Pharmacy Technician Pharmacy Technician CTE ExternshipCTE Externship

Orlantha F. Nin, M.Ed.Orlantha F. Nin, M.Ed.

Saddleback CollegeSaddleback College

Note: Photographs were not taken inside the Kaiser facility, photos inserted from Google Images.

Externship Location, Externship Location, Mission Viejo Kaiser Mission Viejo Kaiser PharmacyPharmacy

Community Partner

Clare Adams

Doctor of Pharmacy

Occupational OutlookOccupational Outlook

Career Outlook Career Outlook Source Occupational Outlook Handbook 2009

““Job opportunities are expected to Job opportunities are expected to be good, especially for those be good, especially for those with certification or previous with certification or previous work experience.” work experience.”

Source: Bureau of Labor & Statistics, OOH (2008)

Where are the jobs?Where are the jobs?

326,300 pharmacy technicians jobs in 2008 326,300 pharmacy technicians jobs in 2008 A majority of the positions were in a retail A majority of the positions were in a retail

setting (75%), and about 16 % of positions setting (75%), and about 16 % of positions were in hospitals. were in hospitals.

Employment of pharmacy technicians is Employment of pharmacy technicians is expected to increase by 31 percent from 2008-expected to increase by 31 percent from 2008-2018. 2018.

Source: Bureau of Labor & Statistics, OOH (2008)Source: Bureau of Labor & Statistics, OOH (2008)

Preparation Preparation RequirementsRequirements

TrainingTrainingEmployers prefer pharmacy technicians with National or State Certifications

LocationsLocations: community colleges, vocational schools, : community colleges, vocational schools, hospitals, and the military. Depending upon the hospitals, and the military. Depending upon the program, students may receive a diploma, certificate, program, students may receive a diploma, certificate, or an associate’s degree.or an associate’s degree.

TimeTime: From 6 months to 2 years and include classroom : From 6 months to 2 years and include classroom and laboratory work. and laboratory work.

Internships:Internships: Many training programs with internships. Many training programs with internships. Subject Areas:Subject Areas: medical & pharmaceutical terminology, medical & pharmaceutical terminology,

pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacy recordkeeping, pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacy recordkeeping, pharmaceutical techniques, & pharmacy law / ethics. pharmaceutical techniques, & pharmacy law / ethics.

Additionally:Additionally: Technicians are required to learn the Technicians are required to learn the “names, actions, uses, and doses of the medications “names, actions, uses, and doses of the medications they work with”.they work with”.

Source: Bureau of Labor & Statistics, OOH (2008)Source: Bureau of Labor & Statistics, OOH (2008)

National CertificationNational Certification

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the Institute for the Certification of (PTCB) and the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT) administer Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT) administer national certification examinations. national certification examinations.

Continuing education required to keep Continuing education required to keep certification.certification.

State certification varies state to state.State certification varies state to state.

Source: Bureau of Labor & Statistics, OOH (2008)Source: Bureau of Labor & Statistics, OOH (2008)

Personal Qualities Personal Qualities

After observing three After observing three pharmacy techs at Kaiser, I pharmacy techs at Kaiser, I found that those considering found that those considering this profession should be:this profession should be: Self-DirectedSelf-Directed Direct and clear communicatorsDirect and clear communicators PatientPatient Team PlayersTeam Players Able to multi-task Able to multi-task FlexibleFlexible Precise and detail orientedPrecise and detail oriented

Technical Skills NeededTechnical Skills Needed

They should also possess or be able to They should also possess or be able to learn the following:learn the following:

Math & measurement skills Math & measurement skills Computer proficiencyComputer proficiency Type approximately 45-60 wpmType approximately 45-60 wpm Accuracy with numbers and lettersAccuracy with numbers and letters Reading & spellingReading & spelling

Work EnvironmentWork Environment

The staff of this pharmacy The staff of this pharmacy included pharmacy assistants, included pharmacy assistants, pharmacy technicians (referred pharmacy technicians (referred to as “techs”) and pharmacists.to as “techs”) and pharmacists.

The staff worked closely in a The staff worked closely in a team environment in constant team environment in constant communication with one another.communication with one another.

The staff were on their feet and The staff were on their feet and were busy for their entire shifts were busy for their entire shifts with very little downtime.with very little downtime.

The environment was fairly fast-The environment was fairly fast-paced with patients in line, paced with patients in line, telephone calls and pages telephone calls and pages between the pharmacy and the between the pharmacy and the physicians.physicians.

SchedulesSchedules

In this facility, the pharmacy is open from 9 AM In this facility, the pharmacy is open from 9 AM

to 9 PM. Pharmacy techs may leave much later to 9 PM. Pharmacy techs may leave much later than the closing time if they have than the closing time if they have customers/patients waiting.customers/patients waiting.

Pharmacy Techs were scheduled in varied shifts Pharmacy Techs were scheduled in varied shifts and may include weekend and evening hours.and may include weekend and evening hours.

Other facilities may offer more of a daytime Other facilities may offer more of a daytime schedule or operate in a 24 hour capacity.schedule or operate in a 24 hour capacity.

Hourly CompensationHourly Compensation

2008 Median hourly wage-- $13.322008 Median hourly wage-- $13.32 2008 Middle 50 percent ---Between $10.95 and 2008 Middle 50 percent ---Between $10.95 and

$15.88. $15.88. 2008 Lowest 10 percent less than $9.272008 Lowest 10 percent less than $9.27 2008 Highest 10 percent more than $18.98. 2008 Highest 10 percent more than $18.98. Some Pharmacy Technicians belong to unions.Some Pharmacy Technicians belong to unions.

Source: Bureau of Labor & Statistics, OOHSource: Bureau of Labor & Statistics, OOH

California among the Top 3 in California among the Top 3 in Salary for Pharmacy TechsSalary for Pharmacy Techs

Source: Bureau of Labor & Statistics, OES (2008)Source: Bureau of Labor & Statistics, OES (2008)

AlaskaAlaska 570570 $17.42$17.42

CaliforniaCalifornia 27,47027,470 $17.36$17.36

WashingtonWashington 5,7905,790 $17.29$17.29

State Employment Mean Hourly Wage

Career PathsCareer Paths Many of the pharmacy Many of the pharmacy

technicians at this facility technicians at this facility started their careers in a started their careers in a retail pharmacy (such as retail pharmacy (such as CVS or Rite Aid) as a CVS or Rite Aid) as a pharmacy assistant. pharmacy assistant.

Some were sent to training Some were sent to training to become a pharmacy to become a pharmacy technician. The training was technician. The training was provided by their employer. provided by their employer.

Others sought training on Others sought training on their own prior to seeking their own prior to seeking employment.employment.

Duties of a Pharmacy Duties of a Pharmacy TechnicianTechnician

Typical DutiesTypical Duties

Communicating over the phone with patients, Communicating over the phone with patients, doctors, insurance & pharmaceutical companies.doctors, insurance & pharmaceutical companies.

Reading codes and entering information onto Reading codes and entering information onto the computerthe computer

Filling prescriptionsFilling prescriptions Mixing or “compounding” medications and Mixing or “compounding” medications and

creams.creams. Quality control and inventory activitiesQuality control and inventory activities Note: Prescriptions cannot be given to a patient Note: Prescriptions cannot be given to a patient

or customer without a Pharmacists final review or customer without a Pharmacists final review and approval.and approval.

Tools & Equipment Tools & Equipment

Pharmacy Technicians use Pharmacy Technicians use the following tools & the following tools & equipment:equipment: ComputerComputer PhonePhone CalculatorCalculator ScalesScales Compounding EquipmentCompounding Equipment Some pharmacies are more Some pharmacies are more

automated than othersautomated than others