Operating a pharmacy successfully requires the teamwork of several trained professionals. With the incredible amount of duties and responsibilities associated with dispensing medication, pharmacists need assistance with many of the day-to-day operations. A pharmacy tech is the pharmacist's right hand professional, charged with filling prescriptions, handling inventory, and dealing with customers.

Pharmacy Tech Position Profile
Behind every good pharmacist is a trained pharmacy tech handling a variety of key responsibilities. According to the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, there were over 208,000 pharmacy techs holding positions in hospital and commercial pharmacies all across the country. This statistic reinforces the importance of this position. The most important role a pharmacy tech plays is the counting, mixing, and distribution of medications. With the spotlight on fraudulent prescription claims, the pharmacy tech has an ethical responsibility to ensure every prescription filled is accurate.

Training in Pharmacy Tech Schools
The road to becoming a pharmacy tech begins by choosing one of the accredited schools that offer this program. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, while most pharmacy tech training occurs on-the-job, employers prefer technicians with formal preparation. You can find pharmacy tech programs in vocational and technical schools, in hospitals and medical facilities, and in the military. Pharmacy tech internships include classroom instruction and hands-on opportunities. The National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination is the final stage of your program and required for employment.

Becoming a trained pharmacy tech just might make you the most popular person in town, as medications are a life line for many residents. Check out a list of available pharmacy tech schools in your area and find out more info today.