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Degrees and Schools
Although most pharmacy aides are trained on the job, there are educational programs for pharmacy technicians who in some states fill similar roles. These programs allow pharmacy aides to receive formal training, which is preferred by many employers. Offered through community colleges, hospitals and vocational schools, these postsecondary programs award certificates, associate's degrees or diplomas. Graduates are prepared for national certification, which is required in some states and useful for all pharmacy aides seeking to increase their employability.
Classes
Coursework for pharmacy technician students includes a combination of class time, lab time and supervised practical experience in actual pharmacies. Courses usually include:
- Medical terminology
- Pharmaceutical calculations and techniques
- Medical recordkeeping
- Ethics, pharmacy law and protecting patients' health information
- Medication names, purposes and dosing
Online Classes and Programs
Online pharmacy technician and pharmacist programs include courses that can prepare pharmacy aides for their future career. Showing they are taking the classes can give them an advantage when applying for a job. While these programs offer convenience, they often do not offer the same kind of assistance in coordinating internships or job placement provided by most brick-and-mortar programs.
Employment Requirements
There are no educational requirements to become a pharmacy aide because they are usually trained on the job. However, a high school diploma or equivalent is required to take certification tests to become a pharmacy technician, which is the next step up in a pharmacy career. Certification tests are not required in all states; however, certification demonstrates to employers that a candidate has received a standardized level of training. Those who wish to take the tests must have no drug / pharmacy-related felony convictions, and no felony convictions of any type within five years of submitting an application to take the tests.
Previous work experience operating cash registers, maintaining inventory, working with computers, and volunteering at a hospital or community pharmacy can help bolster a pharmacy aide's employability.
How to Evaluate Schools
Here are some questions to ask when evaluating pharmacy technician training programs:
- Curricula and focus - Do the courses provide comprehensive training in the many different aspects of pharmacy work? Do they equip students well for the possibility of advancement into future work, such as as a pharmacy technician or a pharmacist?
- Accreditation and regulation - Is the program focused on preparing students to pass PTCB or ICPT certification tests, especially in states where certification is required to be able to work as a pharmacy technician? If the program is offered online, has its parent institution have accreditation from agencies approved by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or United States Department of Education (USDE)?
- Tuition and financial aid - What financial aid opportunities such as student loans, grants or scholarships are available to help with tuition?
- Class structure and practical experience - Is the student-teacher ratio in most classes small enough for optimal learning? Does the school coordinate internships providing supervised practical experience in an actual pharmacy?
- Graduate success - What kind of job placement assistance is offered by the program? Over the previous several years, how many graduates found work as a pharmacy technician?
Pharmacy Aide Job Description
Pharmacies rely on pharmacy aides to handle customer service and clerical tasks on a daily basis. Because they are dealing with stressful and potentially life-threatening circumstances for patients, accurate record keeping, communicating effectively and proper inventory tracking are three important functions pharmacy aides must do well.
In some states, pharmacy aides and pharmacy technicians occupy similar roles, while sometimes pharmacy technicians have more complex duties including helping prepare prescriptions. For both roles, responsibilities usually include:
- answering telephones and helping customers at the counter
- updating patients' medical profiles with accurate information
- stocking shelves and tracking inventory
- working the cash register and handling money
- submitting claims to insurance companies and verifying coverage
- maintaining equipment and supplies
- making calls to doctors' offices, patients and insurance companies
- referring questions to the pharmacist
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