A Few Tips on How to Start a Career As a Pharmacy Technician

  Pharmacy Technician is a solid career choice. Health-care jobs are predicted to steadily grow over the next decade. In fact, labor and industry forecasters all seem to agree that most health-care job numbers will keep increasing over the next decade. The aging baby-boom population reaching their golden years is a major indicator of health-care's upcoming growth. And, pharmacy is tied into health-care at nearly every level, which means that being a pharmacy technician should prove the be a stable career path over both the short and long term. This article talks about some tips and ideas about how to become a pharmacy tech. First, lets talk about what pharmacy technicians do day-to-day?

What Do Pharmacy Techs do?

Pharmacy Technicians have a wide range of duties since they work in a variety of venues. The majority of techs work in retail stores. Other environments include Hospitals, Long-Term Care facilities, Mail-Order pharmacies and Military bases. Insurance companies also hire experienced pharmacy techs to audit paperwork and adjust claims. Most pharmacy technicians work directly with customers / patients under the direction of a pharmacist. They may perform many of the same duties as a Pharmacist and must have a good working knowledge of the pharmacy operations. Besides counting out tablets and ringing up orders, pharmacy technicians also decode prescriptions, enter data into computers, create labels, make and receive phone calls, rotate stock as well as countless other duties.

Pharmacy Technicians do much of the work in a pharmacy, but they can't do everything. They may not answer questions about medications or give any advice whatsoever. They can tell a customer where to find "over-the-counter" products and even read the words from the packaging. However, they can never personally advise anyone to use any type of drug product. Overall, a pharmacy technician's main goal is to assist the pharmacist in helping patients and customers. They are expected to be attentive and accurate, but also friendly and knowledgeable.

Do I have to get certified to become a pharmacy tech?

Most employers and states require National Certification. Someday, the regulations may be the same everywhere, but for now it's different in every state. The first step is to find out what is required in your state and/or any prospective employers. At the minimum, Pharmacy Technicians are required to register and keep an updated license with the Board of Pharmacy in their respective state. Most U.S. states require national certification from either the PTCB or ICPT (ExCPT). However, even if the state doesn't require national certification https://www.sourcing-force.com/, most companies who employ pharmacy technicians do. In addition, even if neither the state or your employer require certification, it's recommended that anyone planning on a career as a pharmacy tech should become nationally certified in order to be more qualified when applying for a tech position or promotion.

What is the pharmacy tech test like?

Taking the PTCB Exam:

Most states recognize the PTCB since it's been around longer and has a solid reputation. The pharmacy technician test given by the PTCB is a 90 question multiple choice test. There are four answers to choose from, with one being the correct answer. You get 120 minutes to complete the exam. The exam is in random format, which means that the subject matter switches around nearly every question. The exam is constructed as:

66% - Assisting the pharmacist / serving22% - Maintaining Medication and Inventory Control Systems12% - Administration and management of pharmacy business practices

To pass the PTCB Exam:

You'll need to score at least 650 out of 900. Whatever you do, don't read online message boards (Yahoo groups, etc.) where people who have passed try to tell you what's on the exam. There are several test batteries that change frequently. In fact, they've currently updated all of the exams in mid 2010. The best way to ensure you pass the PTCB exam is to study until you confidently know all of the subjects on the exam.

What do Pharmacy Technicians earn?

The Salary paid to pharmacy technicians really varies by geographical location. So, in an attempt to collect the best available data, an ongoing wage survey has been running on my website for several months and the results are listed individually by city and state. To see those results, go to the wage survey page.

Pharmacy Tech School vs. Online vs. Self Study

The best route to get trained and certified really depends on each person and their own situation. Each type of program offers different types of structure and flexibility. The biggest factors to consider are job placement assistance, program accreditation and your budget.

Community College - pharmacy technology programs

Many Community Colleges offer a 1-2 year pharmacy technician program designed to prepare students to jump right into a pharmacy technician position. These programs usually qualify for financial aid and other assistance / re-training programs. One of the big questions you'll want to ask when considering this type of program is about placement assistance after program completion.

Trade School / Pharmacy Tech Colleges

The trade schools are all a little different from each other, so you'll want to research all of them to find one that's best for you. If they are accredited, you may also qualify for financial aid grants and loans. If you are serious about attending one of the pharmacy technician schools, make an appointment and take a tour of the school. Ask specific questions about the program and the career placement. When you go for a tour at a pharmacy tech school, be prepared for the big sales pitch and some pressure. Remember, these schools are businesses and the folks who give the tours are salespeople and often work for commissions.

Online pharmacy Technician Programs / Online Colleges

An increasing number of schools are offering online programs which can be completed at home. An online pharmacy technician program can be a great choice for a highly disciplined person. If you're prone to getting side-tracked by other projects (or TV shows) while you are at home, Online study programs may not work for you. On the other hand, if you can focus and stay on a schedule online programs are flexible enough to work around any schedule. When considering an online pharmacy technician program, shop around and look at the benefits of each. Some of the online programs may have affiliations with community colleges or chain drug stores, which may provide assistance in finding an internship or externship.

Self Study / Pharmacy Tech Review Books

Similar to online programs, self study can be challenging for the focus deficient types. However, one really good strategy for succeeding with a self-study pharmacy tech program is to form a small group and meet on a schedule. Even just having one partner to study with on a consistent basis helps immensely. Self study is also a very good option for experienced technicians who are in need of getting certified because of a new law or employers policy.

What subjects do pharmacy technician students study?

The breakdown of the test doesn't really give a clear picture of what subjects pharmacy tech students need to study. In pharmacy technician programs, some of the subjects are: Pharmacy Math, The Top 200 Drugs, DEA Controlled Substance Schedules, Pharmacy Laws and ethics, Prescription decoding and abbreviations, parenteral Nutrition, Pharmacology and several more.

HTC Smart - Simple Yet Full of Specifications

Mobile industry is continuously expanding to fulfill the demands of the customers. The user requirements for the handsets and applications are inspiring many mobile companies to launch new handsets and that too at lower prices. When talked about desired applications, people expect to have all sorts of features with only requirement of the quality of the handset. HTC has launched some of the new series of handsets that are not only user friendly but are also giving quality work. The new HTC smart is a unique device.

HTC smart features

One can take a look at some of the features that can inflame the minds to buy it.Individuals looking for simple design can surely look to buy this device. This one is compact and has almost all the features that one might be thinking of.The other feature that is making it popular is the display. This handset has a very smart display. It has 2.8 inches of screen and that too touch screen. So mobiles lovers that are fascinated to touch screens can find this as a great option. The wider view adds a thrill while surfing through web, viewing images and videos.

Usually the handsets that are full of application are having the models that are a bit bulky but the recently launched HTC Smart is a good option as it is not a heavy handset. It is 104 mm in length with 55 mm in width and 12.8 mm in height. The weight is 108g approximately. The dimensional and weight parameters are making this handset a compact pocket friendly handset.

The other excellent aspect that is alluring people is the inbuilt 3 mega pixels camera. This gives high quality images with ultra brilliance https://smart-contract.com/. One can record videos and be rest assured about their quality.Entertainment is another aspect that most of the customers want in their handset. The music lovers can enjoy the radio itself on the handset and can tune into any channel. The RDS technology is making the radio application work even better.

With so many mobiles to choose from people are finding it a tough decision to make which one will be the best. Who does not want to buy the best? This has also challenged the mobile companies to try harder to give the best to its users. The quality and price are two separate parameters that are to be critically looked after. The manufacturers of the HTC have come up with new HTC Smart that has well taken care of the price and quality issues and people will not be rethinking over to buy it.

Multimedia traits of HTC Smart

One can find the best deals with this handset as this is full of fun and multimedia applications that are sure to add a zing to life once it has been bought.This elegant looking mobile has been designed with the cutting edge features and compact dimensions. The designing has been done to make it a pocket friendly and light weight handset. The black color of the handset is making people fall for its looks. The speed at which it operates is simply amazing and one does not have to watch those loading circles for long. The 300 mega hertz processor, 256 RAM and the 256 ROM of this mobile is making the applications to operate at a breezing speed.

With so much power to work with, one can open all sorts of applications and especially this would make the people feel happier while accessing the web.The connectivity features of HTC Smart are making it work like a mini palmtop. The presence of GPRS and EDGE application will allow users to get connected anytime.

Apart from this the 3G technology is making it sell like hot cakes as who will leave a handset with internet access with high speed that also on a mobile.One can make all sorts of file transfers and other transfers free of cost due to the presence of Bluetooth. This wireless connectivity is making it compatible with other handsets.