8 Reasons Why You Should Enroll For Pharmacy Technician School
If you’re thinking about pharmacy technician school, there’s never been a better time to enter this exciting and rewarding field of study. With a projected job growth rate of about 7% through 2028, around 400,000 jobs available today, and unprecedented growth in the medical field as a whole, pharmacy technicians are in high demand and will be at least for the next few years.
This education path can offer you a much quicker entry into the medical field than other degrees (most programs take two years or less) and sets you up with a rewarding job you’ll love going to every day. You’ll be helping others get their medications on a daily basis, keeping the pharmacy running smoothly, and much more.
Here are eight compelling reasons why you should enroll for pharmacy technician school today!
1. Emotionally Rewarding
Above all else, becoming a pharmacy technician is emotionally rewarding. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to help others during your time as a pharmacy technician, no matter what environment you work in. Most pharmacy techs find work in retail pharmacy, but you’re not limited to just one option.
Pharmacy tech work requires a certain amount of patience, attention to detail, and compassion. If helping others get life-saving medications is something you think you’d love doing, the pharmacy technician path is right for you.
You’ll also appreciate the challenge that comes with the job. It’s work that is very detail-oriented, so you won’t feel like you were at work all day just to accomplish nothing.
2. Room For Growth
Becoming a pharmacy technician doesn’t mean your career has to stop there. You can go on to continue your education and earn a degree in pharmacy and someday run your own pharmacy as a licensed pharmacist. Make no mistake, this will require much more schooling, but if you plan to move forward, it’s certainly an option!
Pharmacy techs can work in a variety of settings, from hospitals to nursing homes to retail pharmacy locations. Either way, you’ll still have the same opportunity to advance and become a pharmacist.
3. Quick Certification
Becoming a pharmacy tech is a quick way to get embedded in the medical field. The field itself is expected to add millions of jobs in the next few years, and pharmacy tech jobs right now stand at around 400,000 or so country-wide.
A pharmacy tech program will usually take 1-2 years to complete, depending on how often you take classes, as well as the program’s curriculum. Some programs are designed to get you graduated and working in as little as 10 months, whereas others can take up to 24 months to complete.
24 months to completion is still significantly less time spend in school than most medical degrees require. A doctorate can take years to acquire, and even an RN program can take up to four years.
4. A Growing Field
The pharmacy tech field is one of few with good job outlook. In the next ten years, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the field will experience somewhere around 7% growth, which is higher than most other industries.
This is because the medical field is constantly growing and adding more jobs, locations, and education opportunities.
5. Job Opportunities
With a pharmacy technician certification, you’ll have access to jobs all over the country in several different settings. You’re not limited to a retail pharmacy. That being said, requirements to practice can differ according to each state’s medical board, so if you plan on moving, you’ll want to update yourself on your prospective state’s requirements.
You might need to get more hands-on experience or meet some other requirement before you can actually practice in the state you’re moving to.
6. Lower Cost Compared to Other Degree Programs
Some programs can leave you swimming in school debt, but a pharmacy technician certification won’t cost you an arm and a leg. In fact, most programs can cost anywhere from about $2,500 to over $10,000, depending on the school, length of the program, and other factors.
Check to see if your program offers any financial aid or scholarships to students because not all pharmacy tech programs offer financial assistance.
7. You Can Work With The Public
Working in public health means you’re fulfilling a vital role in society, and, in the case of a pharmacy tech job, you’re helping the public get their prescriptions. Millions of Americans use prescription and OTC medications daily to help manage chronic conditions, symptoms, and treat ailments.
Without working pharmacies and technicians to help run them, getting medications would be much more difficult and labor-intensive for the patients. You’re serving the public in a way that’s much more impactful than you may think. If you like working with people, this is the job for you.
8. Hands-On Work
Not everyone is made to sit behind a desk all day and work on a computer screen. As a pharmacy tech, you’ll get plenty of hands-on work to keep both your mind and your hands busy. While you’ll probably need to do some data-entry work or other paperwork, you won’t spend 100% of your time behind a screen or at a desk. In fact, you’ll be on your feet most of the day, especially in a retail setting.
Conclusion
We’ve covered eight of the most compelling reasons to pursue a career as a pharmacy technician. From hands-on work to promising job growth and advancement opportunities, a pharmacy tech certification is one of the quickest ways to enter a rewarding career without incurring thousands of dollars in debt.
