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According to labor and industry predictions, the profession of pharmacy tech has a strong growth outlook into the foreseeable future. With baby boomers entering their golden years and an already present shortage of Pharmacists in the U.S. Pharmacy Technicians are heavily relied on to pick up the slack.
The path to becoming a Pharmacy Technician varies by state. Most states require national certification from either the PTCB or ExCPT as a minimal qualification for licensing.
Several options are available to study for the PTCB and ExCPT exams:
o Self Study
o Online Classes
o Community College Program
o Tech School Program
Hardest topics to study:
o Pharmacy Tech students usually find the toughest part of studying for the Pharmacy Tech Test is memorizing the Top 200 Drugs. Although most programs recommend learning the Top 200, if you don't currently work around drugs daily the Top 100 drugs is more reasonable to learn. On my website I have the Top 100 and Top 200 separately listed for this reason.
o Another topic Pharmacy Tech students struggle with is Pharmacy Math. Pharmacy Techs are required to have a good handle on basic math and some Algebra. Some of the math involved in Pharmacy is Concentration Percentage calculations, Intravenous dosage calculations, Dilution of solutions from one strength to another and memorizing and performing measurement conversions.
Other topics of study:
o Pharmacy Law
o Retail / Hospital Procedures
o Pharmacy Business Functions
o Prescription Abbreviation Decoding
o Pediatric Dosage Calculations
Most common question
The question most people initially have when contemplating a career as a Pharmacy Tech is how they will become certified. A program at a Technical School or Community College is valuable for those who have the time and money necessary to attend them. These programs offer structure and some of them even offer lifetime job placement assistance. Self study is another option and the least expensive. The discipline required to do self study is much greater than a live program. However, there are several resources available with all of the information needed to study and pass the certification test.
Keith Nelson is a nationally certified Pharmacy Technician and founder of the FREE study site http://www.pharmacy-tech-study.com/
http://www.pharmacy-tech-study.com was created to help pharmacy tech students study anytime / anywhere an internet connection is available.
6 Free practice exams, Comprehensive / step-by-step math help, a forum to ask other students and technicians questions, and over 100 pages of Pharmacy Tech related material are available. No account or login in required.