In today’s American society individuals are finding it a bit difficult when it comes to obtaining a job that pays more than what is considered “poverty salary.” Keeping this in mind, it is important for everyone to realize that high salary paying jobs are usually the careers that many find boring or undesirable (respectively). The career positions that pay the most (salary wise) are typically those that require high technical skills.
One of the most important careers that many take for granted is a pharmacy technician. A pharmacy technician (or pharmaceutical technician as some may call the position) is an integral part of the health care field. For individuals that are looking to enter this field, there is a plethora of information and requirements that you will have to learn about.
Their main focus is to assist licensed pharmacist by performing pharmacy related functions that can include distributing prescription drugs and specific medical devices to individuals/patients. Pharmacy technicians typically work in a variety of locations such as hospital pharmacies, local community institutions, and retail stores).
In this article, we are going to discuss the simple details in addition to the intricate, specific facts of the position. Being a pharmacy technician is not an easy position to take. However, if you are looking to become a part of this amazing profession, you should understand that it will definitely take a lot of hard work.
At the end of the day, everything that you do here will be worth it not just for yourself, but for the betterment of your community (and possibly the entire world).
A pharmacy technician is a position that takes a lot of skill and overall attention to detail. In the state of Florida, there are a variety of requirements that you have to take into consideration. We are going to provide the essential information that you need to understand as you are looking to become a pharmacy technician in the state of Florida.
Pharmacy Technician Registration Application
The healthcare field is an area that requires professionals to display their proper credentials, in addition to proper forms of training. This application will include the basic information plus your history/background (including certifications, school history, and past jobs).
Initially, this is the first official step that you will have to complete before you can become a Pharmacy Technician in Florida. It is important that you provide accurate information as anything that is found to be a lie could immediately disqualify you from being cleared.
In the proceeding areas in this article, we will get more in-depth to the actual certifications that is required of you to have. Before you can begin to work in the state of Florida, you have to show proof of completing a board-approved pharmacy technician-training program. If you are moving to the state of Florida and have prior proof from a different state, you still need to provide that proof, which shows that you are still in good standing from your past residence.
As stated earlier, working as a pharmacy technician requires more of a definitive background in skills and proper training. There are certifications and programs that you have to complete in order to work in the state of Florida.
The position of a pharmacy technician entails completing training programs that are accredited by specific programs. Currently, that are two essential types of certifications that you can achieve.
• Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)
• National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
You will also have to take into consideration these programs that are offered in Florida as well. In addition to obtaining the official certification that you need in Florida, you should also take into consideration these programs available to you.
Accredited Programs
• American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Florida Commission for Independent Education (CIE)
• Council on Occupational; Education
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• Training programs that are certified from a branch within the federal armed services
When it comes to the education that you need in order to become a pharmacy technician, you may think it is an intricate process, but it will be well worth it. You will need to have a specific set of classes/degree/certifications in order to begin your work accordingly.
Understanding the basic foundations of educational necessities
We are going to start at the base of what will be required of you to obtain as you become a pharmacy technician. A high school diploma (or GED accredited degree) is the first step that you will have to take.
As you display your competency of the basic educational career that every profession requires, you will then be able to apply for on-the-job training programs. The latter programs are beneficial to individuals that may not want to attend a regular college institution. Whether it is for financial reasons that hold you back or your desire to focus only on your profession, on-the-job programs are the perfect route for you. These programs will teach you the essentials that you will need to complete as you become a certified pharmacy technician.
If you do decide to attend a regular college institution, you will also receive the same position knowledge plus your general requisitions with an associates/bachelor’s degree(s).
One of the most important elements to being a pharmacy technician is your ability to administer proper medications to clients/patrons. Pharmacy technician programs/classes show you the intricate details that you will have to analyze on a daily basis. As patients can come from outside doctors, it is still your duty to properly analyze medication orders and screen prescriptions. This preparation is vital to providing the right medicine applications and quantities to your clients. In addition to the latter, being a pharmacy technician applies the utmost accuracy for the betterment of patients help. Keeping this in mind, a second opinion will become a normal assessment for you to give and receive.
The healthcare field is more intricate than any other profession for a reason. When you are assisting someone to better their current situation, you have to understand proper practices.
As a profession of this position, you will be held responsible to know and uphold the ethical and legal standards of your job. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and HIPPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) are the ethical and legal standards that the healthcare field abides by.
In addition to the national/career field principles, you will also have to abide by the practices of your specific practice as well. You should take each and every requirement seriously here. If for any reason you are found intentionally failing to abide by these standards, your license can be suspended. Under no circumstance should you want the latter to happen as it will not only affect your career in the state of Florida, but everywhere else in the country as well. Consider it a red mark on your resume that you never want to have on your resume.
Billing and inventory operations
Being a pharmacy technician is a position that requires you to understand the entire process from beginning to end. As you will be responsible for the administration of medicine, you will also have to understand the procedures of creating billing invoices and collecting payments from your clients. Pharmacy technician programs and classes will walk you through the proper ways of everyday operations.
Billing and inventory operations can include medicine, general medical supplies, devices, and extensive pharmaceuticals. While most practices have other positions that can take care of these two procedures, it will not hurt to put these skills on your resume.
Thanks to the advancements of today’s technology world, it will become your duty to comprehend proper medical equipment, terms, phrases, abbreviations, acronyms, and symbols in the healthcare field. During your educational/pharmacy technician program classes, you will be provided with all of the information you will eventually become accustomed to.
It is important that you can repeat the terminology verbatim while on the job. While it is understandable that being perfect is something that no one is expected to be, being a pharmacist technician is not a position where making mistakes are taking lightly. One mistake (small or large) can put the patient, you, and the entire practice in jeopardy.
Providing great customer service
In the grand scheme of your position, you will be taught vital information that will make you successful in your career and help individuals on a daily basis. As a pharmacy technician not only will you be taking care of work behind the scenes, but you will also have direct contact with your clients/patients as well.
When you become certified and begin working in the pharmacist field, you will have to build great trust with your clients. Being able to effectively communicate to your clients (verbally and written) is crucial to your position. For the average individual they may not understand exactly what is going on, it is your job to steer them in the correct direction. The easier that you can relieve them of at least some stress, the better it will look for you
With any job, it is understandable that one takes into consideration the salary that they will earn. Currently, the average salary of a pharmacy technician around the country is $32,168 per year ($9 to $12 an hour). It is important that you do not feel disparaged during the beginning of your career just because of the salary. Just like any other career field, when you are starting out, take into consideration that over time you will begin to receive raises/pay increases accordingly.
In due time we are starting to see a large need for individuals in the healthcare field overall. While some may see it as a shortage, you should take into consideration the long term of your career potential earning. As you gain more experience, if you decide to take your career to the next level, you will realize that your salary earnings can increase greatly.
At the current moment, a pharmacy technician associate in the state of Florida earns $143,000 on average. Sounds like a nice jump from the entry-level salary right? While money is something that we understand you will have to take into consideration, your position is more than just about money.
Being a pharmacy technician is a vital profession in the healthcare field that we absolutely need as a society today. You should always keep in mind that you are helping individuals (and possibly saving their lives) on a daily basis. That is something to be proud of in addition to keeping the fire in your heart going on a daily basis.
As this will become your career choice, also take into consideration the knowledge that you will be able to use on a daily basis in your own life. Each and every lesson can be applied to help yourself and your loved ones receive the best help possible. Because of you, your loved ones will also be able to depend on (and appreciate) your expertise.
Now that we have covered the intricate details of what it takes to be a pharmacy technician, we hope that you leave with a clear understanding of your new career. We understand that this is a lot of information to take in; however, we wanted to make sure that you can take a great look at the entire spectrum.
As a pharmacy technician, your life (and career) is something that you will be proud of on a daily basis. Medicine is something that we as a society will continue to improve upon every day. It is amazing to see how much we have progressed in the healthcare field from 50 years ago. We have the great professions and pharmacy technicians to thank for the latter. Take this information with you during the course of your career and become as successful as you so desire.
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