Whether you’re thinking of making a career change or thinking about a new college major, becoming a pharmacy technician is a viable and rewarding career. As a technician, you’ll be responsible for helping the pharmacist fill prescriptions, interact with patients, measure medications and create labels, and more.
The medical field is constantly growing, and the demand for well-trained and compassionate medical professionals is greater than ever. If you’re looking for reasons to become a Pharmacy Technician, here’s our list of the top seven.
1. Short Certification Times
Becoming a pharmacy technician doesn’t take long, and there are pharmacy technician programs that can have you certified in under a year. Most programs take around two years, depending on the education center. Either way, you’re still getting a rewarding career without the need to spend four years in college.
Many people choose a pharmacy tech program as a simpler way to enter the medical field and get working right away. There are plenty of pharmacy tech positions available throughout the country, and as the medical field grows, more jobs are being added every day.
2. Rewarding Career
Pharmacy technicians report their jobs as being very rewarding. You’ll be on the frontlines working with patients and their life-saving medications. Everything from heart meds to mental health prescriptions and more will be under your supervision (and the pharmacist’s).
You’ll feel like you’re making a real difference in the world by providing quick and reliable service to patients with all manner of ailments.
3. You Don’t Have To Work In Retail
A pharmacy technician certification doesn’t confine you to a retail pharmacy like you’ll find at Walgreens, CVS, Wal Mart, or any other chain retail store. In fact, pharmacy technicians work in a variety of settings, from nursing homes to hospitals and even hospice care facilities.
You’ll have plenty of options to choose from, so even if you prefer to work more behind the scenes, you’ll still have a rewarding career helping others. You can pretty much go anywhere in the country with your certification as well, so you’re not stuck with your geographic area in terms of job choices.
4. You’ll Stay Busy
Working in an office and sitting at a desk all day isn’t exactly everyone’s cup of tea. The days can become boring, and you’ll often find yourself doing busy work just to pass the time. This isn’t the case in a busy pharmacy. You’ll be working with your hands, and orders will constantly need filled, so you (shouldn’t) ever be bored or without tasks to complete.
Working with your hands can be rewarding in itself. Many people prefer to work with their hands for the simple fact that it can be more engaging and interesting than staring at a glowing screen for hours on end. If you’re someone like that, becoming a pharmacy technician might just be the best choice for you.
5. There’s Room To Grow
Becoming a pharmacy technician doesn’t mean you have to stop there. With enough experience, you can move up and eventually seek out a degree to become a pharmacist if you choose. Pharmacy tech is considered to be an entry-level position, so if you love what you do, you can move up and create a solid career path for your future.
With so many Americans unhappy in their careers, it’s important to find something that you not only love, but that also offers plenty of room to advance. When you start to feel stagnant, your job can feel less rewarding, or like you’re going nowhere; and that can lead to career fatigue.
6. You’ll Make A Decent Salary
While pharmacy technician salaries vary by state, the average falls somewhere between $13 and $16 per hour. Most technicians make about $15/hour, and you’ll often have access to benefits like medical insurance, life insurance, paid time off, and more. For an entry-level position, you’ll be getting a good wage, benefits, and flexibility, with the added benefit of being able to advance in the field with further training and experience.
With a shorter certification time, plenty of job opportunities, a good starting salary, and decent benefits, the pharmacy tech position is a great opportunity for anyone looking to get started in the medical field, change careers, or help others.
7. Job Security
While no industry, and by default, no job is “guaranteed”, one thing that still remains true is that the medical field isn’t going anywhere. There will always be the need for medical professionals. This stable and secure career opportunity is a great option for people fresh out of high school or who want to get established in the medical field quickly.
The Bottom Line
Stability, security, the chance to help others; these reasons alone are driving many people to the pharmacy tech career. Don’t wait to get started! The sooner you sign up for a program, the sooner you’ll be able to get into the field and start your journey toward a brighter future in the medical industry.
