SITE SEARCH
Breaking News
Online Degree Rankings
Best Buy Online Degrees
Best Buy Online Degrees
An online university degree can cost as little as $3,000 – or over $100,000. GetEducated's affordability rankings reveal who offers the best buys in online degrees.
 
Best Student Satisfaction
Best Student Satisfaction
Student in an online degree program? Alumni of an online college? Review – rate and rank – your college's performance. Your review will help others "get educated" about the real-life performance of accredited online colleges.
 
Best Public Perception
Best Public Perception
How do employers and the public rate online university degrees? Help rate and rank thousands of accredited distance colleges. Your online college reviews will help others "get educated"
 
Newsletter
Career Center
CAREER CENTER HOME
 
Employment of pharmacy technicians is expected to increase by 25 percent from 2008 to 2018—much faster than the average.
Rising demand for pharmacy techs is due to several factors: the aging population, who use more prescription drugs; new drug discoveries meaning more drugs in use; and budget-cutting by pharmacies, which use techs to perform routine tasks otherwise done by pharmacists and aides.
Median hourly earnings of pharmacy technicians in May 2008 were $13.32. The middle 50 percent earned between $10.95 and $15.88, while the lowest 10 percent earned less than $9.27, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $18.98.
Pharmacy technicians work with licensed pharmacists to provide medication and other health care products to patients. Tasks they typically do include counting pills, verifying prescription information, mixing medication when needed and labeling bottles. The prescription is checked by a pharmacist before being released to a patient.
Other duties of a pharmacy tech include answering phones, preparing insurance claims for patients, stocking shelves, taking inventory and running cash registers. If the tech is working in a hospital or nursing home, he or she also must read patients' charts and prepared the ordered medication (with a pharmacist checking the prescription for accuracy).
Most pharmacy technicians (about 71 percent) work in retail pharmacies, such as in drug stores or grocery stores. About 18 percent work in hospitals. The rest work in doctors' offices or for wholesalers, the government, or online pharmacies.
As there are few state and no federal requirements for certification of pharmacy techs, many don't receive specialized education, and are trained on the job. If an employer doesn't have time or other resources for this training, those techs with certification are more likely to be hired.
Pharmacy technician education programs are available online or at community colleges, among other places. Typically, these programs involve classroom and laboratory courses that teach medical and pharmaceutical terminology; medication names and information about the medications; how pharmacies make calculations and keep records; pharmaceutical techniques; and pharmacy law and ethics. Many programs also require a student to gain hands-on experience through an internship.
Certification. Some states require certification, but for most, it is voluntary. Two organizations offer national certification exams: the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board and the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians.
Under both programs, technicians must be re-certified every two years. Re-certification requires 20 hours of continuing education within the two-year period, including at least one hour in pharmacy law.
Entering the Field. Pharmacy aides can work their way into becoming pharmacy techs, either by formal training or on-the-job training. Volunteering in a hospital also may give you enough experience to be hired. Employers also value experience managing an inventory, computer skills, knowledge of chemistry, English skills and experience in health education.
Career Changers. Pharmacy techs in some cases go on to become pharmacists, but this requires a great deal of training and education. Other options for pharmacy techs who wish to advance include supervisory and management positions or specialty positions such as chemotherapy technician or nuclear pharmacy technician.

Find online Healthcare and Nursing programs now. >>

 
Ask GetEducated!
Q I’m looking for an online MBA. I’ve found several that fit my budget but none are accredited by the AACSB. What is the AACSB? Do I really need a distance MBA degree that is accredited by them? —Roberta, Gary, IN
A The AACSB is the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International. It is considered the gold standard of business school accreditation. But not every student needs an AACSB-accredited MBA...
Q I was laid off from my job as a real estate agent and want to be a high school math teacher, but my bachelor’s degree is in psychology. Do I need a new degree in education? Will an online bachelor’s in education qualify me to become a licensed teacher? —Willis, Houston, Texas
A If you didn’t earn a bachelor’s degree in education years ago and you now want to teach in the public schools, don’t fret. Every state maintains what are termed “alternative teacher certification” programs...
 
Featured University Ads
Champlain College
Champlain College’s 42-credit, unique MSL program educates non-lawyer working professionals about the law. This regionally accredited program delivered by our experienced faculty of attorneys was designed to help you build a greater understanding of the law. This distinct degree will help you become an objective thinker and equip you with the tools you need to appraise and evaluate real-life legal situations. Navigate the law with confidence! Contact us at 1.866.441.0427 Ext. 3517.
Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus
ASU offers a variety of high-quality, accredited online degree programs. With flexibility, convenience, and exemplary customer service, we help bring your goal of completing a degree within reach. Start today and take the next step toward furthering your career and enriching your life.
Military Resource Center
For active-duty military, reservists, veterans, and military families.
More than half of military students use online education. What do you need to know to find schools that best fit your needs? How can you find the best financial aid and scholarship package at your online school? Answers are here.

Jobs and Careers in Online and Distance Education
Online and distance schools need teachers.
The field of online education is growing and so is the need for teachers who can teach online. Check out our regularly updated list of online job opportunities, post your job availability, and visit our Online Resource Center, with tips, advice and free downloads for online educators.

Online Education
 
Facebook Page: 102030281967 Twitter: GetEducatedcom YouTube: GetEducatedDotCom
GETV
Home | Articles | Media Coverage | About Us | News Releases | Privacy | Team Bios | History and Mission | Newsletter | Contact | Advertising | Login