So you want to be a pharmacy tech as your chosen career path. But what is a pharmacy tech? What responsibilities are involved?
A pharmacy tech is one whose primary duty is to help licensed pharmacists provide medication and other healthcare products to patients and perform almost every function in the pharmacy. This does make the pharmacy tech the key person in keeping many of the day to day operations of a pharmacy, thus leaving a pharmacist free for more critical operations.
The tasks that a pharmacy tech routinely performs include many of the following:
* Helping prepare prescribed medication for patients
* Counting tablets
* Answer telephones
* Receive written prescriptions
* Verifying written prescriptions
* Taking refill requests
* And other countless tasks
With so many tasks to do and with ones that require specific skills and knowledge, pharmacy techs need special training in order to become qualified to work in most pharmacy settings. These, coupled with a nationwide shortage of pharmacists and a growing number of pharmacy medications, have made pharmacy tech certification an important issue to many industry employers.
Here are some of our top picks for pharmacy tech certification programs available online:
RXTechSchool Pharmacy Tech Certification
RXTechSchool offers you two options to get certified under the National Pharmacy Tech Certification required in most states – Fast Track Pharmacy Technician Career Training Course and PTCB Cram Course. The first is a comprehensive training course to become a professional pharmacy technician in an online classroom environment that is ideal for students who do not need instructor support. On the other hand, Cram Course is specifically designed for those who are preparing themselves to take the PTCB exam and get a pharmacy tech certification.
Gatline Education Pharmacy Tech Certification Program
This is a nationally recognized, web-based and highly interactive pharmacy tech certification program provided by Gatline Education. The course is facilitated by experts in the field, thereby ensuring that you learn the skills needed to gain employment as a pharmacy tech in either the hospital or retail setting. According to the website, the Gatline Education Pharmacy Tech Certification Program aims to “provide graduates with the skills and knowledge that will enable them to qualify for entry-level positions in pharmacies as well as prepare for national certification.” The curriculum includes Ethics of Pharmacy Practice and Role of Pharmacy Technicians, Prescription Medications, Patient Care and Interaction, Charges and Reimbursement, Medical and Pharmaceutical terminology, and Pharmaceutical calculations.
Pima Medical Institute Pharmacy Tech Certification Program
The PIMA Pharmacy Tech Certification Program is offered in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Washington. Classes provide training in the following tasks: prepare and provide medication and other health products to patients, mixing intravenous solutions, counting tablets and labeling bottles, receiving electronic prescriptions from medical offices, handling computer order entry of prescriptions, receiving written prescriptions and requests for patient refills, etc.
