If you use i-ready math and reading in the classroom, there are numerous career paths you can suggest to your students. With the assessments available through an i-Ready test, it becomes possible to determine each student’s strengths and weaknesses. More so, you can easily spot ways to help strengthen their weaknesses and refine their strengths. Many students who go through i-Ready math and reading assessments choose to become pharmacy technicians. If this is the case with one of your students, here’s a look at advice you can give them.
Information to Give i-Ready Math and Reading Students about Pharmacy Technicians
Credentials for working as a pharmacy technician will vary from state to state. One state may require formal education or no formal training at all, while another may require the passing of a certification program. Positive changes in the employment market for pharmacy technicians are certainly good news. Many technicians find that certification is usually well-worth the training and two-hour exam regardless of where they are located.
Formal education and training programs leading to certification are the first step towards a technician becoming a huge asset in the delivery of important medications. Additionally, when starting a career, certification increases options available in the various job settings for pharmacy technicians. It also leads to better opportunities for higher pay.
For technicians who want to specialize in a specific area, such as medical equipment, inventory management, or technology, certification helps open the door to such opportunities. Another example is radioactive pharmaceutical formulations, where special preparation and handling are required. A specialization certificate is usually necessary to gain employment to work in this field. Acquiring certification also increases the chances for existing professional technicians to advance in their careers, such as in management or mentoring roles.
Job duties performed by pharmacy technicians are key to keeping a pharmacy running smoothly. Not only are techs responsible for measuring, labeling, mixing, and counting; techs must take on a role in administrative and clerical duties, as well. These duties include data entry, obtaining information from patients, filing, verifying insurance, evaluating medical charts, and answering incoming calls. While doing these important tasks, pharmacy technicians are expected to advise customers while delivering excellent customer service, too.
Advancements in pharmacology have created many career path options available to pharmacy technicians. There is a growing awareness of the important roles pharmacy technicians can play in the evolving health care industry. There are many political, sociological, and industry research and development trends that drive the demand for pharmacy technicians every day. This demand reflects the increase in pay for technicians and the growing opportunities for advancement in this profession.
Pharmacy technicians are found working in retail pharmacies, mail-order pharmacies, hospitals, and nursing homes among other locations. Of course, each of these career paths come with their own pros and cons, as with any job. Naturally, the setting that a pharmacy technician is employed in will determine the required set of skills necessary to do their job. The good news is, there are plenty of advancement opportunities for pharmacy technicians, and working in this field can be the beginning of an exciting career path. Below you will find one of the primary career paths that pharmacy technicians after graduating from college.
Commercial Retail Pharmacy
Retail pharmacies are where most people interact with pharmacy technicians on a regular basis. This is normally at a big chain pharmacy, an independent pharmacy, or inside a hospital. Pharmacy technicians in retail settings are mistaken for the pharmacist quite often. This is most likely due to a large amount of involvement in patient care they participate in. Technicians can be found discussing dosages and advising patients while performing other job duties in a commercial retail setting.
Working in a retail pharmacy usually means that a pharmacy technician will work during the daytime with flexible hours. For those who like working in a fast pace environment, the day shift is usually highly sought. For those who like a more relaxed, slow environment, the evening shift is often a better fit. In addition, retail pharmacies normally provide their employees with benefits, such as employer-sponsored investment funds and paid vacations.
Retail pharmacies usually require pharmacy technicians to perform a variety of duties. Along with filling medications, technicians may be expected to clean and manage inventory, as well. It is common for big chain stores to ask technicians to assist in other areas of the store if needed during peak hours.
The retail setting chosen will most likely determine the range of goods and services offered. Not all pharmacies offer services involving special multi-ingredient medical formulas, known as compounding. All retailers do not provide medical equipment, IVs, home care equipment, and oxygen either, either. Commercial retail pharmacies are likely to have supervisory position opportunities that pharmacy technicians may advance into, as well as opportunities to advance into inventory management positions.
