What does a Pharmacy technician do day to day?

July 9th, 2010

Pharmacy technicians do a wide variety of things when they are at work. Regardless of what type of setting that a person works in, these duties tend to be the same in a drug store or at a hospital. One of the biggest duties of the pharmacy technician is to assist the pharmacist with their work.

The pharmacy technician will help the pharmacist when it comes to labelling and filing the prescriptions, as well as help the patients when they are dropping off or picking up their prescription. The technician will enter the prescription into the computer and verify that the prescription is correct. Part of customer service will also include assisting with outpatient dispensing as well as inpatient dispensing. The pharmacy technician will help or create compounds whether they are a solution, ointment or a cream. They will also help to prepare compound total nutrition solutions and large volumes of intravenous mixtures. They may also assist with packing bulk medications and preparing chemotherapeutic agents.

No job is complete without some administrative duties, and the pharmacy technician is no exception. Some of the administrative work that a technician will do is working with insurance agencies in regards to payments and being able t fill prescriptions, screen phone calls for the pharmacists, as well as ordering medication when supplies get low. The pharmacy technician watches the inventory levels so that they know when items need to be ordered, and dealing with the purchasing and billing that goes with it. Another aspect of the job is to work on scheduling and maintaining the workflow at the pharmacy.

Of course, depending on where you are working will have a large impact as to what your exact job duties will be. If you really want to know, it never hurts to go to the workplace and ask the staff there, they are the best resource to tell you what their job involves.

The responsibilities that a pharmacy tech earns through experience while on the job will play a role in how much one can expect to earn on an annual basis. Other factors that influence the average pharmacy technician salary are, job location, school attainment, and job demand. Just as in any career, pay increases come with time and is not something that should be expected immediately.

Best way to get the Pharmacy technician certification

July 8th, 2010

When it comes to getting your pharmacy technician certificate, there are different things that you can do to accomplish your certificate. Some of these methods are better than others, and you need to find the best way for you. What is best for one person may not be the best for the next.
The best thing to do may be to work as a pharmacy aide or a pharmacy technician before you go for your certification. This way you have had some hands on experience which may be helpful when it comes to writing the exam, as you will have had some hands on experience which may make the exam easier to write. Once you have your certificate, you may be able to take on some additional responsibilities at work and prove yourself valuable and an asset to others.
If you have not received your high school diploma, you need to return to school and get your GED first. Once you have received that, then you will be able to move on and get your pharmacy technician certificate. You will gain the respect of others within the pharmacy circles once you complete your certificate, as it demonstrates that you have the knowledge to effectively work in a pharmacy and to assist the pharmacist. These exams are administered all over the States, so you will be able to find a location that is near you.
When you are studying and learning the information for your pharmacy technician exam, it may be helpful to see if your co-workers will help you by quizzing you or if someone else is taking the exam, then you can study together and help each other out. Remember that you will have to recertify every two years, and also put in twenty hours of credit to get the renewed certification.

A few tips on the Pharmacy technician exam

July 7th, 2010

When it comes to writing the pharmacy technician exam, there are a few tips that may be helpful in regards to how to prepare and make sure that you are successful. While it may seem daunting to have to go back to school and take an exam if it has been a while since you have had to do that, it is not as difficult as you may think.
One of the biggest tasks that a pharmacy technician does is to assist the pharmacists with their work. You can do a lot of the same duties as the pharmacist does, but the pharmacist will have to check your work and that you cannot give advice to the customers. Once you have your pharmacy technician certificate, you will be able to help with counting out the pills, measuring liquids, and filling the various prescriptions. You will also assist with keeping track of how much stock is in the pharmacy.
There are a several different ways that you can prepare for the pharmacy technician exam, which is either through online or offline courses. You can find several offerings in various places, and just make sure that wherever you decide to go is accredited and has a good reputation. If you can find others that are looking at taking their exam as well, then you can get together with them and study together, and help each other with the information that you are having a hard time with.
If you can find some practice exams, it is a good idea to do a few of these to give you an idea of what the exam will be like. There are many multiple choice questions on the exam, and these can be very tricky, even though they look simple. Practicing these types of questions can help you when it comes to the actual exam.

Tips on Pharmacy technician training

July 5th, 2010

When it comes to your career and livelihood, it may be worth taking a few days and doing some research and making decisions in regards to where and how to get your training. One such thing you need to make a decision about is what you are going to do and then where and what type of training you want to get. When it comes to being a pharmacy technician, you know that there is job security as people tend to use more prescriptions as they get older, and the population is aging. As a result, you will want to take some training and likely get certification as a pharmacy technician. By having your certification you are more likely to get a better job and make a better wage.
If you are already working as a pharmacy technician, and you do not have your certification, you likely want to look into getting it, as it can help you to advance your career. It could give you a promotion or an increase in salary, as you will be able to take on more responsibility at your job. This may even help you if you decide that you some day want to become a pharmacist, as you will have a lot of the basics from being a pharmacy technician.
Working as a pharmacy technician is an important job. While your work will still be checked by the pharmacist, you are able to take a lot of the pressure off them when you are busy. As a result, you will learn a lot of things and having the certificate will allow you to be paid what you are truly worth. Education has never hurt anyone, so getting your certificate and being recognized as having the knowledge will be a great benefit to your career.

Tips to pass the Pharmacy technician certification

July 1st, 2010

When it comes to passing the pharmacy technician exam, there are some tips that you can use that will help you be successful. Chances are you are taking the exam because you want to improve your employability; you are looking for a chance in career or an increase in job duties. This exam will allow you to develop some extra skills as you will learn more than you may have previously. Here are some tips to assist you when it comes to writing and preparing for the pharmacy technician certification exam.
Make sure you set aside time every day to study for the exam. This will allow you to keep on track with your studying, and allow you to plan and make sure you are able to keep on a schedule and make sure you get to cover all the details before it is time to write. Make sure that whatever schedule you set up is something that you can stick to, and that it is reasonable. If you expect to learn everything about being a pharmacy technician in a week, you are likely setting yourself up for failure. It is best to spread your studying time out over time, as you will learn better that way. Cram sessions typically are not the best way to learn a lot of information.
Studying with a group can be very helpful when it comes to learning material for an exam, such as the pharmacy technician exam. By studying in a group, you are able to share knowledge with each other and get help if there is something that you are not able to understand on your own. Chances are you will be able to help someone else as well. It tends to be helpful for you to learn the material when you are helping to explain it to someone else.

Some insight on Pharmacy technician work

June 30th, 2010

Pharmacy technicians can do all types of work, which mostly will depend on if there are state rules or regulations where they live. The work can happen in retail or even through mail-order pharmacies and have a variety of responsibilities. The pharmacy technician receives a written prescription from the patient or from the doctor’s office, or even through the phone if the State regulations allow that. The technician then has to verify that the prescription is complete and accurate. The accounting technician then prepares the prescription by counting, pouring, weight, measuring as well as mixing the medication if required. They prepare the label, select the container, as well as attach the labels to the containers. Once this has been completed, the prescription is priced and filed, and waits for a pharmacist to check it before the prescription is given to the patient. The pharmacy technician is able to establish and maintain the patient profile, and prepare insurance forms for the patient to put in the claim. If the patient has any questions in regards to the prescription, they have to refer them to the pharmacist who is qualified to answer questions on the prescriptions, drug information, and about health matters.
Once the pharmacy technician has finished their part of the prescription, they pass it to the pharmacists who will check it over. The pharmacist will check the paperwork, that the right medication was bottled, the dosage is correct and counted or mixed properly, and that the insurance paperwork has been done correctly.
As people age, the roll of the pharmacy technician will increase and will involve. The technician will become a more important roll within the pharmacy, as the pharmacist will also get busier and pass on some of their work. For this reason, this is a good field to get into if you are not sure what type of work you want to do.

Pharmacy technician test

June 28th, 2010

When you are already a pharmacy technician, you may decide that you want to take the test to increase your employability or to be able to get a raise at your current job. As part of your preparation, there are a few things that you can do to help you to get an even better score, which can help you with your pharmacy technician career and your wage goals.
One of the first things you want to know is that you can study for the exam online or offline. There are also several institutes that you can use to help you to prepare for the pharmacy technician certification exam. Once you have made decisions on the course, then you are ready to get studying and prepare for the exam. The most important part of the exam is focused on knowing how to assist the pharmacist in regards to serving patients. This information makes up 66% of the exam. The next part of the exam makes up 22% of the material, which is on maintaining inventory control as well as medication. The remaining 12% of the exam is about participating in the management as well as the administration of the pharmacy practice. Make sure to focus on these three areas when you are studying, and make smart decisions when you are studying for the best results.
The pharmacy technician certification exam is made up of several components. There are some questions as well as 125 multiple choice questions on the exam. You will be given three hours in order to complete the exam. You will find that there are 15 pretest questions on the exam which are not part of your final score, but they need to be correct as they make up the foundation of the exam. Do not let these details frighten you, if you are well prepared you will do fine.

Pharmacy technician schools that you can attend from home

June 25th, 2010

There are many different pharmacy technician schools that you can attend from your home. Sometimes a home school is the best option for a person due to a variety of reasons. Even thought you are getting your education through home schooling, you will still be able to get training where you work with a pharmacist in regards to providing medication as well as health care products to the patients. It doesn’t matter if you work in a retail location, at a druggist, the grocery store pharmacy or the hospital, you will be playing an important part in a rewarding profession.
Your pharmacy technician schooling will teach you how to obtain prescriptions from the doctors and the hospitals, how to get prescriptions ready for patients, as well as how to verify insurance and prescription information, and assist the pharmacist with their everyday duties.
The great thing about home schooling is that you can arrange your classes to arrange your schedule. You choose the time and the place to work on your pharmacy technician coursework, and you can work at your own pace. While you may feel like you are alone, you are not. There are instructors as well as support staff who are available to help you with your work. It just takes a phone call or an email in order to access these resources.
When you are choosing which school to enroll in for your pharmacy technician course, you will want to make sure that they are accredited and have a good reputation. With the amount of information available on the Internet, you can find past students and ask them how they felt about the school. You also will want to make sure that the school guarantees that you will be ready to write the certification exams once you have completed the course. You may also be able to write the certification directly through the school.

Pharmacy technician resume

June 23rd, 2010

When it comes to creating a pharmacy technician resume, there are certain things that should be included on your resume to increase your chances of getting a job. As with any resume, this resume is to describe your work experience and any training you have to your potential employer.
Your resume should be precise and describe your accomplishments, experience as well as any special skills, qualifications and certifications that you may have or have received since you became a pharmacy technician. The resume should follow a standard format, and be descriptive as well as to the point so that it will stand out from the other resumes the employer may be considering. Always include a cover letter when you are sending in your resume.
Make sure your pharmacy technician resume includes all your contact information such as name, address, phone and fax numbers as well as email, as many people prefer to communicate through email. There should be a summary of what you have done and how you fit with what the company is looking for. Include your experience as well as personal characteristics that apply to the job you are looking at. Describe what you are looking for and what you are able to offer. You should include your previous jobs, with your most recent position first, as well as the duties you had at them. Make sure to include any unpaid work as well as internships as a pharmacy technician. You should also list any accomplishments from your jobs or activities within professional or community affairs. Education also needs to be included, with the most recent schooling listed first.
There are some ideas that you should not be including in your resume which are things like your age, marital status, your height or weight. You are to be considered on your qualifications, not your looks. References should also be kept to yourself until you are at the interview.

Pharmacy technician program

June 18th, 2010

When it comes to enrolling in a pharmacy technician program, there are no specific training requirements. It is best to have a high school diploma or the equivalent before you get started as most schools will require this. While many pharmacy technicians receiving training on the job; many employers prefer those who have completed some formal training or taken a certification course as they know that they have some knowledge and background. Training on the job generally will take between three and twelve months to be completed.
You can find educational programs through a variety of different organizations such as community colleges, vocational schools, the hospitals or the military. A program can range anywhere from six months up to two years, and will include classroom and laboratory work. Many subjects will be covered including medical and pharmaceutical terms, calculations, recordkeeping in a pharmacy, techniques and pharmacy law and ethics. Pharmacy technicians need to learn the names, actions, doses and uses of the medications which they work with. Quite often you can get an internship through the program that you take, which will allow you to get actual experience in a pharmacy. Once you complete the course you will get a diploma, certificate or associated degree depending on the type of program you took.
For someone who may be working while they are taking their pharmacy technician course, there are some skills that they can learn that will help them when it comes to looking for a job once their course is completed. Knowing how to operate a cash register and dealing with customers are great skills to be able to put on your resume. Assisting with inventory as well as using a computer for various duties is also a helpful skill to list on a resume when you are job hunting.