Get a Job at a Pharmacy

Pharmacy positions are some of the most stable careers, with high earnings and lots of opportunity for growth. There are three key positions at a pharmacy: an assistant pharmacist, a pharmacy technician, and a pharmacist.

Steps

Working as a Pharmacy Assistant

1. Understand what a pharmacy assistant does. A pharmacy assistant, also known as pharmacy aide, organizes medications, deals with customers, and oversees the day to day business of a pharmacy. Pharmacy assistants do not have the credentials to be a pharmacist and need very little formal education. As an aide, you can accept orders, package prescriptions, and prepare prescription labels. But you cannot work directly with medications.
   • As of 2013, the median salary for pharmacy assistants was $22,580, or an hourly rate of $11-$14.
2. Earn your high school diploma, or equivalent level of education, like a GED. Many pharmacy assistants are trained on the job. The main qualifications for the position, besides a high school diploma, are good people skills, good communication skills, and good organizational skills.
3. Develop basic math skills. As an assistant pharmacist, you will need to have basic math skills to count out dosages and run a cash register.
4. Develop strong communication and people skills. Some employers favor applicants with training or experience in customer service, retail, or administration.
   • Previous customer service is a big asset for this position, as you will be working directly with patients to give them their prescriptions.
5. Look for open positions at a pharmacy. Look online for job postings at pharmacies in your area. Go into your local pharmacy and talk to the pharmacist about a possible position or references to other positions available in the area.
   • You will need to be at least 18 years of age to work at a pharmacy. Employment for pharmacy aides is growing every year, as pharmacies are always looking for capable, efficient assistants who work well with people.
   • Job opportunities for pharmacy technicians, who are trained to assist pharmacists in dispensing medications, are also growing rapidly every year. So you may decide you want to pursue a formal technician training program and become a pharmacy technician.
6. Prepare your resume and cover letter. When drafting your resume and cover letter, its important that you highlight your math skills and your communication skills. You should also indicate that you enjoy working with people and providing excellent customer service.
   • You should also list your high school diploma and any other education you have received.
7. Apply for pharmacy assistant positions. In most states, you will need to fill out a pharmacy assistant application to apply for a position. If you are applying for a job out of state, you can mail in your application. Regardless, you will need to provide basic information on the application, including:
   • Your demographic information, including your social security number.
   • Your medical history, such as any medical conditions you suffer from or any past use of drugs or alcohol.
   • Your criminal history, if any.
   • Any medical certifications or licenses you hold.

Working as a Pharmacy Technician

1. Understand what a pharmacy technician does. Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists with dispensing medication and other health care products to patients.
   • You will need to count and measure medication and manage the inventory of the pharmacy. You will also need to complete pharmaceutical dosage forms on a full or part time basis.
   • As of 2012, the median annual wage for pharmacy technicians was $29,320. Employment of pharmacy technicians is projected to grow 20 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than average for most occupations.
2. Get your high school diploma. To pursue a career as a pharmacy technician, you will need to have a high school diploma or equivalent level of education.
3. Enroll in a pharmacy technician program. Make sure the program is at an accredited vocational/technical college or online program. This program will prepare you for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board exam or the PTCE.
   • Many colleges and websites offer online pharmacy technician programs. This will allow you to keep your current job and study at your own pace.
   • During the training program, you will learn the names of drugs and their uses, how to dispense medications and how to determine correct dosages.
   • You may also learn customer service skills, record keeping skills, and ethics.
4. Look into pharmacy technician training programs. If you decide not to enroll in a training program through a college, you can enroll in a program offered by a pharmacy. If you go for this option, you will be trained with the exact skills needed to be an employee of the pharmacy that is doing your training.
   • You will need to be at least 18 years of age to become a pharmacy technician.
   • Check that the training program at the pharmacy is designed to prepare you for the PTCE exam.
   • PTCE certification will be required if you want to work at another pharmacy in the future.
5. Pass the PTCE exam. Most states and countries require all technicians to pass the PTCE exam. It is a computer based multiple choice exam that contains 90 questions, 80 scored questions and 10 unscored questions. About 1 hour and 50 minutes are allotted for the exam.
   • The PTCE was developed by experts in the pharmacy technician practice and asks questions on pharmacy laws and regulations, medication safety, and pharmacy inventory management, among other topics. There are several practice tests available online to prepare you for the actual exam.
   • You can also complete PTCE practice questions to give you a sense of what to expect from the exam.
6. Become certified. The following requirements must be met to be a certified Pharmacy Technician (additional requirements may apply according to state):
   • A high school diploma or equivalent educational diploma like a GED or foreign diploma.
   • Compliance with the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s policies.
   • Full disclosure of all criminal and State Board of Pharmacy registration or licensure actions. This means you have a clean criminal record and follow the PTCB’s Code of Conduct.
   • Once you have completed all these requirements, you can apply to be certified online and take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE). The cost to apply for certification and take the PTCE exam is $129. Candidates who successfully apply will schedule an exam appointment, and once they receive a passing grade, will be considered certified.
7. Look for a position as a pharmacy technician. If you trained at a pharmacy and have logged hours of experience working in the pharmacy, talk to your supervisor about a possible full time position.
   • You can also look at online job sites for any open positions.
   • Network by letting your college or training course instructors know you are looking for a position as a certified pharmacy technician.
   • You may want to also consider applying to a wide range of companies and organizations. As a licensed pharmacist, you can work in a hospital, a community pharmacy, an outpatient clinic, a nursing home, or a pharmaceutical organization. You are also eligible to work at pharmacies across the United States.

Working as a Pharmacist

1. Understand what a pharmacist does. A pharmacist dispenses prescription medication to patients and offer expertise in the safe use of prescriptions. They also provide advice on how to lead a healthy lifestyle, conduct health and wellness screenings, provide immunizations, and oversee the medications given to patients.
   • Many pharmacists work in community pharmacies in drug stores or grocery stores. But they can also work in hospitals and clinics.
   • Becoming a pharmacist takes years of education and training. Aspiring pharmacists can spend between six years (fast-track) to thirteen years completing pre-requisites, Pharm.D coursework, clinical rotations, and exams. So be prepared to devote a lot of time, effort, and energy into this career.
   • As of 2012, the median annual wage for pharmacists was $116,000.
2. Graduate from high school. While in high school, focus on science courses like biology, chemistry, and physiology. Notice how you perform in these subjects. It helps to be strong in these subjects if you want to become a pharmacist.
   • You can also get your GED or equivalent educational degree.
3. Get your Bachelors of Science (BS) degree. Your Bachelor of Science degree must come from a four-year program. During your bachelor’s degree, you will need to complete at least two years of pre-pharmacy coursework, including anatomy, biology, calculus, chemistry, physics, and sociology.
   • Look for schools that offer a pre-pharmacy program. If you are currently an undergraduate student, talk to your guidance counselor about possible pre-pharmacy programs in your state or country. Pre-pharmacy programs prepares you for admission into a pharmacy program. The focus in these programs is boasting your grades in math, biology, and chemistry.
   • Getting good grades in a pre-pharmacy can help you get into a better pharmacy program.
   • There are databases of pre-pharmacy schools where you can filter them by state, annual tuition costs, and college type (public or private).
   • It may also be helpful to do an online search of the pre-pharmacy programs you are looking at applying to, and reading any forum posts by previous or current students in that program.
4. Take the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT). This test is a requirement for admission to most pharmacy schools. It measures your overall academic ability and your scientific knowledge.
   • You can prepare for the test by studying the PCAT handbook and guidelines. You can also take a PCAT preparatory class or hire a private tutor to help you study.
   • Not all pharmacy schools require you to take the PCAT. But more than 75 percent of all pharmacy programs require applicants to submit scores for the PCAT. Check with the schools you plan to apply to and note if the PCAT is listed in their admission requirements.
   • The minimum PCAT scores will vary from institution to institution. Check the requirements of the institution to determine the PCAT score needed to apply.
5. Obtain a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) degree from an accredited pharmacy school. These programs usually take four years to complete. Once accepted into a Pharm.D program, you will study subjects like pharmacology and medical ethics in the classroom. You will also complete supervised internships in hospitals and retail pharmacies.
   • If you have a busy schedule or a current career, you can take pharmacy school online.
   • A list of the top pharmacy schools in the U.S., as of 2012, can be found here: http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/pharmacy-rankings. The top five schools were University of California - San Francisco, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, University of Minnesota, University of Texas - Austin, and University of Kentucky.
   • Your first year in the Pharm.D program focuses on the fundamentals of the trade. You will learn about reading and using dosage forms, pharmacy law and ethics and patient counseling.
   • The second and third years focus on advanced principles like institutional pharmacy, pharmacotherapy and health management. You will also home in on a pharmaceutical speciality and think about where you would like to work after graduation and exams.
   • Year four is all about practice experience. You will perform clinical rotations to put your knowledge and experience to use. This includes interacting with patients, recommending medications, and guiding administrative staff to better support customers and the community.
6. Get your pharmacist license. To get your license, you will need to pass the North American Pharmacist Licensing Exam (NAPLEX). NAPLEX is an 185 question test that measures your knowledge of practice of pharmacy, from distributing medications safely to educating your patients on optimal health care.
   • In some states, students must pass a Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE).
   • Graduates of pharmacy schools not in the U.S. or outlying territories must pass the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) Certification.
   • If you fail the NAPLEX, or one of the other required exams, you can apply to retake it. However, some states have a limit on the number of times you can retake a test or other requirements. For example, in California, if you fail the California Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination four times, you’ll need to complete additional educational training before taking the test again.
7. Look for a pharmacist position. There is ongoing demand for pharmacy services throughout the U.S. and other countries. This is due to the increasing number of prescriptions filled each year, and the increased number of medications available on the market. There is also an increased demand for patient services, as pharmacists can work in a wide array of settings and positions. As well, as the elderly population goes up, so does the demand for pharmacists.
   • The demand for pharmacists is going up in settings like hospitals and clinics, so look for positions in these settings. Talk to your professors in your Pharm.D program and don’t be afraid to network among your colleagues and recent graduates of your program.
   • With higher demand for pharmacists, the competition for good pharmacy positions has also increased. Students who complete a residency program may improve their job prospects.
   • Certification from the Board of Pharmacy Specialties also looks good to potential employers.

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References

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