Why Do Pharmacy Technicians Need To Get Certified? By Benjamin Clifford

The demand for new pharmacy technicians is strong and will continue to grow in the next decade or so. With an estimated demand increase of over 30% in that time period, a lot of opportunities will be available. They also have job security because of continued growth of the pharmaceutical industry, resulting into a lot of new drugs being introduced in the market, combine that with a growing elderly population demand for pharmacy technicians will continue to be strong. The question is, are you qualified enough to get in?

Training to become a pharmacy technician does not take too long and the requirements aren't as tough compared to other fields in the health care industry. Courses last between six months to two years, depending on the school and the coursework involved.

To be qualified, you need to have a high school diploma or GED, pass a criminal background check, and have formal training. But if you really want to go the furthest in this profession you need to think long and hard about getting certified.

Though it isn't required in all states, getting a certificate isn't required. In fact a lot of pharmacy technicians get their training on the job, while others get their formal training financed by the company they work in.

Where do I get formal training?

All aspiring technicians should get their training from an accredited school. Only one body accredits schools - the American Society of Health System Pharmacists. Getting training from these institutions assures you of not only proper training but also you'll be assured that the coursework involved in these programs are approved after close scrutiny during the accreditation process these schools go through.
It will also give you the best possible chance of being hired by a company even without a license when they see that you've gone through proper training in an accredited educational institution.

Is it worth it to get certified?

Like what I've mentioned earlier, if you want to go far in this profession get a certificate. While it may take you a little bit longer to get employed and you'll spend a few more dollars, it will be all worth it. Let me tell you a few reasons why.
Number one reason is you'll get paid more, typically certified pharmacy techs are more sought after than techs without a certificate. This reason alone should sway you into going to this direction.
Second reason would be having more career options down road. With a certificate, you can get more specialized training such as nuclear or home infusion pharmacy tech training. These specialized fields pay more than retail store based technicians. These are just a few of the options out there for individuals with certificates.
Third reason is you'll gain more knowledge, more self-esteem and you'll feel good that you have made a difference in a patient's recovery.

Lastly, for more information on pharmacy technician training, visit Benjamin Clifford's website that talks about different topics in pharmacy training.

Sources:

http://EzineArticles.com/7273703

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1054534

 

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