Pharmacy Technician Education

There is a lot of information available online about becoming a Pharmacy Technician. My intention for starting this pharmacy technician education site is to provide those interested in pursuing a Pharmacy Tech career, with a way to get information first-hand from a certified pharmacy technician who has 12 plus years experience working in a hospital pharmacy.

Some people know from early childhood what line of work they’ll pursue when they become an adult. A parent or other family member became their role model and encouraged them along the way to pursue their chosen profession.  On the other hand, many people can spend a good portion of their adult lives going from job to job without a clear vision of what would truly fulfill them career wise.

Earning a living is always a priority, however if given a choice shouldn’t our days at work also fulfill and reward us? Career counselors will tell you to look at what truly interests you. What are your hobbies? What are you passionate about? This is all well and good, however sometimes the circumstances of life seem to provide diversions for even the best made plans.

So Why Did I Choose to Become a Pharmacy Technician?

If you’ve just been laid off for the third time in ten years, you might begin to think that it’s time to find a profession that offers a little more job stability. Even if you love your job if outside circumstances, like a weak economy seem to make it impossible to get ahead, it’s probably time for a change.

That is the conclusion I came to at the end of 1989. I was tired of having to live off unemployment and eventually my savings every time the economy went south. So I began to look at professions that according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) were growing and rarely ever suffered layoffs. Think Health care!

My priorities:

• I wanted a career that I could enter into in a year or less time
• It had to have a starting salary equivalent to or larger than my last job
• Had stability and offered good medical and retirement benefits
• Provided job satisfaction and enabled me to feel like I was giving back something of myself to the grand scheme of things

I looked at several health care career options. At the time I wasn’t interested in Nursing or Medical Assisting. I also checked out Respiratory Therapist and XRAY Technician programs. These two professions pay more but job openings aren’t as prevalent, even in today’s job market.

I had already attended college for three years after high school, but to go back and get an Associate degree in any of the above professions would have taken an additional 15-18 months due to class scheduling. Also the option to complete a program online wasn’t available in the early 90s.

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician

For anyone wanting to become a Pharmacy Technician, several options are available: on-the-job training, online or on campus training and self-study.  Keep in mind though, the requirements for working as a Pharmacy tech vary by state, so it’s best to follow the guidelines outlined by your state’s board of pharmacy.

Because I wanted to work in a hospital pharmacy, I enrolled in a 12 month program at a local vocational school that offered both day and night classes. I was able to take classes at night and keep my day job. The program also included a 240 hour externship in either a local hospital or retail pharmacy. Additionally, the school provided job placement assistance after graduation if needed.  I financed my Pharmacy Technician Education with a Pell grant and a student loan.  I can whole heartedly say it was one of the best decisions I could have made.

It wasn’t easy getting through the program. Working full time and attending classes for 20 hours each week, left little time for social activities. Weekends were spent studying, doing chores and catching up on sleep. The effort though was definitely worth it. At the end of my hospital externship, I was offered a full time position and for the first time, I was making more than a living wage.

If you’re looking for a career that is rewarding and in high demand, then becoming a Pharmacy Technician may be the perfect choice. This site was designed to help you find the answers to any of the questions you may have in the pursuit of your Pharmacy Technician Education. If you have specific questions that aren’t answered here or if you have suggestions for other topics you would like to see discussed, please feel free to submit them in the form below.

Thanks again for visiting and remember, You Can Do It!