Certified Pharmacy Technician

Be a Certified Pharmacy Technician

A certified pharmacy technician is someone who works under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist, and does pharmacy-related functions. Simply put, a certified pharmacy technician assists licensed pharmacists in filling prescriptions.

However, a certified pharmacy technician needs to know more than just counting pills and tablets. Although most of pharmacy technicians learn the ropes while on the job, the certification process requires them to undergo formal training. In the United States, the biggest certifying bodies are the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT) and Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). In the United Kingdom, pharmacy technician will soon be a protected job title and only those with qualifications will be allowed to legally use the title. This will probably happen in Year 2008.

As to compensation, in the US the average annual salary of certified pharmacy technicians is about $26,510, ranging from a low of less than $17,800 to as high as more than $31,030 per year. In the UK, pharmacy technicians are paid about ₤14.00-₤17.00 per hour or ₤23,000 per annum.

So what are the career prospects of certified pharmacy technicians? Senior certified pharmacy technicians in hospital service can specialize on several fields. They can specialize in areas like medicines management, medicines information, quality control, manufacturing, supplies procurement, information technology and staff training. An emerging role of certified pharmacy technicians is that of clinical technician. This job calls for the certified pharmacy technician to work on wards and liaise with other medical professionals, at the same time maintaining close contact with the patient. A top position for certified pharmacy technician is often as Manager of a section in the pharmacy department.

With roles expanding, new opportunities are opening up for certified pharmacy technicians. Now, more than ever, the future for these professionals has become brighter. Now is the time to be a certified pharmacy technician.

Featured Pharmacy Technician School

The Brown Mackie College system of schools offers bachelor’s and associate’s degrees, and diploma and certificates in Criminal Justice.* The Criminal Justice programs at the Brown Mackie College schools provide a solid foundation for those who seek employment in criminal justice systems, including the field of corrections and the court systems.

The programs focus on the development of real-world knowledge of the criminal justice system and explore the social, legal and technological challenges of the field. Graduates will be prepared to pursue entry-level positions or to apply their understanding of criminology, the judicial process, corrections and criminal law to their current job.

* Not all credential levels are offered at each location. Program availability varies by location.

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