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Pharmacy Technician Training - Pharmacy Technician Courses

A career working as a pharmacist technician starts with pharmacy technician training. Pharmacy technicians help licensed pharmacists with a variety of duties from maintaining patient profiles to filling out prescriptions under the guidance of a licensed pharmacist.

Training and Skills

Pharmacy technician certification is bestowed upon pharmacy technician training graduates. Once acquiring the certification, pharmacy technicians can work in variety of environments including hospitals, local pharmacies, grocery stores and other establishments that provide pharmaceutical services. Pharmacy technician training includes instruction on drug preparation and dispensation, the rationing and proportions of chemical compounds, and proper dosage calculation. The coursework varies from program to program, but usually involves chemistry, mathematics, statistics, drug interaction, pharmaceutical calculations, label preparation, prescriptions and related fields of study. In addition, pharmacy technician training includes coursework on drug interaction, the symptoms of various illnesses and diseases, and the drugs used to treat them. Pharmacy technician training takes one year and leads to a pharmacy technician certificate. There are also 2-year and 4-year degree programs that result in an associate's degree or bachelor's degree.

Career Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, opportunities for pharmacy technicians are expected to increase by 26% by 2010 with average salaries in the $30,000 per year range. As the US population ages, the need for qualified pharmacy technicians will continue to increase making careers in this field among the most stable. If you have an interest in the medical field and are looking for a lucrative and challenging profession, pharmacy technician training should be at the top of your list. Exploring the many programs and schools in your area begins online where many schools now have websites to guide you.