Pharmacy Technician Education Online: Your Prescription for Success

by Elizabeth Armentor
Online Education Columnist

Advances by major drug companies have given doctors more resources for preventive care, as well as opportunities to treat patients with medications rather than invasive surgical procedures. Thanks to these innovations, the Bureau of Labor Statistics resports, job growth for pharmaceutical technicians will grow by 29% over the next 10 years. If you're interested in a healthcare career that you can train for through home study courses, an education online as a pharmacy technician may be just what the doctor ordered.

What a Pharmacy Technician Does
The increase in available drug therapies has made pharmacists extremely busy, so the pharmacy technician plays a vital role in running an efficient pharmacy. The pharmacy technician is on the front line: greeting customers, answering phones, taking inventory and restocking. However, in addition to clerical duties, the pharmacy technician interprets and verifies prescriptions, counts tablets and mixes medications, and prepares intravenous (IV) solutions.

Home Study Courses for Pharmacy Technicians
A pharmacy technician curriculum includes courses in medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and chemistry. The coursework is well suited to an online degree or home study environment, because much of the material requires memorization and self-directed study. After you've completed your home study courses, you will be required to complete an externship at a local pharmacy. An important part of your education is studying with an experienced pharmacist.

After you've completed your online degree and your externship, you can take the national certification exam administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. After passing the exam you will be a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). According to the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board survey, 60% of employers pay certified technicians more than they pay employees without this credential. So if you'd like to be part of the fastest-growing industry in the U.S., join the healthcare field with career training as a pharmacy technician.

Sources:
Pharmacy Technician Certification Board

About the Author:
Elizabeth Armentor is a writer and editor who writes about education issues.

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