Pharmacy technicians play an important role in the pharmacy industry. They work under the direction of a pharmacist to help prepare and dispense medication. Now, what many of you may not know is that there are different levels of pharmacy technicians, with each level having specific duties and responsibilities. This is why we thought it would be useful to discuss this subject. If you’re interested in learning more about the different levels of pharmacy technicians, read on as we discuss these levels.
What Is a Pharmacy Technician?
A pharmacy technician is a healthcare professional who assists pharmacists in providing medication and other healthcare products to patients. They may also be involved in the management of pharmacy stock and the provision of information to patients about medication.
Pharmacy technicians usually have a diploma or certificate in pharmacy technology, which they can obtain from a number of colleges and universities. They are typically required to be registered with the provincial or territorial regulatory body.
Pharmacy technicians typically work in community pharmacies, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other healthcare facilities. They may also work in pharmaceutical manufacturing companies or wholesale drug distributors.
What Are the Different Levels of Pharmacy Technicians?
There are three different levels of pharmacy technicians: pharmacy technician I, pharmacy technician II, and pharmacy technician III.
Pharmacy technician I is the entry-level position. This is the position that someone would hold if they just graduated from high school and were starting their career in pharmacy. They would have little to no experience working in a pharmacy.
Pharmacy technician II is the position that someone would hold if they have 1-2 years of experience working as a pharmacy technician. They would have more experience than someone in the pharmacy technician I position, but they would still be considered a junior technician.
Pharmacy technician III is the position that someone would hold if they have 3 or more years of experience working as a pharmacy technician. They would be considered a senior technician and would have the most experience working in a pharmacy.
What Are the Benefits of Working as a Level II or III Pharmacy Technician?
There are many benefits to working as a pharmacy technician, level II or III. Some of these benefits include:
- Increased Pay: Pharmacy technicians, level II and III, typically earn more money than those who are just pharmacy technicians.
- Greater Opportunities: Pharmacy technicians who have worked as level II or III technicians often have greater opportunities for advancement than those who have not.
- Greater Knowledge: Pharmacy technicians who have worked as level II or III technicians have a greater knowledge of the pharmacy profession than those who have not.
- Better Training: Pharmacy technicians who have worked as level II or III technicians often have greater opportunities for training than those who have not.
- Certification: Pharmacy technicians who have worked as level II or III technicians often have greater opportunities for certification than those who have not.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are different levels of pharmacy technicians, and each level has different responsibilities. It is important to understand the different levels of pharmacy technicians in order to determine what duties they are able to perform.
After reading this, some of you may be interested in getting into a career in pharmaceuticals. Luckily, Northwest Suburban College has got you covered. We offer pharmacy tech certification, complete with holistic training. Get in touch with us today to learn more.
