If you’re looking for new job opportunities, have you considered a career in healthcare? The industry is currently going through rapid upheaval, creating a rising demand for supportive roles like pharmacy technicians. The Praxis Institute is a career training institution serving the Miami, Florida, area with several healthcare-related programs. Here, we discuss how our Pharmacy Technician training program can help you take advantage of a growing field.
What Do Pharmacy Technicians Do?
Pharmacy technicians fill an important support role in healthcare. They collaborate with pharmacists, helping them provide effective and efficient service. Their responsibilities can vary widely depending on the work environment, but often include:
- Dispensation: They may aid with compounding medications, measuring correct dosages, and ensuring that containers are accurately labelled.
- Processing: They can evaluate medical records, confirm insurance information, and follow specific physician’s instructions to deliver prescriptions correctly.
- Inventory management: They keep track of expiration dates, restock shelves, request supplies, and make sure the pharmacy is well-stocked with the necessary drugs and supplies.
- Customer service: They also engage with patients and healthcare professionals by answering questions, offering advice, and providing non-prescription information.
- Sanitization: They need to follow safety and sanitization protocols to keep the pharmacy area clean and ensure that all medications are safe and contaminant-free.
- Administration: They help keep the pharmacy running smoothly by maintaining patient profiles, keeping records, and performing other administrative duties.
These services are essential to the operations of a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, retail and mail-order pharmacies, and long-term care facilities. This means that pharmacy technicians have access to a range of employment opportunities.
The Rising Demand for Pharmacy Technicians
Pharmacy technicians are in high demand, and that demand is only rising. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts a 7% growth in pharmacy technician employment over the next decade. That’s higher than average and indicates just how much these workers are needed. This demand exists in response to enormous upheaval in the healthcare industry, including:
An Aging Population
As the population grows older, people need better access to medications to manage age-related ailments. Pharmacies are put under greater pressure to handle the supply. To make this possible, they need more skilled technicians.
Technology Advancements
The medical industry is constantly evolving. New and improved medications are introduced, providing more effective treatments for a wider range of conditions. To correctly dispense and supervise these new therapies, pharmacies need technicians with up-to-date industry knowledge.
Changing Roles
The role of pharmacists themselves is also changing. Pharmacists are providing patient-centered services that were formerly limited to clinical settings. In turn, pharmacy technologists also handle a wider variety of duties, including medication dispensation and administration.
Taking Advantage of Demand
If you are looking for an in-demand career with great stability and opportunity for growth, becoming a pharmacy technician is a great option. The pharmacy technician diploma program at The Praxis Institute requires only a high school diploma or GED to enter. We train all the essential skills you’ll need for a successful pharmacy technician career, including:
- Pharmacology history
- Infection control
- Administrative skills
- Medication compounding
- Medication administration
- Dosage calculations
- Laboratory training
- Externship
The program takes 900 clock hours to complete, with flexible scheduling to fit your busy lifestyle. Once you’ve completed the coursework, you’ll be ready to earn certification and pursue all the opportunities this exciting career field has to offer.
Start Your Pharmacy Technician Training at The Praxis Institute
Are you ready to take your first steps into a growing career field? Start pharmacy technician training at The Praxis Institute. Our program is available at two campus locations in Miami and Hialeah, Florida, and is taught in both English and Spanish. Contact us to learn more about our admissions process or the financial aid opportunities available.
