{"id":6404,"date":"2019-10-21T08:00:14","date_gmt":"2019-10-21T12:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=6404"},"modified":"2026-04-28T14:58:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T18:58:15","slug":"how-to-become-a-pharmacist-pharmacy-technician","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/how-to-become-a-pharmacist-pharmacy-technician\/","title":{"rendered":"How to get into the pharmacy field"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 id=\"why-pharmacy\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why pharmacy?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are important members of their community. They help you when you\u2019re feeling sick and need a prescription. They work in hospitals, home health care, and assisted living facilities to make sure your medication is the right treatment, dose, and duration to help you feel better. On top of that, they work as part of your health care team to help manage chronic conditions such as asthma, high blood pressure, or diabetes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The community pharmacist or pharmacy technician at your local pharmacy is the most visible role. But there are many other opportunities in pharmacy\u2014working for a government agency, doing research with pharmaceutical companies, or teaching in higher education.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pharmacist and pharmacy technician roles are stable jobs with good earning potential. \u201cIt is a great time to be a pharmacist!\u201d says <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/slealrx\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sandra Leal<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Pharm.D., former CEO of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sinfon\u00edaRx<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. \u201cAs the population ages and the use of medication continues to rise, there will be a continued need for pharmacists to help patients achieve the best outcomes possible.\u201d If you have an interest in science, healthcare, or customer service, it just might be the right field for you!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-do-pharmacy-technicians-do\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What do pharmacy technicians do?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pharmacy technicians work primarily in retail pharmacies and hospitals. They work alongside pharmacists to get prescriptions ready for customers, and resolve issues along the way. According to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/healthcare\/pharmacy-technicians.htm#tab-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (BLS), that can include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Counting, pouring, mixing, or drawing up prescriptions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tracking pharmacy inventory of supplies and medication<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Processing payment for prescriptions and insurance claims<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Entering customer information into the computer system<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Answering phone calls<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Directing questions to the pharmacist<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pharmacists supervise the pharmacy technicians, and review prescriptions before they are finalized. The demand for pharmacy technicians is expected to grow over the next 10 years as pharmacy technicians take on a greater role in pharmacy operations. The median annual salary of a pharmacy technician is $43,460, according to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/healthcare\/pharmacy-technicians.htm#tab-5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BLS<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/what-does-a-pharmacy-technician-do\/\">What does a pharmacy technician do?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-do-pharmacists-do\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What do pharmacists do?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pharmacists do much more than just work behind the counter. In fact, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pharmacistsforhealthierlives.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">55 percent<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of pharmacists work in other settings. Pharmacists can fill a number of different roles depending on where they work and the career path they follow. According to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/healthcare\/pharmacists.htm#tab-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BLS<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, some common duties include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Filling prescriptions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Verifying details with physicians<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Checking for drug-drug interactions or drug-condition interactions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Educating patients on how to take medications or possible side effects<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Understanding how medication works in the body and what to avoid while taking it<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Giving flu shots and other vaccinations<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Advising patients about their health<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Working with insurance companies<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Teaching other healthcare practitioners about medication therapies<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Researching new drugs or applying existing drugs in new ways<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are different types of pharmacists: community pharmacists, clinical pharmacists, consultant pharmacists, and pharmaceutical industry pharmacists. You could even work in informatics, home infusion, legal practices, poison control, and veterinary pharmacy, according to Dr. Leal. The specialties are nearly endless.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The roles and responsibilities vary based on career track. It\u2019s important to note, when choosing your specialty, that the demand of the traditional community pharmacist role is declining, as these job markets are becoming saturated. The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/healthcare\/pharmacists.htm#tab-6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BLS projects<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> some future growth in hospital and clinical settings, but the overall demand for pharmacists is flat, especially when compared to the increasing demand for other healthcare careers. The median annual salary of a pharmacist is $137,480, according to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/healthcare\/pharmacists.htm#tab-5\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BLS<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-degree-do-you-need\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What degree do you need?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>To become a pharmacy technician<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, sometimes all you need is a high school diploma and on-the-job training. There are programs at vocational schools or community colleges that award certificates within a year. The requirements for pharmacy technicians vary by state. Some states require pharmacy technicians to pass a certification exam with the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ptcb.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PTCB<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) or National Healthcareer Association (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhanow.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NHA<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Many states now also have a state registration requirement, in addition to or in place of the certification. The registration process may include fingerprinting and a background check. If you\u2019re interested in becoming a pharmacy technician, be sure to consult your specific state\u2019s requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>To become a pharmacist, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you must have a doctor of pharmacy (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/healthcare\/pharmacists.htm#tab-4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pharm.D.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) degree and pass two state exams to get a license. Different pharmacy schools have different requirements. Most require two years of undergraduate study or a bachelor\u2019s degree, though some schools offer six-year programs for high school graduates. You may need to score a minimum percentile on the pharmacy college admissions test (PCAT) to meet a school\u2019s admission requirements and complete an interview as part of your application to pharmacy school. The coursework includes classes in chemistry, pharmacology, and ethics. Many schools require a background in science and math before enrollment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most programs include a set number of hours required in internships in work settings. To administer vaccines, or demonstrate an advanced level of knowledge in a certain area, you may need to pass a certification exam. If you want to move into a clinical role after pharmacy school, you may need to do a one or two-year residency in a specialized area such as infectious disease or geriatrics. You can also complete a fellowship or become board-certified in a certain specialty areas of practice. If you want to move into a research role, you may need to complete graduate coursework for a master\u2019s of science or a doctorate degree in a pharmaceutical science, such as pharmaceutics or pharmacokinetics. In some institutions or job roles, these go hand in hand.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"can-you-earn-a-pharmacy-degree-online\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can you earn a pharmacy degree online?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are online associates programs and pharmacy schools, but often in-person lab experience is required. Before choosing a program, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) and American Pharmacists Association (APhA) <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pharmacyforme.org\/2017\/09\/06\/4-things-applying-to-pharmacy-school\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">recommend<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> thoroughly researching the program, and asking these questions:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do I prefer a small, large, new, or established program?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do I have state or regional preferences because of proximity to my family and support network?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are the graduation and attrition (dropout) rates of the program?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are the first-time NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) pass rates of the program?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is the accreditation status of the program?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is the tuition reasonable when compared to other programs in the area?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tuition prices can vary from program, so it\u2019s important to find the program that\u2019s affordable for you.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"is-pharmacy-right-for-you\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is pharmacy right for you?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re not sure, it\u2019s worth investigating further.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Try working or volunteering in your local pharmacy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It will give you insight into the role and day-to-day responsibilities of a pharmacist or pharmacy technician.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Work as a pharmacy technician before applying to pharmacy school. \u201cIt would be great to speak to people in different practices\u2014like academia, health systems pharmacy, managed care, community pharmacy, and research for example\u2014to see all of the opportunities available in the field,\u201d Dr. Leal says. You can learn if the retail environment is right for you without investing in a four-year program. Or, you could try an internship or summer program.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Talk to your local pharmacist or pharmacy technicians.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Ask how they became interested in the field and what educational background they had. Find out what they like\u2014or dislike\u2014about their role.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Shadow a pharmacist or pharmacy tech at your local hospital. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re interested in a specialty role, it can help to follow someone for a day, if the health system will allow it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Ask yourself, \u201cWhat\u2019s my motivation?\u201d <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is it the salary? Or because your parents want you to? Or are you motivated by your love of helping people, and learning new science and math? Pharmacy can be hard work, so it\u2019s important to go into the field for the right reasons.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Contact a local pharmacy school<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to learn more about the pharmacy education they offer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Take a <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/pharmacyforme.org\/which-pharmacy-career-is-the-best-fit-for-you\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>fun quiz<\/b><\/a><b> to see which type of pharmacy might be right for you<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Then learn about the different specialties available.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why pharmacy? Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are important members of their community. They help you when you\u2019re feeling sick and need a prescription. They work in hospitals, home health care, and assisted living facilities to make sure your medication is the right treatment, dose, and duration to help you feel better. On top of that, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":85,"featured_media":6451,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9340],"tags":[743],"coauthors":[8869],"class_list":["post-6404","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-checkout","tag-pharmacies","wpautop"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to become a pharmacist or pharmacy technician<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are important members of their community. 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