It seems the lines at pharmacy counters keep getting longer. This country's increased prescription drug use is the result of both a pharmaceutical industry that continually produces and advertises new, revolutionary medications, and America's aging Baby Boomer population, both of which are putting a strain on pharmacy staffs. It seems the lines at pharmacy counters keep getting longer. This country's increased prescription drug use is the result of both a pharmaceutical industry that continually produces and advertises new, revolutionary medications, and America's aging Baby Boomer population, both of which are putting a strain on pharmacy staffs.

The nation's pharmacists no longer handle everything behind the pharmacy counter. Increasingly, they find themselves more directly involved in patient care, counseling them as to how certain prescriptions will react in the body, as well as directly dispensing medications on site in hospitals or nursing care facilities. That's why pharmacist's assistants, increasingly called pharmacy technicians, are an essential part of a pharmacy's operations.

The Role of the Pharmacist Assistant

Health insurance in the United States, especially with regard to Medicare, has become so complex that in some situations, understanding its nuances alone can be a full-time job. Add to that the necessary communication between pharmacies and doctors, preparation of prescriptions, labeling, maintaining patient files, taking inventory and interacting with customers, and it's clear that a pharmacist would never have time to consult with patients without a pharmacist's assistant, or technician.

Pharmacist's assistants are more commonly called pharmacy technicians because of the increasing complexity of the position. These professionals take prescription information from patients or physicians, and dispense prescriptions under a pharmacist's supervision. Because pharmacists are often required to keep track of hundreds of patients' files, the work of a pharmacy technician ensures accuracy. That's why the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts an employment growth rate of 28.8% by 2012 for pharmacy technicians.

Pharmacy Technician Certification

While pharmacy technicians aren't required to earn certification, the Memphis Business Journal found that those with a pharmacy tech certificate may earn twice as much as those without one. As pharmacies struggle to keep up with demand from customers, many of them lack the time to provide on-the-job training, and prefer to bring in employees who have successfully passed the voluntary National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination.

According to the BLS, formal pharmacy technician certification programs include both classroom and laboratory work in medical and pharmaceutical terminology, calculations, recordkeeping, techniques, pharmacy law, and ethics. Some programs include internships that offer on-the-job training, and upon completion, students may earn a pharmacy technician certificate or associate's degree, depending on the program.

Becoming a Pharmacist

While a pharmacy technician is one of the few health care careers that doesn't require a bachelor's or post-graduate degree, and opportunities in the field are abundant, average salaries for pharmacy technicians generally range around $23,000-$24,000 per year. Yet according to the BLS, pharmacists earn some of the nation's highest salaries, at roughly $85,000-$86,000 per year, and pharmacist jobs are expected to increase by 17.3% until 2014, according to the BLS.

However, training to become a pharmacist is rigorous. In order to obtain a doctor of pharmacy degree, or Pharm.D., and the required licensure, students must first complete two to three years of college, then complete a four-year program at a college of pharmacy, as well as an exam. The Pharm.D. replaces the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree, which is no longer awarded.

One thing is clear: Regardless of the pharmacy career one pursues, the rise in the number of prescription drugs and America's growing dependence upon them makes pharmacy careers a pretty sure bet.

Sources
Memphis Business Journal
"Pharmacists" - Bureau of Labor Statistics
"Pharmacy Technicians" - Bureau of Labor Statistics



By: Jessica Groach-Santina
World Wide Learn Columnist