The Pharmacy Technician Field is Growing!
Train for a Career as a Pharmacy Tech, With Asher College!
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacy technicians have remained employed as essential workers. Demand for these workers is even growing; the enormous task of distributing the COVID-19 vaccine across the country has led to a spike in job listings for pharmacy technicians. At Asher College, we offer skills-based training programs to prepare students for careers in healthcare, business, and IT, including a Pharmacy Technician training program. If you are interested in training for a career in a growing sector of the healthcare field, Asher College’s Pharmacy Technician training program can prepare you to become a certified Pharmacy Technician in as few as 11 months!
Pharmacy technicians are the health professionals who keep the pharmaceutical system running smoothly. Responsible for primarily administrative tasks, the pharmacy technician’s job is challenging, but also highly rewarding. The pharmacy technician is usually the first point-of-contact for customers, and so must have excellent interpersonal skills and excel in customer service. They establish and maintain patient record files, submit insurance claim forms, and manage prescription and over-the-counter medication inventories.
Responsibilities of pharmacy technicians include:
- Adherence to HIPAA, Federal and State regulations concerning confidentiality in the medical field
- Filling prescriptions under the direct supervision of a pharmacist
- Utilizing software applications relevant to the pharmacy
- Understanding Brand and Generic Medications, as well as OTC-Over the Counter
- Classifications of Drugs and scheduled drugs
Another important role of the pharmacy technician is to act as a point of communication between the medical team and the patient. For this reason, good communication and interpersonal skills are absolutely vital for a pharmacy technician. Pharmacy technicians should also be very organized, have the ability to multitask, and be able to work both independently and as part of a team.
Pharmacy technicians are essential workers who have remained employed throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. This sector of the economy has even continued to grow during the global pandemic, especially due to vaccination efforts. According to the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS 2021), employment for pharmacy technicians is projected to continue to grow over the coming decade, adding about 16,600 new jobs to the U.S. economy. Pharmacy technicians are employed across the country, and graduates of pharmacy technician programs such as the one offered at Asher College may find work in large chain pharmacies, privately owned pharmacies, long term care facilities, mail order pharmacies and even call centers.
Asher College’s Pharmacy Technician program is a Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) recognized education/training program, and Asher College is an ASHP-accredited school.* At Asher, students learn the essential skills needed to be employable in entry-level positions as pharmacy technicians. Students learn how to recognize the classifications of drugs and scheduled drugs, understand brand, generic, and OTC (over the counter) medications, adhere to HIPAA privacy regulations, utilize relevant software applications, fill prescriptions under the direct supervision of a pharmacist, and comprehend and perform insurance procedures. All students complete an on-site externship at a community pharmacy to receive supervised instructional skills training and gain practical experience.
At Asher, the Pharmacy Technician program is achievable in as few as 11 months! Upon completion of the program, graduates will be prepared to test for their Pharmacy Technician certification from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and apply for state licensure with the state’s Board of Pharmacy. Students interested in a more comprehensive educational program may choose to pursue an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree, which includes additional general education courses, including Critical Thinking, Business Math, and Business Communication. AAS Degree students may test for their Pharmacy Technician certification from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), apply for state licensure with the state’s Board of Pharmacy, and begin working in their field while still finishing up the additional courses for the Degree.
Asher’s Pharmacy Technician program is available at all three Asher campuses: Sacramento, California, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Dallas, Texas, and Asher College is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET). Why should you choose Asher for your career training? Students come to Asher for hands-on, practical instruction, under the guidance of professional faculty with true industry experience. Students benefit from our flexible schedules, limited class sizes, and a career services department that offers comprehensive career placement assistance. If you are ready to pursue a career as a pharmacy technician, Asher College can help! Contact us today to take the first step towards your new career!
*Asher College is an ASHP-accredited school in California and Texas, and is in the candidacy stage for ASHP-accreditation in Nevada.
