Do you have aspirations of becoming a pharmacy technician? Find out more about the training you will undergo as part of the Pharmacy Technology program, including the courses you will study and the training you will receive to prepare you for a career working in a pharmacy.
A Pharmacy Technology Program will teach students these 6 skills, which are necessary for a successful career as a pharmacy technician. The ability to think critically, communicate effectively, organize one’s thoughts, use computers, be proficient in mathematics, and solve problems are the six talents that make up this set.
Skills You Need To Become a Pharmacy Technician – ELTC
Because of these abilities, the pharmacy technician will be able to provide assistance to patients while also providing support to the Pharmacist. Mathematical Capability — The majority of training programs for Pharmacy Technicians include at least one college-level math class.
- When it comes to filling prescriptions and weighing medications, the math skills of the pharmacy technician will come in very helpful.
- In addition, a pharmacy technician will apply collegiate mathematics while placing orders, stocking shelves, and packing prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, as well as when doing inventory management and keeping records.
Ability to Communicate Both Verbally and in Writing Pharmacy Technicians deal directly with patients and pharmacists, thus it is essential for them to be able to communicate well in both formats in order to provide excellent customer service. Organizational skills are necessary for a pharmacy technician since they are responsible for ensuring that prescriptions are filled correctly, managing inventory, and keeping accurate records.
When it comes to packaging and labeling medications, organizational abilities will come in handy. Computer Skills – In the course of carrying out one’s tasks as a pharmacy technician, a few different kinds of computer systems could be called into action. There is a computer system that can assist with counting the tablets to ensure that the appropriate quantity of medication is included in each prescription.
A computer interface will be utilized by the pharmacy technician in order to input consumer data and process insurance claims. One of the most important skills for a pharmacy technician to have is the ability to use computers and to quickly pick up new software applications.
- Critical Thinking A pharmacy technician is required to approach their work in a manner that is consistent and methodical in order to maintain the accuracy of client record data and prescriptions.
- Problem Solving A pharmacy technician must be able to address any problem that may develop with insurance claims and patients’ prescriptions.
For example, whether billing is erroneous or medicines are not available, a pharmacy technician must be able to fix the issue. It is possible for a consumer to bring an issue to the pharmacy technician and demand a definitive solution; in this case, the pharmacy technician will need to have strong problem-solving abilities in order to discover the best answer.
What do you think is the most important quality for a pharmacy technician?
Paying Attention to Detail – Are you the kind of person that sits down and carefully reads all of the directions before beginning to fill out a form? It’s possible that you have the kind of attention to detail that’s required to be a successful pharmacy technician.
The most essential component of a pharmacy technician’s work is looking out for the well-being of their consumers. When you give a patient the incorrect prescription, you run the risk of doing more than just causing them an inconvenience; you might also cause them harm. When it comes to filling prescriptions and creating drugs, pharmacy techs need to use caution and a thorough approach.
In today’s modern medical system, meticulous record keeping is also required. This helps the pharmacy stay organized and ensures that it is in compliance with rules regarding the storage and management of patient information. Frequently, pharmacy technicians will assist with administrative tasks like as filing, data entry, or the creation of inventory records.
How do you list skills on a resume?
On your resume, you should only list skills that are pertinent to the job, you should look over the job description for required skills and list those (if you have them), you should pair each skill with a corresponding proficiency level, you should back up your skills with other sections of your resume, and you should mention skills that are transferable and universal.
Why is it important to keep your pharmacy technician skills current?
Education Requirements Necessary for Pharmacy Technicians – To be successful in the role of pharmacy technician, it is helpful to have education and experience in the field. The state in which one resides determines whether or not pharmacy technicians are required to have a certain level of education.
- This does not mean that this is always the case.
- Additionally, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the majority of states have legislation in place to oversee pharmacy technicians and the education or training they get.
- Educational Prerequisites for Pharmacy Technicians The educational prerequisites for pharmacy technicians vary from state to state due to the fact that pharmacy technician rules are governed at the state level.
However, due to the fact that pharmacy technicians are responsible for the administration of drugs and the fact that doing so wrong might have devastating repercussions, many states have enacted some type of regulation in this area. Even if it is not compulsory, many companies would rather recruit pharmacy technicians who have attended a pharmacy technician school or a formal training program.
- This is because these technicians have a better understanding of the industry.
- Certification of some form may also be required or suggested by potential employers.
- Certification programs for pharmacy technicians are provided by two separate organizations.
- The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is the first organization on our list.
Its mission is to improve patient safety by establishing a national standard for pharmacy technicians, and it certifies pharmacy professionals. The National Healthcareer Association, sometimes known simply as NHA, is the other organization. The requirements for continuing education for pharmacy technicians are as follows: Next, let’s take a look at the criteria that must be met in order for pharmacy technicians to be eligible for continuing education.
- In the last section, we discussed two organizations that are available to provide a certification for pharmacy technicians.
- If you hold a certification from any of these two organizations, you are required to participate in ongoing educational activities in order to keep your certification current.
- The required amount of continuing education is twenty hours every two years from a supplier of education that has been approved.
Your particular employer may mandate or ask you to do continuing education of some kind in addition to the continuing education that is required for the certifications that you have. Because medical breakthroughs are always being made and medical standards are subject to change in response to new research, continuing education can be an essential component of the fields of pharmacy and pharmacy technology.
- In the field of pharmacy, education and ongoing training are often considered to be of the utmost importance; this is also true for pharmacy technicians.
- Regulations concerning medicines and ongoing advancements in medical knowledge both contribute to the fact that this industry is continuously going through a period of transition.
Please have a look at the following for some instances of continuing education for pharmacy technicians.