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Being a Pharmacy Technician
CHAPTER
OVERVIEW
Although the pharmacy technician profession has been around for many years, it was not until recently that the role of the pharmacy technician has changed dramatically, from simply helping the admixture orders. pharmacist in the pharmacy setting to actually dispensing functions in the filling of prescription/medication/IV In the past, many pharmacy technicians sibility has increased for pharmacy learned on the job, along with
trained by the pharmacists, but today we are finding that respontechnicians, accountability. With this in mind, the pharmacy technician vocation is facing a change, with national certification becoming the norm in most states, as well as state-based registration and licensing for individual pharmacy technicians.
Opportunities for advancement are many, as the individual pharmacy technician may see employment in not only the retail setting, but the hospital setting as well. Other avenues of specialization for pharmacy technicians include (but are not limited to) mail order, home healthcare, pharmaceutical companies, insurance agencies, educational institutions, compounding pharmacies, intravenous (IV) admixture preparation, and both nuclear and chemotherapeutic pharmacy settings.
eing a pharmacy technician offers an exciting opportunity to help others in the healthcare setting as one
who not only assists the pharmacist, but also plays a vital role in dispensing prescription/medication orders.
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BEING
A PHARMACY
TECHNICIAN
The role of the pharmacy technician has changed from working the cash register to actually filling prescriptions and medication orders. Today, 95% of these orders are filled by pharmacy technicians. With this in mind, the need for national standardization has become a concern to ensure pharmacy technicians have the educational background to perform these functions. Although most states do not require formal education, states are beginning to recognize importance of national certification. the
Education
and Certification
As mentioned earlier, most states are now requiring their pharmacy fied. Currently, organizations technicians to be nationally certithere are two regulatory national technician Certification Board
that offer national certification; they offers the pharmacy technician
are the pharmacy (PTCB), which
Certification Exam (PTCE); and the Institute for the Certification of pharmacy technicians (lCPT), which offers the Exam for the Certification of pharmacy technicians (ExCPT). Check the requirements of your state and your employer to determine which regulatory organization you would choose for your national certification. Passing either national exam does certify the pharmacy technician, and allows him or her to wear the letters CPhT (Certified pharmacy technician). This tells the consumer that the pharmacy technician has passed a valid national exam and has displayed competency in his or her duties in the pharmacy. The PTCB exam consists of 90 multiple-choice questions and is offered in the computer format to be taken on demand or when scheduled. The time limit is 110 minutes. The ExCPT exam consists of 110 multiple-choice questions. The time limit is 120 minutes. Both exams have ten experimental questions which do not count against the overall score, which the test makers evaluate to see if they should be used in future exams. A pass/fail notice is given upon completion of each exam. For specific information on each exam, go to the following links: PTCB: [Link] ICPT: [Link] Only a handful of states mandate receiving a specific state certificate of completion in an accredited pharmacy technician program, including Ohio and Florida. For now, it appears the national exams are the standard as far as accountability for the pharmacy technician. For specifics of what your state requires,
Functions of pharmacy technicians vary according to which pharmacy setting they work in, and the duties the pharmacist allows them to do. Most functions involve filling prescriptions (retail setting) or filling medication orders and making IV admixtures (both hospital settings). In the retail pharmacy, the pharmacy technician may receive a written prescription from a patient, enter information into the computer, and fill the prescription order. Any task requiring a judgment or decision is performed by the pharmacist. This would include taking new prescription orders, making a final check of a filled prescription order, and counseling patients. In the hospital setting, the filling of medication orders is done in individual patient units we call a cassette tray, filled with individual prepackaged units of medication(s) called unit doses. This is done by the pharmacy technician as well, although medication to orders are generally entered by the pharmacist
ensure accuracy and identify potential problems (such as drug interactions and the like). The hospital setting also offers the pharmacy technician the opportunity to make IV admixtures and chemotherapeutic IV drugs. Again, all roles requiring a judgmental decision are performed by the pharmacist, such as the final check of a medication/IV admixture order or clinical discussions with hospital staff. All of these disciplines will be discussed in later chapters.
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BEING
A PHARMACY
TECHNICIAN
you need to check with your state board of pharmacy, as changes do occur rapidly in this field. National Association of Boards of pharmacy or NABP: [Link]/boards-of-pharmacy Certification requires pharmacy technicians to complete 20 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years to maintain their national certification. Continuing education shows that the pharmacy technician is keeping up with what is new in the pharmacy industry. CE is offered by a number of sources, including Internet sites which offer pharmacy technician-specific CE, colleges, pharmacy employers, pharmacy magazines, journals, or associations, to name some. One such organization that has been around for more than 14 years is Tech Lectures, which offers affordable pharmacy technician-specific CEo Another company is PowerPak, and those which offers CE for free. Just realize that CE should be about learning to enhance both personal professional growth, and not just getting required recertification hours. Tech Lectures: [Link] PowerPak: [Link]
approximately $40,160 per year). Wages may also be higher or lower than the national means, depending on factors like the ones mentioned above. The USBLS estimates that there are currently 331,900 pharmacy technicians.
Pharmacy Technician Associations
Once you are a pharmacy technician, it is important that you try to join a professional association, whether it's a pharmacists' association that has a specific pharmacy technician unit, or a national organization that is specifically for and about pharmacy technicians. These associations help in networking with fellow pharmacy technicians, developing friendships with others in your vocation, and finding job opportunities. The American Association of pharmacy technicians (AAPT) ([Link]) was established in 1979 and is currently the organization of choice for many pharmacy technicians, due to its longevity and how it caters to its membership base. The organization offers CE, as well as one yearly national convention and seminars throughout the year in different states. The American Association of Pharmacy Technicians is run by volunteers and has state chapters which you may join-or decide to start
Economic Outlook
Today, the pharmacy technician field is growing at a rapid rate, with a projected growth rate of 25% until the year 20l3-with a 31% increase, according to the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics (USBLS). Pharmacy technician wages differ from state to state and employer to employer. In many cases, it is dependent on supply versus demand and the type of pharmacy where the pharmacy technician works. Generally, the more specialized pharmacy setting the pharmacy technician works in, the higher the wages earned. According to the USBLS May 2009 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, mean wages range from $9.36 per hour (or approximately $19,480 per year) up to $19.31 per hour (or
your own! Be wary, though, when selecting an organization (or several) to belong to, as there are organizations that seem more interested in your membership dues than in really serving your individual needs. You have a choice in what serves your better interest, as there are many out there who will gladly take your money but offer little.
Time to Begin
The pharmacy technician field is an exciting career avenue for one interested in helping those in need,
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BEING
A PHARMACY
TECHNICIAN
whether it's in a retail, hospital, or specialized setting. You work side by side with fellow technicians and other health professionals to not only enhance the quality oflives of customers/patients you serve, but in some cases, to save lives as well. In this vocation, you are given the opportunity to continue to learn as you develop your skills and pursue/advance to other pharmacy settings. For some, this is will be your vocation for life-and for others, this may be a stepping stone to another health profession, as some continue onward
to get their doctor of pharmacy degree and become full pharmacists. With this in mind, you have decided to pursue becoming a pharmacy technician; and you have most likely purchased this review book to learn as much as you can to help you pass one of the national exams. This book will allow you that opportunity, but you must put effort into the learning process. That is your first step on your way to being recognized as a nationally certified pharmacy technician!
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