Find Your Pharmacy Technician
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Get a Start on Your Pharmacy Career
Pharmaceuticals is predicted to be one of the nation's fastest growing industries, according to the US Labor Bureau -- and it's an industry that's relatively easy to enter, with only a short amount of time spent in school.
Many successful Pharmacy Technicians enter the field with only a certificate or associate degree. They continue training on the job, learning valuable career skills that allow them to advance to supervisory positions, or even become Pharmacists.
At EduSearch, you can easily find a Pharmacy Technician school to fit your schedule and budget. To receive information from qualified career schools near you, simply complete our School Finder form above, browse the list of qualified Pharmacy Technician schools in your area, and choose the ones you'd like to hear from.
Pharmacy Technician Job Description
Pharmacy Technicians work in retail pharmacies, hospitals and nursing facilities, where they fill prescriptions alongside pharmacists.
They are responsible for ensuring accurate pill count and labeling, as well as ensuring the patient receives the correct medication, under the pharmacist's supervision. They also handle retail duties such as answering phones, using cash registers and stocking shelves.
After further training, Pharmacy Technicians can advance to become Pharmacists, taking on more responsibilities.
To learn about Pharmacy Technician training programs near you, complete our easy School Finder form above and select from the list of qualified schools in your area.
Pharmacy Technician Training
Formal training for Pharmacy Technicians takes 12 to 24 months and results in a diploma, certificate or associate degree. Training is usually taken at vocational schools or junior and career colleges.
Some subjects normally covered during training:
- Medical and pharmaceutical terminology
- Pharmaceutical calculations
- Pharmacy recordkeeping
- Pharmaceutical techniques
- Pharmacy law and ethics
- Medication names, uses and doses
After training, most Pharmacy Technicians become nationally certified by passing an exam administered by one of two national certification boards. Certification is required in some states, but many employers will cover the cost of the exam.
To learn more about Pharmacy Technician training near you, complete our School Finder form above and select the schools you'd like to hear from.
Pharmacy Technician Employment Info
Pharmacy Technicians held about 285,000 jobs in 2006, according to the US Labor Bureau. Most were in retail pharmacies, hospitals, or Internet pharmacies.
Top 5 highest-paying states for Pharmacy Technicians:
| California | $35,450 |
| Washington | $34,700 |
| Alaska | $33,970 |
| Hawaii | $33,150 |
| District of Columbia | $33,030 |
To find Pharmacy Technician training in your area,complete our School Finder form above and request more info from qualified schools near you.
Pharmacy Technician career outlook
Pharmacy Technician employment is expected to increase 32% by 2016, much faster than average for all occupations, according to the US Labor Bureau.
This increase is due to:
- New technology creating more available medical treatments
- A growing population of elderly consuming more medications
- A rapidly expanding health care industry in general
To learn about Pharmacy Technician training programs near you, complete our School Finder form above and select the schools you'd like to hear from. No obligations apply, and your information will only be sent to the schools you select.