A pharmacy technician program can be intense. With classes on a variety of subjects, such as pharmacology, medical terminology, pharmacy calculations, anatomy and physiology and pharmacy computer systems…plus labs…plus at least one clinical externship/practicum…it can seem overwhelming to begin with. “Strong study skills, including time management and organizational skills, are essential for success in this [...]

In an effort to combat the growing prescription drug abuse epidemic, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) recently announced that they would now allow hospitals, pharmacies, clinics, and other authorized centers to accept prescription drugs for drop-off.  In addition, long-term care facilities will be able to accept unused medication from residents, and individuals will also be [...]

True or False? Pharmacy technician jobs are the same across the board, no matter where or how long you work in the field. That statement is a big, resounding: FALSE! Pharmacy technicians work in a variety of settings which require some varying functions. With experience and continuous education, they can become specialized, which can lead [...]

In this article we just briefly take a look at the complex problem of employees in the pharmacy who steal. Note the sources we’ve consulted do not represent the whole country, but rather some examples at state or regional levels. Consider the following headlines: “Haggen pharmacy tech charged in theft of thousands of pills” (The [...]

Last month it was announced that Johnson County Community College (JCCC)’s pharmacy technician program earned six-year accreditation from the ASHP (American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists). “Accreditation is for one, two, three or six years… A first-time, six-year accreditation is a rarity,” Philip Schneider,  the Treasurer with the ASHP Foundation’s Board of Directors, is quoted as [...]

As the responsibilities of pharmacy technicians and pharmacy setting practices continue to advance, continuous learning is essential. Many state Boards of Pharmacy require pharmacy technicians to complete continuing education (CE) courses; CE credits are also required to maintain CPhT certification through the PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board) and NHA (National Healthcareer Association).  (You can learn [...]

“So what do you do?” “I’m a pharmacy technician informaticist.” “A what!?!” Wouldn’t it be cool to be a pharmacy technician informaticist (PTI) also known as a pharmacy technician informatics specialist? But what exactly does it mean? “…Pharmacy informatics…has been defined as ‘the use and integration of data, information knowledge, technology, and automation in the [...]

1. The History of Pharmacy Technicians Hospital pharmacies and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) were major advocates for employing pharmacy technicians in pharmacy settings beginning in the 1950s. At that time, the job title “pharmacy technician” had not yet been utilized. Pharmacy technicians were initially more standardized in hospital pharmacies versus community or [...]

To prepare you to start a pharmacy technician career, various settings offer degree, certificate or diploma programs. For example, a great number of community and technical colleges, and some universities, medical centers, health systems/hospitals, vocational schools—even some retail pharmacies—offer pharmacy technician training programs. Many are delivered on campus or onsite, while others allow students to [...]

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