Pharmacy Tech - A Recession Busting Career Choice

An aging population and increase in demand for prescription drugs are helping to make a career as a pharmacy technician a very secure choice. In fact, employment of pharmacy techs is expected to increase 32 percent by 2016, according to a 2008-2009 report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Are you ready for a career in this growing field?

"There are numerous factors propelling demand for medication," says Richard Nunez, department chair and certified pharmacy technician at Everest College in San Francisco. “First, Americans are living longer than ever and need more medical treatments. Advances in medical technology are also producing more prescription drugs. The combination of these two factors is putting a real strain on the pharmaceutical industry to meet demand.”

There were 3.5 billion prescriptions filled in 2008, up from 3.4 billion in 2006, and that is expected to continue to rise every year, according to the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

Nunez links this growth of the pharmaceutical industry to demographic changes. "The growing need for prescription drugs is one of the long-term side effects of the aging baby-boom generation. The pharmaceutical industry is one of many industries in healthcare that is feeling the repercussions," says Nunez.

Nunez links this growth of the pharmaceutical industry to demographic changes. "The growing need for prescription drugs is one of the long-term side effects of the aging baby-boom generation. The pharmaceutical industry is one of many industries in healthcare that is feeling the repercussions," says Nunez.

"Pharmacy technicians are one way the profession is responding to this need for workers," he adds. "They really play a crucial role in a pharmacy. In many ways, the work of pharmacy technicians complements that of pharmacists. Pharmacy technicians help patients, explain dosages, update patient information, and help with labeling and filling prescriptions."

Pharmacy technicians are one of the fastest growing professions in the U.S. right now. According to the National Pharmacy Technician Association, more than 39,000 pharmacy technician jobs open up each year.

Yet with increased demand, Nunez explains that the role of pharmacy technicians is changing. "Pharmacists just do not have the time to do everything themselves. Pharmacy technicians have to step in to fill multiple roles," he says. Nunez explains that pharmacy technicians will begin to assume responsibilities for a range of tasks that were previously reserved for pharmacists or pharmacy aides.

"The profession has really had to develop in response to this need," says Nunez. "Pharmacy technicians are no longer seen as simply assistants to pharmacists, but as full-fledged pharmaceutical professionals."

Pharmacists have to focus more on patient care, and pharmacy technicians refer questions regarding prescriptions, drug information or health matters to them. Pharmacy technicians are responsible for measuring, recording and labeling medications, and they are also taking on more administrative duties, including updating patient profiles, preparing insurance claims and taking inventory of pharmacy stock.

As the responsibilities of pharmacy technicians grow, obtaining certification is also becoming more important. "Although pharmacy technicians have traditionally received on-the-job training, employers are increasingly looking for employees who have a prior professional degree," says Drew Jones, pharmacy program director and certified pharmacy technician at Everest College in City of Industry, Calif.

More importantly, Jones explains that better training could lead to more professional opportunities. "The shortage of pharmacists opens up opportunities for better-qualified pharmacy technicians to take on more responsibilities," says Jones.

"We recognize the importance of this career in helping keep Americans healthy. Pharmacy technicians have become a crucial part of the pharmacy team, and we really stress the career`s potential to our students. They come to us to be part of an accredited program, because they recognize the new opportunities the career offers for qualified employees," says Jones. (Courtesy of ARAcontent)

To learn more about career opportunities as a pharmacy technician, visit Everest College.

Train To Become A Pharmacy Technician

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Explore accredited Pharmacy Technician schools and request additional information about requirements, tuition, financial aid, and start dates directly from schools offering programs that match your interests:
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Everest College

Campus

Develop the skills to succeed in today's highly competitive business environment. Everest College can prepare you for a rewarding career in some of today's hottest fields.

Programs:

• Diploma - Pharmacy Technician

Campus Locations:

San Francisco
Torrance
LA Puente
Los Angeles
Alhambra
Ontario
Santa Ana

Kaplan College - KHE

Campus

Don't wait another day to take the next step forward in your career. Kaplan College can give you the real-world knowledge and skills you need to succeed in your chosen field.

Programs:

• Diploma: Pharmacy Technician

Campus Locations:

Vista

American Career College

Campus

American Career College (ACC) offers hands-on training that will prepare students for careers in the healthcare industry at three campuses in Los Angeles, Ontario, and Orange County, California. ACC's programs combine classroom lectures and hands-on training to prepare students for a Diploma or Associate of Occupational Science degree.

Programs:

• Pharmacy Technician

Campus Locations:

Anaheim
Los Angeles
Ontario

Heald College

Campus

Heald College offers 18-month associate degree programs that will prepare you for a career in Business, Technology, or Healthcare. Small class sizes, hands-on instruction.

Programs:

• Pharmacy Technology

Campus Locations:

San Francisco
Fresno
Rancho Cordova
Roseville
Hayward
Milpitas
Concord
Salinas

Career Colleges of America

Campus

Get your career started with Career Colleges of America. We have four campuses in the Los Angeles area offering a wide variety of allied health training programs.

Programs:

• Pharmacy Technician

Campus Locations:

San Bernardino
South Gate
Gardena
Los Angeles

Carrington College California

Campus

Carrington College California offers the programs you need to begin a career in healthcare. Choose from Healthcare, Massage Therapy, Dental Assisting, Pharmacy Technology, or Veterinary Services.

Programs:

• AS in Pharmacy Technology

Campus Locations:

Pleasant Hill
San Leandro
Emeryville
Sacramento
Stockton
Antioch
Citrus Heights
San Jose

UEI College

Campus

UEI College can give you the real world medical, business, and technology skills you need to start a rewarding career. Let us know how we can assist you with your personal growth by helping you train for your perfect career.

Programs:

• Pharmacy Technician

Campus Locations:

Stockton
Riverside
Gardena
Anaheim
San Marcos
Bakersfield
Fresno

Santa Barbara Business College

Campus

California is home to beautiful landscapes, a diverse population and countless things to do. Santa Barbara Business College is a California technical school that helps people just like you learn skills for their career. After all, without a good career, it can be difficult to enjoy all the wonderful things California has to offer.

SBBCollege is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. For information on graduation rates, median debt of graduates who completed these programs and other important information, visit http://www.sbbcollege.edu/consumerinformation/disclosures.php. SBBCollege offers financial aid to those who qualify.

Programs:

• Pharmacy Technology

Campus Locations:

Santa Maria

Charter College

Campus

You can prepare for a new career with help from Charter College. Our accelerated Bachelors Degree, Associates Degree, and Certificate programs are designed to help you complete your education as quickly as possible. We offer year-round classes and flexible scheduling - study anytime from anywhere. We provide students not only with the technical skills necessary for success, but also job search and placement assistance so you can find new opportunities after graduation.

Programs:

• AS - Pharmacy Technician

Campus Locations:

Oxnard

Institute of Technology

Campus

You can get started on a new career with Institute of Technology. We offer diploma and associate degree programs for careers in the culinary, technical, medical, business, and legal fields.

For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website at www.it-colleges.edu/disclosure

Programs:

• Pharmacy Technician

Campus Locations:

Modesto
Redding
Stockton

Penn Foster Schools

Campus

Penn Foster offers affordable, self-paced career-focused distance education programs in fields like business, criminal justice, health services, technology, engineering, paralegal studies and more.

Programs:

• Pharmacy Technician

Campus Locations:

Scranton

Stratford Career Institute

Online

Stratford Career Institute can help you earn your diploma from home in as little as six months, thanks to their proven study methods.

Programs:

• Pharmacist's Assistant

Ashworth College

Campus

Get the hands-on training and skills it takes to succeed with Ashworth College, a respected, worldwide leader in distance education. Study at the times and places most convenient for you.

Programs:

• Pharmacy Technology

Campus Locations:

Norcross

CBD College

Campus

Get career training with CBD College. We offer an associate degree in vocational nursing, plus diploma programs for careers in the fields of medical massage therapy/physical therapy, pharmacy tech, surgical technology, and vocational nursing.

Programs:

• Pharmacy Technician

Campus Locations:

Los Angeles