If you want to work in a pharmacy but without the years of pharmacy school, consider being a pharmacy technician. You have several options and pharmacy tech schools offer a great way to get into the world of prescriptions. Many pharmacy tech schools are found in several different institutions, including:

Military bases
Hospitals
Vocational schools
Junior colleges

These programs can last from three months all the way up to two years. These programs often offer internships at a pharmacy for real world experience. On-the-job-training is widely accepted to prepare pharmacy technicians. Most employers require at least a high school diploma. Pharmacy tech schools will teach you about medical terminology, pharmaceutical calculations, pharmaceutical record keeping, pharmaceutical law and ethics, and pharmaceutical techniques.

Pharmacy Technician at Work in the Pharmacy

Pharmacy techs take drug prescriptions, usually at retail locations, and verify them with the patient. They fill the prescription, label them, double check and then give them to the pharmacist to be checked before going to the patient. They may perform various clerical duties, maintain patient records, prepare insurance claim forms and refer questions in regards to their patients' prescriptions to the pharmacist.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, pharmacy technicians will see job growth of 31 percent by 2018. Upon graduation, you can expect to enter a field where the median hourly salary is $13.32, replacing senior pharmacy technicians as they leave the job.

Matt Riddle is a freelance writer based out of Reno, Nev. A journalism graduate from the University of Nevada, Reno, Riddle was a newspaper reporter and then an account coordinator for a political consultant in Reno where he worked for several successful campaigns. His interests are many, but CrossFit, rock climbing, reading and writing, skiing, snowboarding, fatherhood and acting round up the list.

Bureau of Labor Statistics • Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition: Pharmacy Technicians and Aides • Dec 17, 2009 • http://www.bls.gov/oco • http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos325.htm