Pharmacy technicians play an important role in the healthcare industry by assisting licensed pharmacists in dispensing medications and providing patient service. They are responsible for various prescription and over-the-counter drug preparation tasks, customer service, record-keeping, and billing. Becoming a pharmacy technician can be a great way to get involved in healthcare. But where can you work as a pharmacy technician?
Here are different places where pharmacy technicians typically work and the potential benefits and opportunities a career offers.
What Kind of Settings Do Pharmacy Technicians Typically Work In?
Pharmacy technicians often work in various settings, such as retail pharmacies, long-term care facilities, hospitals, government facilities, and pharmaceutical companies.
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Retail Pharmacies
A large majority of pharmacy technicians work in retail pharmacies, which are drugstores that are open to the general public. These stores typically carry prescription, over-the-counter medications, and health and beauty items. Pharmacy technicians in these settings typically assist the pharmacist by filling customer orders, sorting and stocking medications, and handling customer service duties.
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Long-Term Care Facilities
Another common setting for pharmacy technicians is a long-term care facility, such as a nursing home or assisted living facility. In these settings, pharmacy technicians prepare and distribute medications to patients and handle billing and record-keeping duties.
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Hospitals
Another place where pharmacy technicians work is in hospitals. Pharmacy technicians in this setting typically prepare and dispense medications for patients and handle inventory control and customer service duties.
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Government Facilities
Pharmacy technicians may also find work in government facilities, such as prisons or military hospitals. In these settings, they typically prepare and dispense medications and provide customer service and billing duties.
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Pharmaceutical Companies
Finally, pharmacy technicians may also find work in pharmaceutical companies. In these settings, they typically assist in developing and producing medications, as well as packaging and labeling medications.
What are the Benefits of Working as a Pharmacy Technician?
Working as a pharmacy technician can be a great career choice for people interested in the healthcare industry. Here are some of the potential benefits of a career in this field:
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Job Opportunities
As the population ages and the demand for healthcare services increases, the demand for pharmacy technicians is also expected to grow. This means job opportunities in this field should be plentiful in the coming years.
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Career Advancement
Another benefit of working as a pharmacy technician is opportunities for career advancement. Many pharmacy technicians pursue additional education and certifications to advance in the field.
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High Salaries
Pharmacy technicians can also expect to earn a good salary. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for pharmacy technicians was $33,950 in May 2019.
Conclusion
Pharmacy technicians play an important role in the healthcare industry by assisting licensed pharmacists in dispensing medications and providing patient service. They typically work in various settings, such as retail pharmacies, long-term care facilities, hospitals, government facilities, and pharmaceutical companies. A career as a pharmacy technician can offer many benefits, such as job opportunities, career advancement opportunities, and high salaries. If you’re interested in healthcare, becoming a pharmacy technician may be a perfect choice.
If you’re looking for pharmacy technician programs in Schaumburg, IL, Northwest Suburban College is your place! We want to help you succeed in both your education and career. We’ve created programs and a school to get you job-ready and prepare you to excel. Enroll now!
