Are you getting ready to decide on a career, or thinking of making a career change? It’s crucial to weigh the benefits and risks of any potential occupations. But, if you are looking for a career in the healthcare field, that won’t take years, and leave your school debt, then consider a Pharmacy Technician.
Pharmacy Technicians assist pharmacists by collecting information from customers or health professionals to fill prescriptions, measure medications, label, and package prescripts, and organize stock.
The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that until 2028 the need for pharmacy technicians will grow by seven percent. Due to the aging population and the demand for older people to use prescription medicine.
Below are seven reasons pharmacy technicians are in high demand:
1. Job Growth
As mentioned above, the projected growth of a pharmacy technician is expanding. The aging baby-boomer population, along with advancements in pharmaceutical research, will bring more and more patients into pharmacies for prescriptions.
2. Certified in Less Than a Year
You don’t have to spend several years in school to pursue your career. The majority of pharmacy technician certificate programs can be completed in less than a year, and the program prepares you to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE). The program courses are packed full will practical knowledge and hands-on job experience to help you fill confident as a pharmacy technician. A quick search will help you find a pharmacy technician training program in your state.
3. Work Satisfaction
As a pharmacy technician, you will have job satisfaction because you will be assisting people in getting better daily. Pharmacy technicians play an essential role in keeping patients safe by measuring medications and taking correct information. The job revolves around helping other people and communicating with customers, and it can be gratifying to help people.
4. Choices in Work Environment
Pharmacy technicians have the option of working in numerous work settings, from retail pharmacies, hospitals, hospice care facilities, nuclear pharmacies, nursing homes, mail-order pharmacies, compounding pharmacies, and even corrections facilities. You have an option to choose the best work environment that works for you and your interests.
5. Work with Hands
If a traditional office job behind a desk has you feeling restless, then you will be glad that pharmacy technicians have hands-on responsibilities that go beyond typing data into a computer. Pharmacy technicians work under the direction and supervision of a pharmacist, but they help with filling medication, organizing the inventory, measuring prescriptions, and much more.
6. Variety of Roles
With the many environments, a pharmacy technician can work in, and there are different job descriptions for changes in settings. If you enjoy customer service, then you might want to work in a retail pharmacy. If you are not a people person, but still enjoy helping customers, being a pharmacy assistant in a hospital or mail-order setting may interest you more. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is predicting that as a job a pharmacy technician grows in the industry, they will play a more significant role in the operations of the pharmacy, as pharmacists take on more responsibilities in patient care.
7. Advancement Opportunities
Getting a certificate and working as a pharmacy technician opens doors to other advancement opportunities and career growth down the road if you choose. As you gain experience in the healthcare field, you might discover other careers that interest you or even advance to a pharmacist yourself. You can use your experience as a pharmacy technician, and schooling to help you further your healthcare career when the timing is right.
Final Thoughts
There are many benefits to becoming a pharmacy technician that make it a highly demanding career choice. But, its growth in the healthcare sector for the next several years, small investment in education, and stability make it a great career to consider.
