Candidates who want to become pharmacy technicians should pass the National Pharmacy Technician Examination and have a National Pharmacy Technician Certificate. This exam will enhance the capability of an individual to become a pharmacy technician. The candidates who have a high school diploma and a pharmacy trained certificate will be recognized as pharmacy technicians. This exam is held at various locations and several times enabling the candidates to attend with convenience. Pharmacists always look for pharmacy technicians with certificates as they are aware that certified technicians will have the right skill and alertness to take care of patients.

Pharmacy technicians who are certified should recertify for every two years. During this period of two years, they must work at least for 20 hours in the fields related to pharmacy. Only people who have completed these minimal hours with pharmacy oriented work will be eligible for recertification. During these 20 hours, they can attend lectures or do collegial work, but specific time should be allotted strictly for concentrating and knowing about the laws regarding pharmacy. These hours can be utilized for earning money too. They can earn from various sources like taking classes at pharmacy colleges or by conducting programs for pharmacy technician training candidates.

The pharmacy training schools mold the candidates perfectly to become pharmacy technicians. They are taught and made responsible to be active, honest, and dedicated towards their job. They should be ready to take instructions and also work with responsibility as their job involves risk of lives. Certified pharmacy technicians should be able to work without any guidance.

Step 1: Scout formal pharmacy technician training programs.
Many community colleges offer formal education and hands on training to prepare for a pharmacy technician. Although it is not required to have a formal education to be a pharmacy technician, many feel that, give the formal education strong consideration, as it will surely bring lots of benefits.

Step 2: Choose the right institution for the course
Formal training is most valuable if it comes from an institution recognized by an accrediting board such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Time span of course is six months to two years. Courses that can be selected are pharmacology, technical math, and pharmacy operations.

Step 3: Get hands-on-training.
Once registered with the board of pharmacy and employed by a pharmacy, you will receive hands-on or on-the-job training. However, if you choose to get a formal education and then become certified, choose a program that provides internship.

You can also find pharmacy technician training programs at junior and community colleges, trade schools, and some hospitals. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists offers accreditation to programs that meet high standards of academic excellence.

Step 4: Take the pharmacy technician certification exam
Take the exam to become a certified pharmacy technician.

Step 5 Ease your transition into the job market.
Enroll in a program that can find an internship, which offers invaluable on-the-job training and insight to what to be expected in the real world in a hospital or clinic. This serves as a stepping-stone to a more advanced education.

Pharmacy technicians should possess a National pharmacy training certificate as Pharmacists usually prefer to employ certified pharmacy technicians. With the increase in population and the hospitals as well as medical centre, the need will increase and pharmacy technicians will be in large demand. Some hospitals, proprietary schools, vocational or technical colleges, and community colleges offer formal education programs inclusive of internships, where students gain hands-on experience in actual pharmacies.

To pursue pharmacy technician as a career, one has to pass the licensing exam and be ready to answer all queries from the patients and guide them perfectly. Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhT) obtained the license issued by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. Exams are conducted at various centers nationally and there are also employers who provide on-the-job training for people and then recruit them as pharmacy technicians.

Pharmacy technicians must ascertain that people understand and follow their instructions as they need to make sure all the instructions have been clearly articulated. They need to precise in their communication. Pharmacy technicians should be knowledgeable in respect to the effects of all medicines, and whether these medicines and drugs can be given to the patients.

Science classes are good preparation for oneself in the process of getting the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree curriculum. Courses in biology, chemistry, physics, Science and mathematics are especially desirable. Those with good written and verbal communication skills are excellent candidates. A balanced and comprehensive high school and college education is the first step in the pursuit of a professional degree in pharmacy, especially in the areas of math and science

Although pharmacists do not have the most visible job in health care they are a critical element to the delivery of quality patient care. Some of the areas where Pharmacy Technicians can contribute in are;

1. Nursing Home and Extended Care Facility Pharmacy – They review patient charts for correct dosages, drug interactions, adverse reactions, or side effects as consultants.
2. Community Pharmacy – Community pharmacists are charged with the safe and efficient distribution of prescription medications, advising patients on the proper use of their prescription and non-prescription medication use and keeping the records of patients and their health, illnesses, and medications.
3. Industrial Pharmacy – Pharmacists in pharmaceutical manufacturing may work in research, and development, testing of medications in lots of multiple sectors. Pharmacists who work in the pharmaceutical industry need an additional postgraduate degree, such as a master’s or a Ph.D. degree.
4. Advanced Pharmacy Careers – Doctor of Pharmacy or Pharm. Degree graduates can work as drug information specialists in a hospital or other health care organizations. They will be able to find ample practice opportunities in managing health care organizations, home health-care agencies and general and specialized clinics.

In 2002, pharmacy aides occupied about 60,000 jobs in the United States. Approximately 80% are employed by private retail pharmacies or drugstore chain stores and about 10% labor in hospitals, and the remaining in pharmacies that use mail-order pharmacies, pharmaceutical wholesalers, or clinics.

Employers favor candidates with well-established customer service and good communication skills and familiarity in handling inventories and working on a computer. Full-time as well as part-time work opportunities are deemed to be excellent, particularly for aides with job experience relating to pharmacology, stock clerks, or cashiers in different retail locations.

So if you have all it takes to be a qualified pharmacist technician, and have lots of confident in excelling in this field, hope that all the information here are useful as your step towards a physical technician career!