Clinical Lab Science (CLS) Transfer Program
Medical Assistant
Program
Non-Invasive EKG
Phlebotomy and EKG Certificate Program
Pharmacy Technician
Training
Health Science Disciplines Home
Pharmacy Technician FAQs
What is a pharmacy technician?
A pharmacy technician assists licensed pharmacists with the preparation and disbursement of medications and other health care items to patients.
What does a pharmacy technician do?
A pharmacy technician has numerous responsibilities both behind the counter and on the floor of both retail and hospital pharmacies. Some of a pharmacy technician’s duties might include preparing prescription labels, pricing and filling prescriptions, establishing and maintaining patient profiles, preparing insurance claim forms, and stocking and taking inventory of prescription and over-the-counter medications. In hospitals, additional duties might include reading patient charts, preparing and delivering medicine to patients, copying information about prescribed medication onto a patient’s profile, assembling 24-hour supplies of medicine for every patient, and then packaging and labeling each dose separately. Duties performed by a pharmacy technician are completed under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist.
Where does a pharmacy technician work?
Pharmacy technicians generally work in clean, organized, well-lighted and well-ventilated areas in retail and mail-order pharmacies or hospitals. Most of their workdays are spent on their feet, and they may be required to lift heavy boxes or use stepladders to retrieve supplies from high shelves. Technicians work the same hours as pharmacists, which may include evenings, nights, weekends and holidays. As their seniority increases, technicians often have increased control over the hours they work. There are also many opportunities for part-time work in both retail and hospital settings.
Is certification necessary?
Although most pharmacy technicians receive informal, on-the-job training, employers favor those who have completed formal training and certification. While there are currently few state and no federal requirements for formal training or certification of pharmacy technicians, certification emphasizes the technicians’ interest in and dedication to their work to potential employers.
What is the starting salary for an entry-level pharmacy technician?
The average income for pharmacy technicians employed by retail pharmacies is approximately $10.54 per hour. However, this number includes individuals without formal training. Pharmacy technician certification increases the chances of starting at a higher average rate of $12.32 per hour.
What is the current job outlook for this profession?
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates the current number of pharmacy technician jobs at approximately 275,000. By 2012, this number is expected to increase by as much as 35 percent due to the continued creation of new medications created by pharmaceutical industries to treat all types of illness and disease. In addition, mail-order pharmacy technician jobs are expected to rise as more people use this service offered through insurance companies as a less-expensive alternative for purchasing their medication.
How does the C.O.D. partnership with MRxI Corporation work?
Students at C.O.D. simply register for Health Science 1115, Pharmacy Technician, and then complete this course at MRxI Corporation in Lombard. Students earn four credit hours at C.O.D. for the course and a certificate of completion from MRxI Corporation. In addition, students are then able to sit for the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination, and receive a title of Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPHT) upon passing this exam.
Is there a separate application process for the Pharmacy Technician program at C.O.D.? Are there any program prerequisites?
There is not a separate application process to enter into this course. However, students must be high school graduates or have earned their GED.
Who can I contact for more information?
For more information, call C.O.D.’s Pharmacy Technician coordinator Nancy Feulner, MT, ASCP, at (630) 942-2124, e-mail: feulner@cod.edu; or contact MRxI at (630) 541-3600, e-mail: info@mrxicorp.com; or visit the web site at: www.mrxicorp.com.
Academic Information
Course Descriptions
MRxI Pharmacy Technician Brochure (PDF)
FAQs
Industry Links
