Why Train for a Career as a Pharmacy Technician?
Asher College Can Train You for a Career as a Pharmacy Technician!
Are you interested in a career in the healthcare field? Have you considered training for a career as a pharmacy technician? If you are interested in training for a career in a growing sector of the healthcare field, Asher College offers a Pharmacy Technician training program that can prepare you to become a certified Pharmacy Technician in as few as 11 months!
What is a Pharmacy Technician?
Pharmacy technicians are the health professionals who keep the pharmaceutical system running smoothly. Responsible for primarily administrative tasks, the pharmacy technician’s job can be challenging, but also highly rewarding. They establish and maintain patient record files, submit insurance claim forms, and manage prescription and over-the-counter medication inventories.
What Does a Pharmacy Technician Do?
As a pharmacy technician, your job responsibilities may include:
- Filling prescriptions under the direct supervision of a pharmacist
- Utilizing software applications relevant to the pharmacy
- Understanding brand-name and generic medications, as well as OTC (Over-the-Counter) medications
- Understanding classifications of drugs and scheduled drugs
- Adherence to HIPAA, Federal, and State regulations concerning confidentiality in the medical field
What Skills Should I Have for a Career as a Pharmacy Technician?
The pharmacy technician is usually the first point-of-contact for customers, and so must have excellent interpersonal skills and excel in customer service. A pharmacy technician often acts as a point of communication between the medical team and the patient, so good communication skills are absolutely vital for a pharmacy technician. In addition, 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.
Where Do Pharmacy Technicians Work?
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 hospitals, nursing homes, retail pharmacies, insurance companies, mail-order and web-based pharmacies, long-term care facilities, pharmaceutical companies, wholesalers, or government agencies.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS 2023), employment for pharmacy technicians is projected to continue to grow at a steady rate of 6% over the coming decade, adding about 25,900 new jobs to the U.S. economy.
Where Can I Train for a Career as a Pharmacy Technician?
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 College, students learn the essential skills needed to be employable in entry-level positions as pharmacy technicians.
What Will I Learn in Asher College’s Pharmacy Technician Program?
At Asher College, pharmacy technician 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.
Will I Receive Hands-On Training at Asher College?
Yes! All students in Asher College’s Pharmacy Technician program complete an externship at a community pharmacy. Through the externship placement, students receive supervised instructional skills training and gain practical experience as they are able to develop their pharmacy skills in a practical or working pharmacy field environment under professional supervision. Students have the opportunity to apply professional skills learned in the classroom as they directly interact with clients/patients and other health care professionals.
How Long is Asher College’s Pharmacy Technician Program, and What Will I Get When I Graduate?
At Asher College, 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 the additional courses for the Degree.
Ready to Get Started on Your Way to a Pharmacy Technician Career!?
If you are ready to get started on your way to a career in this growing sector of the healthcare field, contact Asher College today! 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). With Asher College, you will receive 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, contact Asher College today!
