What is the job of a Pharmacy Technician?
A pharmacy technician’s job is extremely important in providing support and assistance to the pharmacist by helping to process prescriptions, dispense information as needed, and assist customers. As a pharmacy technician, you can expect to manage inventory, complete appropriate pharmaceutical dosage forms precisely, to count medication, and to measure medication.
With the steady expansion of the pharmaceutical industry, pharmacy technicians continue to be in high-demand. Many states require certification in order to work as a pharmacy technician. To receive your certification, you must complete the required training. If you’re eager to land a job in a pharmacy, here’s what it takes to become a pharmacy technician.
Pharmacy Technician Educational Requirements in Florida
To become a pharmacy technician in the state of Florida, you’ll need a high school diploma or equivalent, and you’ll need pharmacy technician certification. You can earn your pharmacy technician certificate at many technical colleges or vocational schools in the state of Florida.
When training to become a pharmacy technician, you can expect to learn:
- Names of Drugs
- Uses of Drugs
- How to Properly Dispense Medications
- How to Properly and Accurately Determine the Correct Dosages of Drugs
- Other Skills May Include: Basic Customer Service, Ethics, and Record-Keeping
Pharmacy Technician Training Programs
Pharmacy training is available through many technical colleges, vocational schools, and even some pharmacies. Yes, through the pharmacy. There are in fact many pharmacies, such as Walgreens, who offer a training program for future pharmacy technicians. Landing this type of opportunity also ensures immediate employment.
However, always remember when choosing your pharmacy technician training program that your program of choice prepares you to take your states Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) exam. To become certified, you must pass this exam, and you must comply with the PTCB certification policies.
Pharmacy technician training is also widely available online. When choosing an online program, make sure that your program of choice is an accredited program with your state. Accreditation is highly-important in order to ensure employment later. Many states require certification through an accredited school in order to take the PTCB exam.
