When working in a pharmacy, people often confuse two central positions: pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. So, how are they different? And what exactly do each of them do? Let’s take a closer look.
What Are the Duties of a Pharmacy Technician?
Pharmacy technicians typically work under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. Their primary duties include preparing prescription orders, maintaining pharmacy inventory, and filing insurance claims. As they primarily handle administrative work, pharmacy technicians do not receive intensive medical training.
However, pharmacy technicians may also be allowed to administer immunizations in some states.
What Are the Duties of a Pharmacist?
Pharmacists are responsible for managing everything that goes on in the pharmacy. This includes double-checking prescriptions for accuracy, ensuring that all regulations are followed, and providing patients with advice and information about their medications. In addition, pharmacists often work closely with doctors to ensure that patients get the best possible care.
Pharmacists must be very careful with the work that they do. If they make mistakes, the patients may suffer severe consequences. This is why pharmacists must diligently fill prescriptions and never be confused with medicine with similar names.
Moreover, pharmacists must be ready to provide medical advice. Patients often have questions about their medications, and pharmacists are in a unique position to provide answers. They must be able to explain how a medication works, what side effects it may cause, and how to take it properly. In addition, pharmacists must be familiar with the various drug interactions that can occur.
What Is the Education Requirement of a Pharmacy Technician?
Most pharmacy technicians have a high school diploma, although some may have completed a postsecondary training program. Most states also require pharmacy technicians to be licensed. Some employers may prefer candidates who have pharmacy technician certification from a professional organization such as the National Healthcare Association or the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.
If you want to become a pharmacy technician, you should also undergo a training program which usually lasts from eight weeks to two years. This consists of classroom training and six months of on-the-job training. Here, you will learn about pharmacy administration, ethics, law, HIPAA regulations, medication dosage calculations, and many more.
What Is the Education Requirement of a Pharmacist?
Pharmacists have a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an accredited pharmacy school. In addition, they must be licensed in the state where they practice. Some employers may prefer candidates who have completed a residency program, advanced training, or certification in a specialty area.
Pharmacists study college education for four years and get two years of additional pre-pharmacy education. After that, they also must pass a one-year internship with a licensed pharmacist.
In their four years of education, they learn everything that a pharmacy technician learns and study many science-based subjects. These subjects include biochemistry, biology, microbiology, chemistry, and pharmaceutics. Ultimately, they have to learn about how drugs interact with the body, how drugs interact with each other, and all types of developments in medication.
Final Thoughts
There are several critical differences between pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. However, both of them are essential in the world of healthcare. Whether you want to be one or the other, it’s crucial to research the programs available to you.
If you’re interested in enrolling in a pharmacy technician training program, you should look into Northwest Suburban College. We offer an eight-month pharmacy technician program to help people become qualified pharmacy technicians. Give us a call today for more information.
