The career of a pharmacy technician is a fulfilling one. It’s no wonder many young adults now dream of becoming one. If you are among these people, you probably already know that you need to take a pharmacy technician course. But is that all? Sure, getting a degree would help make you qualified for the position, but what’s going to make you an outstanding one? What skills do you need to hone to become a successful pharmacy technician?
In this article, Northwest Suburban College shares some of the skills that you need to have to be a successful pharmacy technician:
Educational Requirements
As mentioned above, you need to take pharmacy tech classes to become a pharmacy technician. But before you can do that, you need to have a high school diploma (or an equivalent certification) first. Most states mandate that pharmacy technicians finish a formal program, too. Upon completion, they may have to pass the examination for competency apart from the other requirements set by the state. For example, in California, you need to go to a curriculum-approved college, go through a background check, submit the application and get your fingerprints taken. Only after you get cleared will you get a license.
5 Skills That You Will Learn from a Pharmacy Tech Program
You might worry that you don’t possess the skills needed to be successful in this field. The good news is, you can develop and master them when you enroll in a pharmacy tech program.
#1: Math Proficiency
Most training programs for pharmacy tech include a College Math course. Math skills are necessary when you work as a pharmacy technician as you will be filling prescriptions, measuring pharmaceuticals, ordering and packaging medicines, and performing inventory, among others.
#2: Communication Skills
As you will be working with pharmacists and patients, you need to hone your oral and written communication skills. This will ensure that you’ll have a good working relationship with your colleagues and that you’ll provide quality customer service.
#3: Organizational Skills
Because you’ll be dealing with people’s drugs, you need to have excellent organizational skills. After all, you need to ensure that all prescriptions are correct, that your inventories and records are accurate, and that all pharmaceuticals are correctly labeled and stored.
#4: Problem Solving and Critical Thinking Skills
Whether the problem is with billing, with prescriptions, or something else, customers will expect pharmacy technicians to solve it for them. Therefore, you should have critical thinking and problem-solving skills so you can provide your customers with the right solutions at all times.
#5: Computer Skills
Every pharmacy uses computers and various programs that will help pharmacists and technicians perform their jobs efficiently. You are expected to have at least some basic computer skills when you apply for a job as a pharmacy technician. The ability to learn new programs fast is also a skill that most employers prefer.
Conclusion
These are just some of the skills you need to possess if you want to be a successful pharmacy technician someday. As mentioned, you don’t have to worry too much if you think you don’t have them yet because that’s why you’re going to a reputable college and completing a pharmacy technician course where you’ll learn all of these. The important thing is that you now know what skills you’ll have to focus on while you’re studying, so you’ll be ready to jumpstart your career once you get your license.
Northwest Suburban College offers exceptional pharmacy tech programs near Schaumburg, IL. If you are interested in becoming an excellent pharmacy technician, enroll in our classes today! Contact us to get more information about our programs!
