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Pharmacy technicians can either work in retail or mail-order pharmacies, in which will involve different duties and responsibilities, depending on the state they are in and the regulations that apply. When they are sent prescriptions from the doctor’s office, they must review the prescription for completeness and accuracy before preparing it. They will then prepare the prescription by acquiring the particular medication, preparing exact measurements and dosages of the medicine and may also mix them. In a hospital or nursing home setting, pharmacy tech may be tasked with extra duties like reviewing patient’s records and medicine preparation. Once a pharmacist verifies the accuracy of a prescription, the technician will be the one to deliver it to the patient. He will then record pertinent information in the records of the patient. They can also be tasked with supplying medication for patients in a 24-hour period. Pharmacy technicians have the privilege of a clean and organized working environment, often in areas with proper ventilation and lighting. Their work will involve some physical and mental tasks and requires that the person be in good health and shape. They will usually work in the same hours as duly-licensed pharmacists, and may work on night shifts, weekends and even holidays, specifically on hospitals and other establishments which are open for 24 hours. A lot of pharmacy tech engage in an on-the-job training before working, but formal pharmacy technician training programs are also available. Certified technicians are usually given priority, but that doesn’t mean those who are not certified perform less effectively. In the US, there isn’t any clear Federal law which covers the matter of requiring technicians to acquire certification before working. As with regular education programs, formal pharmacy technician training will require classroom and laboratory hours and be educated properly about pharmaceutical and medical terms, as well as its recording, calculations, techniques, laws and ethics. It is also paramount that they have a good understanding of medicine names, its attributes and safe dosage. The program will also have internships, which can provide students with vital experience and exposure in the field. After going through the training, a diploma, certificate or associate’s degree can be granted by the pharmacy tech school to a student, whichever is appropriate. One of the important skills needed to survive in this industry are customer service and ability to work as a team with other people. You will be mingling a lot with patients, working with professionals and co-workers and it is necessary to have good relationships with them. Having excellent reading, spelling and mathematical skills will also help you greatly in this job too. A good pharmacy technician is able to work independently, has a keen eye, organized, responsible, alert and loves what he does. Probably the most important trait needed here is precision since you are taking care of the lives and health of patients and you can’t afford to make mistakes.

To become a Certified Pharmacy Technician or CPhT, a national pharmacy technician training certificate is needed. This requires the taking of relevant exams and passing them to obtain your license to practice. Choosing a career as a pharmacy tech is a serious decision and one that, if successful, will equip you to manage patients, prescriptions and the pharmacy with independence and efficiency. A job as a pharmacy technician is often not difficult to find - hospitals, nursing homes, health clinics and retail pharmacy are just some of your potential job opportunities. Choosing a career as a pharmacy technician can give you great job stability with the multitude of opportunities available. It is important to know that different pharmacies have varying levels of responsibility required. For example, technicians working in nursing homes and health clinics may be required to have a detailed understanding of medical issues as they’d have to administer the appropriate prescriptions to patients daily. Work as a pharmacy technician can be financially rewarding especially if you’ve amassed some relevant work experience. Because most technicians are paid by the hour, a higher per hour rate is earned in the evenings and weekends. Pay will vary from state to state and location to location. Those with more work experience may also be offered more than the less experienced pharmacy technician. If you’re looking at becoming pharmacy technician as career, there are certain qualities that a good technician should possess. First of all, they should be good communicators because patients need to have clear understanding of their instructions in taking their medication as well as any side effects that they may be at risk of. Other qualities include being alert, organized, efficient and committed to doing their job well. Attention to detail is key in dispensing medication. Being a pharmacy technician as a career choice means that you have no room for error when it comes to doing your job. Prescriptions must be filled out with the greatest detail to attention. Accuracy is of utmost importance as people’s lives are in your hands. A technician should always double-check with the pharmacist before dispensing out medicines.