Career Advice for Aspiring Pharmacy Technicians

Pharmacists are more in demand even in tough economic times. And the demand is expected to increase further in the coming years. The reasons include expansion of healthcare industry, aging population and patients’ expectations for better care and quick service.

If you’re also drawn to the idea of building a rewarding career in this field, preparing, dispensing and compounding medications, interacting with patients and healthcare service providers, and managing pharmacies, a program in pharmacy technician can be the best option for you.

Pharmacy technician programs prepare you for fulfilling careers in corporate, hospital, community and chain pharmacies. By the end of the program, you’ll be well versed in pharmacology, pharmaceutical calculations, inventory control, institution and community dispensing and industry safety and quality standards, policies and procedures.

Career Advice

Here is the career advice for aspiring pharmacy technicians.  

• Consider if you have the right attitude and attributes to become and work as a pharmacy technician. Education plays a crucial role but the right attitude is equally important. As a pharmacy technician, you’re expected to pay great attention to the detail. You will be responsible for the damages caused to the patients or anyone in question if you make any mistakes as one wrong act can have serious health implications on your customers.
• You will have to study science in your high school. Mathematics is another core subject that you should study at school level. Proficiency in English is one of the main criteria for building a career in this field in Canada because as a pharmacy technician you will have to constantly communicate with the doctors, patients and pharmaceutical companies.
  
• Once you complete your secondary education, look for a reputable pharmacy technician course. Enroll yourself in a program that incorporates hands-on lab, internships with pharmacies in community, corporate and hospital settings. Centennial College’s two-year post-secondary program in pharmacy technician is one of the most prestigious programs in Canada. The curriculum is based on the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) competencies. In addition, the college provides students with three field placements. 
• Study the subjects covered in your pharmacy course carefully and in-depth. Along with acquiring knowledge in prescription and non-prescription drugs, anatomy and physiology, aseptic technique principles, and pharmacology, it’s important to focus on understanding ethics in business, home health care, institution communication and operations, and pharmacy management. Graduates with strong technical and non-technical knowledge and skills have greater chances of finding decent paying jobs.
  
• Register with the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP), in order to practice as pharmacy technicians in the state of Ontario. For this, you can follow the pathway shown by the college to registration and meet the requirements as a graduate of a Canadian-Accredited Pharmacy Technician program.

The industry field placements allow you to gain hands-on experience in diverse real-world settings. You also gain valuable contacts that you can use as references in future to find work. The mantra of a successful career as a pharmacy technician is to enroll in a reputable college and build strong theoretical base and gain experience through industry field placements.

Pharmacy Technician: Job Description and Career Information

A pharmacy technician assists pharmacists in daily operations and is directly involved in

• Receiving and dispensing prescriptions in compliance with the laws 
• Communicating with patients 
• Entering prescriptions into database
• Making clients understand about their the usage and dosage of medicines 
• Maintaining inventory 
• Contacting physicians regarding prescriptions (whenever necessary) 
• Maintaining proper storage for drugs
• Verifying accuracy of prescriptions
• Correctly labeling and packaging drugs
• Answering questions referring to medications and health matters
• Checking in the orders, processing and delivering them

Apart from retail drug stores, the professionals are also employed with nursing homes, hospitals, schools and other healthcare organisations. Additional duties may include delivering medications to patients, working closely with the nursing staff, maintaining assigned work areas and ensuring that the patients are given medications in the right amount. However, their exact job roles and responsibilities vary depending upon the employment, job title and area they work. 

Career Prospects

The pharmaceutical industry is rapidly growing with no signs of slowing down any time soon. Considering the decreasing life expectancy rate, environmental conditions, hectic lifestyle, demographic factors and aging baby booming generation, there is an increased demand for the healthcare professionals.
Additionally, increasing number of healthcare facilities and retail drug stores are opening doors to many career opportunities for pharmacy technicians. However, they need to have hands-on-experience with formal education of minimum two years to enter the industry. 

Despite a major shift in the industry, the employers are not ready to compromise on any aspect when it comes to hiring pharmacy professionals. They are keen on hiring people who 

• Have undergone a formal education
• Have hands-on-experience
• Possess effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Are able to handle busy/stressful situations
• Are comfortable with working on a computer
• Are enthusiastic, professionals and courteous
• Are excellent team plays
• Are ready to work flexible hours
• Can maintain confidentiality of patient details and store business
• Are well versed in industry standards, laws and legislation
• Have strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Possess knowledge about store operations, inventory management, accounting and pharmaceutical calculations

A post-secondary pharmacy technician course can prepare you to work in healthcare, particularly pharmaceutical industry. It provides you with in-depth knowledge and skills necessary to grab job opportunities and build rewarding career.

Pharmacy Technician Program in Canada :

Many colleges in Canada offer post-secondary pharmacy technician programs. But not all are accredited. The pharmacy technician program at Centennial College is accredited by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs. Besides, there is a hands-on practical laboratory experience along with the opportunities for work experience in community, hospital and corporate environments. 

The program typically runs for two years and covers a wide range of subjects including business ethics, pharmaceutical calculations, community practice theory, professional practice and drug programs, community pharmacy dispensing, home healthcare and non-prescription drugs, compounding, pharmacology, aseptic techniques, anatomy and physiology and pharmacy management. It combines classroom learning, hands-on-laboratory, and community practice and field placement. 

To enroll in this program, you will need:

• Secondary school diploma or equivalent
• English Grade 12 C or University or equivalent
• Mathematics Grade 11 M or 12 C or University or equivalent
• Science Grade 11 M or 12 C or University or equivalent in at least one subject (biology, chemistry, physics or exercise science)
• Minimum 75 % scores in each required subject
• Canadian English or French language proficiency

Additional requirements include:

• Annual clear police check with vulnerable sector screening
• Complete a recognised course in CPR
• Complete a course in Standard First Aid
• Completed pre-clearance health form from a physician
• Undergo a mask fit testing provided by the college you’re applying with

Attend One of Canadas Reliable Pharmacy Technician Programs at Centennial College

Due to the challenging nature of the pharmacy technician profession, professionals in the field must have strong critical thinking, mathematical and English communication skills, and a commitment to self-directed thinking. While applicants to Centennial College’s pharmacy technician program should possess these skills, they stand to develop many others, such as: knowledge of pharmacology and unparalleled skills in aseptic technique, pharmaceutical calculations, compounding, inventory control, community and institution dispensing.

Centennial College’s program takes just two years to complete, results in an Ontario College Diploma and incorporates classroom, lab work and four field placements that total 350 hours. Those interested in applying for admission must possess an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. In addition, applicants to the pharmacy technician program must have the compulsory English 12C or U credit or skills assessment, or equivalent; the Math 11M or U or 12C or U or skills assessment, or equivalent; 11C, or U or 12C, or U, chemistry, physics or biology, or skills assessment, or equivalent.

The Centennial College offering prepares students to meet the strict vocational outcomes and elements of performance for Pharmacy Technicians approved by the Ministry of Education through pharmacy technician course such as: Community Pharmacy Computers, Pharmaceutical Calculations, Community Dispensing Practice, Home Health Care and Non-Prescription Products, Anatomy and Physiology, Aseptic Technique Principles and many others. In addition to these courses, which consist of lectures and hands-on learning, students participate in work experience within community, hospital and corporate environments. During this time they apply what they have learned and gain new knowledge from the professionals with whom they work.

Students of this pharmacy technician program are also eligible to write The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada qualifying exam for pharmacy technicians in pursuit of the RPhT (Registered Pharmacy Technician) designation. The program is accredited with the Canadian Council of Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs.

Upon graduation, students can: communicate effectively with patients, pharmacists, other colleagues and with healthcare providers within the scope of the profession; receive and prioritize written prescriptions and verbal requests accurately in compliance with legislation and established standards, policies and procedures; dispense pharmaceutical products accurately, efficiently and in compliance with legislation and established standards, policies and procedures; and release pharmaceutical products in compliance with legislation and established standards, policies and procedures. Their duties include: preparing, dispensing and compounding medications; receiving, ordering and managing inventory; interacting with patients and a variety of health care providers; and assisting in the provision of pharmaceutical care and pharmacy services. Based on graduate employment surveys, the average starting salary for Centennial pharmacy technician program graduates is in the range of $34,500. Centennial’s program boasts an excellent graduate employment rate of 96 per cent.

Centennial College’s pharmacy technician program provides hands-on practice, lectures and a real life experience via a field placement, writes Jason. He also details the expected outcomes for students who attend this offering.

Attend One of Canada’s Reliable Pharmacy Technician Programs at Centennial College

Due to the challenging nature of the pharmacy technician profession, professionals in the field must have strong critical thinking, mathematical and English communication skills, and a commitment to self-directed thinking. While applicants to Centennial College’s pharmacy technician program should possess these skills, they stand to develop many others, such as: knowledge of pharmacology and unparalleled skills in aseptic technique, pharmaceutical calculations, compounding, inventory control, community and institution dispensing.

Centennial College’s program takes just two years to complete, results in an Ontario College Diploma and incorporates classroom, lab work and four field placements that total 350 hours. Those interested in applying for admission must possess an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. In addition, applicants to the pharmacy technician program must have the compulsory English 12C or U credit or skills assessment, or equivalent; the Math 11M or U or 12C or U or skills assessment, or equivalent; 11C, or U or 12C, or U, chemistry, physics or biology, or skills assessment, or equivalent.

The Centennial College offering prepares students to meet the strict vocational outcomes and elements of performance for Pharmacy Technicians approved by the Ministry of Education through pharmacy technician courses such as: Community Pharmacy Computers, Pharmaceutical Calculations, Community Dispensing Practice, Home Health Care and Non-Prescription Products, Anatomy and Physiology, Aseptic Technique Principles and many others. In addition to these courses, which consist of lectures and hands-on learning, students participate in work experience within community, hospital and corporate environments. During this time they apply what they have learned and gain new knowledge from the professionals with whom they work.

Students of this pharmacy technician program are also eligible to write The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada qualifying exam for pharmacy technicians in pursuit of the RPhT (Registered Pharmacy Technician) designation. The program is accredited with the Canadian Council of Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs.

Upon graduation, students can: communicate effectively with patients, pharmacists, other colleagues and with healthcare providers within the scope of the profession; receive and prioritize written prescriptions and verbal requests accurately in compliance with legislation and established standards, policies and procedures; dispense pharmaceutical products accurately, efficiently and in compliance with legislation and established standards, policies and procedures; and release pharmaceutical products in compliance with legislation and established standards, policies and procedures. Their duties include: preparing, dispensing and compounding medications; receiving, ordering and managing inventory; interacting with patients and a variety of health care providers; and assisting in the provision of pharmaceutical care and pharmacy services. Based on graduate employment surveys, the average starting salary for Centennial pharmacy technician program graduates is in the range of $34,500. Centennial’s program boasts an excellent graduate employment rate of 96 per cent.