Today’s economy may be struggling, but there’s no better time to facilitate a career change than a recession. While some industries are laying off workers, there are still many that are growing at surprisingly fast rates. The health care industry is one of the fastest growing fields in the country today, with jobs expanding more than many other industries to accommodate advancements in technology and the needs of the growing country.
Pharmacy technicians are one of the fastest growing positions within the country, and expected to grow by 25% between 2010 and 2018. If you’re looking to transition into the healthcare industry, you may not even have to search top pharmacy technician schools, as many accredited programs are offered and can be completed in as little as three months.
Breakdown of Top Pharmacy Technician Schools
Top pharmacy technician schools don’t really exist in the sense that most Colleges and Universities combine training for pharmacy technicians into a degree in Health Information Technology. HIT degrees can be completed in a 4 year bachelor’s or a 2 year associates degree and can be a student’s springboard to many different careers in the medical field from technical to administrative positions.
While this type of degree is the best route for students currently in college, many vocational schools or accredited online programs offer specific training that can exceed that of the top pharmacy technician schools and allow you to transition into the field without going back to school for years. Many top pharmacy technician schools and vocational programs can get you trained and certified in as little as 3 months or in a program as lengthy as a year.
Pharmacy Technician Skills
Skills learned from top pharmacy technician schools reflect the duties of the actual job. According to the US department of Labor statistics in 2008, the average pharmacy technician salary ranged from 10 to 18 dollars per hour. The job consists mainly of assisting pharmacists with counting and dispensing medications, as well as offering customer service to patients, keeping records and assisting with the administrative tasks of running the pharmacy and business.
Training from Top Pharmacy Technician Schools
Training from top pharmacy technician schools usually encompasses a study of medications far as common types, brands and markings used to identify medications and their dosages. Students are also trained on modern machinery used to help pharmacists and techs count and store medications.
Top pharmacy technician schools and programs will train applicants in communications related to customer service, and even billing procedures for dealing with insurance companies specialized toward medication dispensing. Some top pharmacy technician schools will set up an externship with a pharmacist or supply other career placement or on the job training for those who graduate in help them transition into their new careers. Many will also aid in preparation for certifications and exams, as certified pharmacy technicians can expect higher pharmacy technician wages than those uncertified or hired for on the job training.
