Summary: Although it might be possible to work as a pharmacy technician without being certified, earning certification can only help the pharmacy tech in their journey to career success. ProTrain offers a nationally recognized certification program accessed in an online environment.
Among the most demanded courses in our Healthcare and Allied Health catalog is the Pharmacy Technician course. It should come as no surprise, given that the retail pharmacy is expanding thanks to new opportunities in community care. With expansion comes a more important role for the pharmacy technician.
Are you considering a career as a pharmacy tech? Are you already in the field and gainfully employed? Either way, earning a Pharmacy Technician certification could open new doors just waiting for you to walk through. Being a certified pharmacy tech means something to employers seeking to fill out their staff with the best and most qualified candidates.
A Brief Introduction to the Career
Those new to the pharmacy tech career might not fully understand what it involves. Let us start with the basics. Pharmacy technicians work in retail, hospital, and specialty pharmacies. They bridge the gap between pharmacist and patient, fulfilling responsibilities that vary depending on the work setting. Here are some examples of things most pharmacy techs do:
- Manage Prescriptions – Prescription management involves receiving and processing prescription orders. Pharmacy techs might assist with medication dispensing and preparation. When they do, they help a pharmacist maintain accuracy.
- Customer Management – Pharmacy technicians interact with customers on a daily basis. They answer questions and verify critical information. Throughout all their interactions, confidentiality must be maintained.
- Inventory Management – Inventory management is a task that pharmacists usually delegate to their techs. Pharmacy techs place orders, manage inventory levels, and ensure that the pharmacy is always properly stocked.
- Administration – It’s not unusual for pharmacy techs to perform administrative functions related to record-keeping and insurance claims. These are largely clerical duties, yet still important to the daily functioning of the pharmacy.
In nearly all pharmacy settings, the pharmacist is the final authority in all things pertaining to medication dispensing. The pharmacy technician acts as an assistant, both for practical and administrative purposes.
The Pharmacy Technician Certification
With an understanding of the day-to-day pharmacy tech job, it should be easier to understand why certification is so important. Granted, many states allow qualified individuals to work as pharmacy techs without formal certification. Yet earning one’s certification can still help.
Certification demonstrates mastery of certain skills and knowledge. It makes a job candidate’s resume stand out. Certification can also lead to:
- More Prospects – Employers prefer certification whenever possible. So earning a certificate opens the door to more prospects. Techs have access to more available jobs.
- Higher Earning Potential – While there are exceptions to the rule, most certified pharmacy techs earn more than their non-certified counterparts.
- Career Advancement – Because employers prefer certification, they are more likely to promote those techs who have been certified. Certification could lead to new opportunities in a supervisory field or in specialty pharmacies.
- Professional Credibility – Certification instantly adds professional credibility to a resume. Increased credibility can only help a pharmacy tech along their career journey.
Our culture places a premium on education and training. Online certification training is just as valuable as a college education, and perhaps even more so in fields like pharmacy. Becoming certified can be a real game-changer for any tech looking to move beyond an entry-level job.
More About Career Advancement
For those pharmacy techs looking to advance into new positions beyond what they currently do, certification training provides the foundation for moving forward. Maybe a tech wants to move into a supervisory role. For that to happen, they need a basic understanding of certain things. Pharmacy Technician certification provides some of the essential knowledge.
Certification training for pharmacy techs tends to cover things like:
- Pharmacology – An introduction to different types of medications, how they work, and any potential side effects.
- Patient Safety – Best practices for ensuring patient safety. Pharmacy techs also learn how to properly manage medication errors.
- Regulations – Pharmacy-related regulations, laws, and ethics. They learn about the standards set and enforced by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).
The knowledge gained during certification training puts a pharmacy tech in a good position to move forward when new opportunities arise. A certified technician can explore multiple pathways for advancement, including:
1. Pharmacy Management
While the pharmacist is generally the highest-ranking worker in retail pharmacy, management of the administrative side of things is generally left to a pharmacy manager. Pharmacy managers supervise teams and oversee retail operations. They take care of all the back-office tasks the pharmacist does not have time for.
2. Specialized Roles
Certification opens the door to specialized roles in non-retail pharmacies. For example, a certified technician would be a good candidate for a role in a compounding pharmacy. They might have opportunities to apply for jobs in medication therapy management.
3. Education and Training
Being certified can put a pharmacy tech on a career path that will ultimately lead to a job in the education field. Some go on to teach in pharmacy tech training programs, combining all that training with their own personal experience to help launch others in the pharmacy tech career.
An Investment in Your Future
Whether you are looking to get on the pharmacy tech career path or are already employed by a local pharmacy, do not think of certification training as an exclusively financial investment. It is also an investment in your future. Certification training puts you on a path to future success.
When you choose to train with ProTrain, you get all the benefits that come with online training offered by a nationally accredited institution. Our training offers flexibility, program accessibility, cost-effective learning, and support services that can help you in your job search after training is complete.
We invite you to take a look at our pharmacy technician course while you are here on our website. If you have questions, contact us at info@protrain.edu. You can also email enroll@protrain.edu if you already know you’re ready to get started.
FAQs
What are a pharmacy tech’s primary responsibilities?
Pharmacy techs are assistants. They help pharmacists by managing prescriptions, preparing medications, interacting with customers, and handling clerical tasks.
How does certification benefit a pharmacy tech career?
Certification increases a tech’s employability by demonstrating mastery of key skills and knowledge. Employers look for certification in many cases.
Why is certification important to employers?
Certification demonstrates knowledge. In the pharmacy field, knowledge is critical to maintaining both patient safety and regulatory compliance.
What are the benefits of online certification?
Online certification training is flexible and self-paced. It is also more affordable than a traditional degree program because students are not paying for courses they don’t need.
Can certified techs specialize in certain areas of pharmacy?
Absolutely. Many techs prefer to specialize in areas like compounding, oncology, and ambulatory care pharmacy. Just note that specialization often requires training above and beyond pharmacy technician certification.
How long does certification training take?
Our pharmacy tech course offers 330 hours of coursework. Students have 12 months to complete the course, but they can do so at their own pace.
