Go back to the Allied Health Page.
What is your educational background and why do you enjoy teaching the Pharmacy Technician course at the College of Lake County?
I’m a graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Madison, and received my B.S. of Pharmacy in 1992. I enjoy teaching because I like the interaction with and questions from the students. Their excitement about pharmacy refreshes my career choice. Being that I practice as a pharmacist full-time, I understand the need for well educated technicians.
What does a pharmacy technician do on a day-to-day basis?
Technicians carry out all pharmacy functions that do not require professional judgment. Some examples in a retail setting, which I’m most familiar with, are to greet and interact with customers, answer phones, work cash register, use the computer for order entry, fill prescriptions, process orders/inventory and interact with insurance companies.
When you were a pharmacy technician (i.e., prior to becoming a pharmacist), what did you like about your job?
Working as a technician helped me decide to choose pharmacy as my career. I always knew I wanted to do something in the medical field, but did not want to be the traditional MD or nurse. I liked the interaction with patients and the flexibility of my schedule.
You work with a lot of pharmacy technicians. What do they generally say they enjoy about their jobs?
I think most technicians would say that their days can sometimes be very trying, but at the end of the day they have the satisfaction that they’ve helped someone. Also, because pharmacies, both outpatient and inpatient, are open various hours, it makes for a lot of flexibility in schedules for technicians. They can work their work schedules around school, families, etc.
What kind of character traits do you feel help a pharmacy technician to excel at his or her vocation?
It’s important to be a caring, compassionate person while at the same time being a little "thick skinned". Technicians usually take the brunt of unhappy customers. Staying calm and being a good listener often resolves a bad situation. Another is multitasking; pharmacies are typically very busy and will require a pharmacy technician to handle multiple problems at the same time.
Pharmacy technicians often work in retail or hospital settings. Can you describe some differences between these two employment environments.
In a retail setting you probably have more patient contact. Prescriptions are filled for patients for multi-day use. Technicians in a retail setting also deal with insurance companies on a daily basis for prior authorizations, vacation overrides, etc. to help patients get their medications. In a hospital setting patient’s medications are filled for single day use in unit dose packaging. Technicians in a hospital setting also have to fill/make IV orders. Patient contact and insurance problems are less in comparison to a retail setting.
What is the most difficult aspect of the job or the biggest challenge?
You must be able to multi-task. Things get pretty hectic in a pharmacy, and because what we do is really important to do correctly, it’s important to stay organized. It can also be challenging to deal with difficult patients.
What kinds of certification exams can pharmacy technicians take? How does the class prepare you for these exams?
There are two exams available for technicians to take, and passing either one gives them national certification. They are the PTCB exam or the ExCPT exam. The class instruction and materials provide students with the information needed to pass the exam. The class covers the Top 200 medications, OTC medications, pharmacy calculations, basic understanding of pharmacology, lab experience, and a retail computer simulation experience.
How does the success on one or both of these exams increase a pharmacy technician’s credibility or success in the job market? Why do you think certification is becoming increasingly important in the industry?
Being certified lets an employer know that he/she has a good, general knowledge of pharmacy. However, there will still be a lot of learning on the job, specific to the place of employment. If you have the knowledge to have become certified, it should not be a problem to learn the job specific details. As prescription volume and sophistication of medication increases everyday it’s very important to pharmacists to have qualified, educated technicians.
What do pharmacy technicians generally earn and how hard is it to find a job?
The starting pay for pharmacy technicians is around $10-12/hour. Pharmacy is still a growing field; therefore technician positions will continue to be available. There is always a need for pharmacy technicians as the number of pharmacies continue to grow. It might be more difficult during the summer months to find a position, because pharmacy students often fill technician positions.
What kinds of career paths are available to pharmacy technicians?
Some companies have advanced technician positions (senior technicians, head technicians, etc). They often have additional responsibilities and receive additional compensation. Some technicians go on to school to become pharmacists.
What kind of homework, assignments, and exams can students expect in class? How much math can students expect in class and later as pharmacy technicians?
There’s a considerable amount of reading and memorizing that takes place outside of class. There is also an interview assignment that’s done outside of class. There are quizzes almost each week, one mid-term exam, and one final exam. Pharmacy technicians use math everyday and this is an important part of the class.
What are some of the subjects you cover in the twelve week class?
Top 200 prescription medications, OTC medications, learning to interpret physician’s orders, basic pharmacology, pharmacy calculations, lab experience, and a retail computer simulation.
What kind of information is on the certification exams?
The national certification exam blueprint reports that pharmacy technicians must know about regulations and technician duties, drugs and drug products, and the dispensing process. More information can be found at www.nationaltechexam.org. Everything learned in the class prepares the student for the certification exam.
How does the class prepare you for the examination?
The class is designed to prepare a student to pass the exam by covering the three major areas of pharmacy technician practice:
- Regulations and technician duties
- Drugs and drug products
- The dispensing of medications process
The class covers these objectives by live classroom teachings, practice lab exercise, and the shadowing exercise for students.
Pharmacy technicians are clearly not pharmacists. Can you describe some of the big differences between the two occupations? In what limited sense does this course help people decide if someday they might want to become pharmacists?
Technicians and pharmacists work as a team in the pharmacy. Pharmacists rely on technicians to carry out the basic functions of the pharmacy so that we have the time we need to carry out our professional duties. Technicians perform all functions of the pharmacy that does not require professional judgment. This course provides a general overview of pharmacy. If you love it and want more of it, lots more, going on to school to become a pharmacist may be for you.
What are the precise requirements for a pharmacy technician to work in Illinois?
In Illinois, a pharmacy technician must be licensed. This is different than being certified. Some requirements to become licensed include: being at least 16 years old, attending or having graduated from high school or a comparable school, and having filed for a written application for registration on the IDPR form and pay a fee. IDPR will then issue a Certificate of Registration allowing a technician to assist a licensed pharmacist in the practice of pharmacy under personal supervision of a licensed pharmacist.
Starting in 2010 pharmacy technicians will be required to pass an IL board approved pharmacy technician certification exam. Of course, most felony convictions, including all drug convictions, can block licensure and employment in the field. But interested parties can contact the Illinois Board of Pharmacy or the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation for questions regarding specific cases.
Go back to the Allied Health Page.
Go back to the Workforce and Professional Development Institute - Healthcare Programs Page.