography. You can request information by clicking the college's logo.

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DeVry University
AS in Health IT
 		DeVry University — Although DeVry University's online associate's degree in health information technology program is not specifically an ultrasound training program, it does prepare students to be HIT leaders in contemporary hospitals, physician's offices, medical clinics, and more.
Virginia College Online
BS in Health Services Mgmt
 		Virginia College Online — If you want to complete a health-based interdisciplinary studies degree online that will prepare you for ultrasound technology as well as for management, then apply for Virginia College's bachelor's degree in Health Services Management or associate's degree in medical office administration. The tuition for each program includes the cost of every textbook for every course. After earning this degree, additional training may be required to become an ultrasound technician.
Herzing University
AS in Medical Assisting
 		Herzing University — The AS in medical assisting degree program from Herzing University is not an ultrasound training program, but it does present students with an introduction to a physician's office, and can help lead to careers in sonography. Students learn how to assist doctors and nurses in the exam room as well as perform routine medical laboratory procedures.
Hodges University
AS in Health Info Mgmt
AS in Health Admin
 		Hodges University — Hodges University's AS in Health Information Technology and AS in Health Administration programs, while not purely an ultrasound training program, do teach students how to use the latest information technology to meet the needs of the healthcare industry. Health information technology allows medical offices to collect and analyze data from patients and doctors, a vital part of the medical process. Students learn to manage patient health information, medical records, administer computer information systems, and code diagnoses and procedures.
Lincoln College
AAS in Health IT
 		Lincoln College — The AAS in Health IT degree program from Lincoln College Online teaches students the ins and outs of technological-related medical work such as data tracking, organizing, and recorded. This degree is useful for anyone wishing to advance in his/her career within a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, ultrasound clinics, physician offices, and more. Additional training is required before becoming an ultrasound technician.

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DeVry University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, www.ncahlc.org. Keller Graduate School of Management is included in this accreditation. In New York, DeVry University operates as DeVry College of New York. DeVry University operates as DeVry Institute of Technology in Calgary, Alberta. DeVry is certified to operate by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. AC0060. DeVry University is authorized for operation by the THEC. www.state.tn.us/thec. Nashville Campus - 3343 Perimeter Hill Dr., Nashville, TN 37211. Program availability varies by location.

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