The Differences Between Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacists

pharmacy-pharmacist-difference

Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are both skilled professions that ensure pharmacies run how they are supposed to and patients receive their proper prescriptions. Each role has its own unique set of qualifications and responsibilities, but what separates a pharmacy technician from a pharmacist? In this post, we will take a deeper look at the differences between a pharmacy technician and a pharmacist.

Duties and responsibilities

Pharmacists are tasked with duties such as filling prescriptions, administering vaccines, instructing patients on how and when to take their medication, and ensuring a patient’s medications won’t clash with each other. Pharmacists are the last line of defense for patients when it comes to potentially harmful drug interactions. They also oversee the work of pharmacy technicians. 

Some of the essential duties of pharmacy technicians include packaging and labeling prescriptions, organizing inventory, talking with customers and taking payments. Depending on the employer, the duties of a pharmacy technician may include additional responsibilities.

Vital parts of pharmacy

Pharmacists are well trained in biology, chemistry, physics and other sciences. This knowledge comes into play when ensuring it’s safe for patients to take a certain medication. 

Pharmacy technicians work hand in hand with pharmacists and are the ones who handle most of the prescriptions. It takes a team effort to keep a pharmacy running. 

Recently, pharmacists have been performing more patient care tasks, such as administering flu shots and providing other patient care services. Because of this, the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that pharmacy technicians could be in bigger roles, picking up additional responsibilities pharmacists may no longer be able to cover alone. 

For this reason, it is clear that pharmacy technicians are key cogs as far as the vitals of pharmacy are concerned. 

Healthcare-Programs

Education

On one hand, pharmacists must complete rigorous schooling to get their Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD.) degree, which typically requires four years of study following two to four years of undergraduate study. Additional work, such as a residency program, may be required, depending on the role the pharmacist is seeking. 

Pharmacy technicians, on the other hand, typically need a high school diploma, though it helps to enroll in a trade school or community college program before entering the field. Many states also require pharmacy technicians to pass a certification exam through an accrediting body such as the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).

Time

It takes less time for pharmacy technicians to enter the field compared to pharmacists. While pharmacists are required to attend schooling for multiple years, pharmacy technicians can confidently take a certification exam in as little as 42 weeks after starting a program.  

Are you looking to start an exciting career in the healthcare field? If so, becoming a pharmacy technician might be the right choice for you and there’s no better place to get started than at Coyne College.

Become a pharmacy technician at Coyne

Coyne’s pharmacy technician program will help prepare you for a career as a pharmacy technician as you learn the inner workings of the occupation from our experienced instructors. They can provide real-world insight that can help prepare you for the field beyond what is written in a textbook. After all, Coyne College has more than 120 years of experience preparing students in Chicago (like you!) for meaningful careers in a variety of trades. 

At the end of the program, which can be as soon as 42 weeks, you will be ready to take and pass your certification exam and start work in a number of pharmaceutical settings.

Financial aid is also available to those who qualify. Coyne also provides career services and job placement assistance to all its students.

Put your passion for helping people to use today by enrolling in Coyne College’s pharmacy technician program. To enroll or request more information, visit www.coynecollege.edu or call (800) 720-3990. 

The Evolving Role of Pharmacy Technicians

Pharmacy-Technician-Revolution

Like most industries, the healthcare landscape has seen transformation and growth throughout the years. Within this industry, many health professionals, such as pharmacy technicians, have experienced change as well. Almost 45 percent of Americans take a prescription medication, so the need for technicians and pharmacists is higher than ever. As the population ages, the demand for such healthcare professionals will rise as well. Hence, it’s important to understand the evolving role of pharmacy technicians in our ever-changing world.

During the 1900s many pharmacists owned their own pharmacies and didn’t really need assistance or team members. A pharmacist’s job was simple — fewer patients, less medication to remember and no billing. With the rise of technology and advancements in almost every single part of life, the pharmaceutical industry has experienced change. Today, a pharmacy technician is almost as important as the pharmacist themselves. A pharmacy technician’s role and responsibilities have certainly evolved over the years. Some of these responsibilities include: preparing medicine for patients, receiving and verifying prescriptions, completing patient paperwork and much more.

However, to be a pharmacy technician you have to start somewhere, right? That is why there has been a rise in pharmacy technician programs, like the one at Coyne College Chicago. These pharmacy technician programs offer hands-on experience and opportunities to their students that prove worthwhile in the real world. The pharmacy technician program at Coyne College prepares its students in computer order entry, pharmaceutical calculations, record-keeping, and how to mix solutions and compound products to be dispensed. By learning alongside other students and receiving help from the instructors, students become confident in their abilities and skills that help them later on.

Since the healthcare industry is ever-changing, these programs stay up to date and provide their students with the proper education needed to excel down the road. As the healthcare industry changes, more and more responsibilities and tasks are added to a pharmacy technician’s job description.

More recently, pharmacy technicians are being called upon to directly work with patients. Tasks that are being added to the evolving role of pharmacy technicians include:

1. Medication Distribution – Many pharmacies have implemented the “tech-check-tech” program, where one technician will verify that the other technician has filled the prescription correctly. This adds responsibility for the pharmacy technician and frees the pharmacist from having to check over the prescription.

2. Assisting with Emergency Care – Many employers now require pharmacy technicians to become CPR certified or be able to perform a specific role in times of emergencies.

3. Evaluating Pharmacy Operations – Since the pharmacy technicians know the ins and outs of a pharmacy, the managers and pharmacists will usually look to them for suggestions on improving efficiency, boosting patient care and more. More so now, pharmacy techs have the ability to provide valuable feedback that can affect day-to-day operations.

4. Quality Control – Pharmacy technicians play a large role in ensuring quality patient care. Before the pharmacist even reviews the patient’s case, technicians rule out anything that could be potentially harmful.

These are just some ways that a pharmacy technician’s role is evolving, as more responsibility and duties are being added to the overall role. In upcoming years, as more and more things advance, a pharmacy technician’s role is likely to expand in terms of professional training and education, increased salaries, and more opportunities in certain aspects of patient care.

Although the role of pharmacy technicians has certainly changed and developed, it is still certain that it is a worthwhile career in the healthcare industry. The demand for pharmacy technicians is already starting to rise and a career as a pharmacy technician is a very stable one, so why not take the first step in the right direction towards a fulfilling career?

Evolving-Role-Pharmacy-Technician

Start your pharma tech career at Coyne College today!

Coyne College has over 120 years of experience in all different types of fields. As a student in their pharmacy technician program, you will learn all the necessary skills and techniques that will be useful in the real world. In just 42 weeks you will be certified as a pharmacy technician and begin your career in the real world! 

So why not enroll today and start your career off in the right direction at Coyne College.

Pharmacy Technician Industry Lookout

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As of the last quarter of 2018—and for the first time in our history—the healthcare industry surpassed manufacturing and retail as the largest source of jobs in the United States. Partially due to the rapidly aging population and the wild growth of medical spending, the numbers keep going up. According to an Axios report, prescription drug spending increases at a rate of 3.3 percent per year. That means there is a great need for pharmacy technicians.

If you’re looking for opportunities in the healthcare industry, consider a career as a pharmacy technician.

What are the duties of a pharmacy technician?

A pharmacy technician helps pharmacists dispense prescription medications. Additional duties may include:

  • Screening prescription orders for accuracy
  • Performing calculations to dispense the proper amount of prescription drugs
  • Reconciling prescription orders
  • Preparing prescriptions for customers: retrieving, counting, pouring, measuring and weighing medications
  • Helping with the management of drug studies
  • Using technology (such as computers) to accurately maintain patient records, prepare and package prescriptions, and order medication

Chicago—a hub for medicine—needs pharmacy technicians! Enroll in pharmacy technician programs at Coyne College, and in as few as 42 weeks you can be qualified for an entry-level position for an in-demand job in a hospital or pharmacy.

Questions to Ask About a Medical Assistant Program

Medical Assistant Questions

Medical assisting is an in-demand healthcare occupation that is vital to the day-to-day operation of healthcare facilities across the country. If you’re considering a career as a medical assistant, you likely have questions about the education and training involved, as well as the everyday tasks of the job. Here are some questions to ask before committing to medical assistant school, along with some helpful information:

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What to Expect from a Medical Assistant Certification Exam

Medical Assistant Certification Exam

Certification can be a valuable credential for medical assistants. Not only is it an indicator of your skills and knowledge, it can also help you stand out among other candidates and appear more marketable to future employers. You may be required to earn certification depending on your employer.

There are a few different bodies that offer medical assistant certifications, such as the National Center for Competency Testing and American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). For the purposes of this blog, however, we’ll focus on the RMA exam issued by the American Medical Technologists (AMT).

Passing the RMA won’t be easy. It will test your general knowledge, administrative knowledge and clinical knowledge of the medical assisting profession. Here are some helpful tidbits to know for when you’re preparing to earn your RMA certification from AMT.

Exam structure

AMT’s RMA exam consists of anywhere between 200 and 230 questions, all multiple choice. The questions on the exam are weighted depending on their difficulty. It is also in your best interest to eliminate options you know to be incorrect, as picking an answer that is the second-best will still help your score more than the worst answer.

For example, if the answer to a question is “femur” and you choose another leg bone, perhaps “tibia,” you are likely to be rewarded more than someone who answers “scapula.” The scoring system can be confusing, so you’ll want to read up on it prior to taking the exam. For this, AMT’s Candidate Handbook is a great resource.

 

Exam timing

The AMT’s RMA exam has a time limit of two hours. With at least 200 items on the exam, you’ll have to pace yourself to make sure you have enough time to answer them all. Taking practice exams is a good way to learn how to effectively budget your time over the course of the exam. Managing your time spent on questions will help you save more time for the harder ones while you breeze through those you know like the back of your hand.

Subject matter

AMT’s RMA exam is designed to test your general knowledge of medical assisting across many areas of the discipline. The exam covers four major subject areas: anatomy and physiology, administrative medical assisting, clinical medical assisting and clinical patient interaction.

The RMA exam is not divided into subjects, so you need to be prepared for a question from any of these categories at any time. You can find a more complete rundown of material that is on the exam in AMT’s RMA exam outline.

Study resources available

AMT offers an abundance of resources to help guide you in your studies for the RMA exam. These include a list of suggested readings and references, as well as online review courses that are available for a fee.. AMT’s website is full of other helpful study resources as well. These handy resources can help you make the most of your time spent preparing to ace the RMA exam and earn your RMA certification.

Practice exams

Speaking of resources, some of the most helpful ones available are online practice exams. These are also available through the AMT for a fee. Medical assistant practice tests give you a feel for what the real exam will be like and can help you figure out which subject areas you need to focus on most in your preparation. Depending on your medical assisting school, practice exams may be available for free or at a discounted rate.

Before you get ready to take the RMA, you need to learn the skills. There’s no better place in Chicagoland to do that than Coyne College.

MA Exam

Launch your medical assisting career at Coyne

Coyne College’s Medical Assistant program is your first step to becoming a medical assistant. Coyne’s medical assisting program will equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge you need to succeed in a booming profession.

You’ll take courses in subjects like medical terminology, pharmacology and medical billing, taught by our experienced instructors. We’re so dedicated to your success that our curriculum includes a 6-week portion on electronic health records and a required externship.

You can complete our program in as soon as 54 weeks, meaning you can be ready for an entry-level role in a little over one year. We offer day options at our campus in the heart of the Chicago Loop.

Learn more about the medical assisting program at Coyne College in Chicago by calling us at 800-720-3990 or visiting coynecollege.edu today!

6 Things You Didn’t Know About Medical Assistants

Medical Assistants - Coyne College

You may not know it, but you’ve likely had many interactions with medical assistants over the course of your life. Medical assistants work alongside doctors and nurses in a variety of healthcare settings. From doctors’ offices to immediate care clinics and hospitals, medical assistants play important roles in making sure healthcare facilities run smoothly. These are six things you didn’t know about medical assistants.

Medical Assisting Programs Chicago - Coyne College

Jack-of-all-trades

Medical assistants are among the most versatile healthcare workers. They are trained to perform both administrative tasks, such as scheduling appointments and maintaining patient records, and patient care-related duties, like taking blood pressure and helping doctors with patient exams. A medical assistant’s specific responsibilities depend on the size of the practice and the needs of the doctors and the facility. In some cases, medical assistants may be permitted to administer medication. In all cases, medical assistants help run the office.

Different medical assisting specialties

A medical assistant’s job will be different depending on the kind of practice in which they work. For example, a podiatric medical assistant is likely to take molds of feet, which may then be used to create custom orthotics. A medical assistant who works with an oncologist would likely perform tasks associated with treating cancer. In a more general sense, some medical assisting roles are more focused on the administrative side, while others primarily handle clinical tasks. Becoming a medical assistant presents you opportunities to work in different settings and discover what kind of medical assisting you like best.

 

Constantly changing

As with other jobs in the healthcare industry, the roles and responsibilities of medical assistants are always changing. For example, electronic health records (EHRs) are getting closer to becoming universal, meaning medical assistants will have to stay up-to-date on how to properly maintain patient data. There are likely other medical innovations in the pipeline that will also affect medical assisting in the near future. There are also changes that come with starting a new job, perhaps in a different specialization or a facility with different needs from the position. Adaptability is important as a medical assistant.

Fast-growing profession

The healthcare industry is booming, and is anticipated to continue growing in the near future. Medical assisting is among the fastest-growing professions in the country. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that the number of medical assistant jobs will increase 29 percent through 2026, compared to 2016’s total. This is due in part to the increased need for healthcare services, preventative and otherwise, among baby boomers. This need has resulted in more healthcare facilities that treat the ailments associated with aging.

 

There’s a professional association

The American Association of Medical Assistants provides resources to individuals in the medical assisting profession. Such resources include networking, legal protection and more. They also administer a certification exam (RMA) that can help you be more marketable in the eyes of employers. There are other bodies that offer different certification credentials, and many employers prefer to hire certified medical assistants.

 

Other educational opportunities

Working as a medical assistant can provide a sturdy foundation for your career in the healthcare industry. Much of what you learn in a medical assistant training program or working in a practice can help you should you choose to go back to school to pursue a degree for a higher position in healthcare, such as a nurse practitioner. Working in the field as a medical assistant can also help you establish connections that can help you find employment further down the road.

Are you looking to break into the healthcare industry with a well-rounded set of practical skills? Studying to become a medical assistant could be the right path for you. There’s no better place to study medical assisting in Chicagoland than Coyne College.

MA Programs Chicago

Launch your career in healthcare at Coyne College

Coyne College’s Medical Assistant program thoroughly prepares you to enter the healthcare field as a medical assistant. You will gain the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed as a medical assistant. Some of the topics covered in the program’s curriculum include:

  •      Medical Terminology
  •      Pharmacology
  •      Anatomy and Pathophysiology
  •      Basic Insurance and Billing
  •      And more!

Coyne’s highly knowledgeable instructors have years of meaningful experience in the workforce. Coyne College’s program also features a six-week portion dedicated to EHRs.

All medical assisting students are required to complete an externship following the completion of all of the necessary coursework. Following the completion of the program and your externship, you will be ready to enter the workforce as a medical assistant in any number of healthcare settings.

The program can be completed in as little as 54 weeks, allowing you to be ready for meaningful work as entry-level role medical assistant in just over one year. Day options are offered at the Coyne College campus in the heart of the Chicago Loop at the intersection of State and Madison Streets.

Coyne’s students receive a well-rounded medical assistant education that provides them with a toolbox for success in the healthcare industry.

To learn more about Coyne College’s Medical Assistant program, call us at 800-720-3990, or fill out the online form, and an admission representative will contact you.

Coyne College’s Medical Assistant Program: Classroom Training with Hands-on Skills

Medical Assistant Program

Medical assistants are the unsung heroes of the healthcare industry. Without them, doctors and nurses could not provide the quality of care to the number of people they see on a daily basis. Medical assistants handle important tasks like updating patients’ medical charts, taking vitals and even answering phones and scheduling appointments. They are the utility knives of medical facilities that rely on them to keep things running smoothly.

Are you eager to start your career as a multifaceted healthcare professional in a booming industry? Coyne College’s Medical Assistant program can help you get there. At Coyne College in Chicago, our program combines the essential knowledge found in textbooks with the practical hands-on experience in skills you’ll use from day one. Our experienced instructors are committed to helping you master the information and skills necessary for you to be a competent medical assistant.

Medical Assistant Program With Hands on Skills

In our program, we cover a wide variety of subjects relevant to the medical assisting profession. Such courses include:

  • Medical Terminology
  • Pharmacology
  • Anatomy and Pathophysiology
  • Basic Insurance and Billing
  • Medical Office Procedures
  • Law and Ethics
  • And more!

To best prepare you for the world of electronic health records (EHRs), we even dedicate six weeks of the program to learning EHRs.

As a student in Coyne College’s Medical Assistant program, you will complete an externship that will allow you to use the skills you’ve learned to work in a real-world medical assisting environment. The best way to get good at something is to do it, which is why the externship is such a crucial part of our curriculum.

Did we mention medical assistants are among the most in-demand professionals in the workforce today? The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 29 percent increase in medical assistant jobs through 2026. Coyne College’s Medical Assistant program and Career Services staff can help you take full advantage of the numerous opportunities available in this in-demand field.

Medical Assistant Program at Coyne College Chicago

With day scheduling options available, you can earn a diploma in as little as 54 weeks and capitalize on the bounty of jobs sooner.

At Coyne College, we have over 120 years of experience preparing students for meaningful careers with a combination of classroom and hands-on learning. Come see for yourself everything Coyne College’s Medical Assistant program has to offer. Call us at 800-720-3990, or visit our homepage at www.coynecollege.edu. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Coyne College’s Pharmacy Technician Program FAQs

Pharmacy Technician Program FAQs - Coyne College

Pharmacy technicians are essential in the machine that is the pharmaceutical service industry. They help keep pharmacies up and running by performing tasks that free up pharmacists to attend to patient care-related tasks, such as administering flu shots. Pharmacy technicians do things like answer phones, maintain patient information, keep inventory, fill the prescription bottles with the correct medicine and the correct amount, as well as other essential tasks. If you’re interested in working an in-demand job as a pharmacy technician in Chicagoland, it’s a good idea enroll in a pharmacy technician training program. There are numerous pharma tech programs in Chicago, like the one at Coyne College. Coyne College’s pharmacy technician program can help you get where you want to be.

Of course, it’s natural to have questions about a new career prior to jumping into it right away. Here are some frequently asked questions about Coyne’s program and the pharmacy technician trade.

 

What does a pharmacy technician need to know?

Working as a pharmacy technician requires similar knowledge as other professions in the healthcare industry. This includes anatomy, medical terminology and healthcare communications. Additionally, pharmacy technicians need to know skills that are specific to daily functions at a pharmacy. Such skills include pharmaceutical math and the ethics of pharmacy practice. This is clearly not an all-inclusive list, but you can rest assured knowing that you will learn these skills as a student in Coyne College’s pharmacy technician program.

 

What are the qualities of a good pharmacy technician?

Good pharmacy technicians embody many different skills and qualities. Perhaps the most important ones are the skills that go along with customer service. Pharmacy technicians are often the last person patients interact with prior to taking prescriptions. Therefore, they need to be approachable, active listeners and effective communicators. Attention to detail is also key because patients could suffer negative consequences if they take a combination of drugs that are not safe to take at the same time. This is where a pharmacy technician’s knowledge comes into play. Typically, the pharmacist on hand double-checks the prescription before it is handed over to the patient. However, it does help if the pharmacy technician knows which combinations are to be avoided as well.

Pharmacy Technician Program FAQs

 

Is it worth it to become a pharmacy technician?

There is currently a demand for pharmacy technicians in Chicago and across the country. The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a 12 percent increase in pharmacy technician jobs through 2026. The BLS attributes this rise in jobs to the increasing number of senior citizens in the population who need medication and that pharmacists are taking on larger roles in providing patient care. There is also the factor of an increase in demand for prescription medications outside of the senior age group.

 

Can pharmacy technicians become pharmacists?

Yes. Though it requires additional schooling, pharmacy technicians can become pharmacists. Studying to become and working in the pharmaceutical service industry as a pharmacy technician can provide a great foundation on which you can build on, should you choose to go back to school.

 

How long does it take to become a certified pharmacy technician?

Part of the beauty of Coyne College’s pharmacy technician program is how quickly you can complete it relative to other programs. You can finish the program in as few as 42 weeks. At the end of the program, you will have learned the skills you need to admirably perform the necessary duties of a pharmacy technician. The program will also help prepare you to take and pass the certification exam. Passing the certification exam is the last task you must complete prior to starting your career as a pharmacy technician.

Pharmacy Tech Programs in Chicago - Coyne College

Why is pharmacy technician a good career?

Many people who enter healthcare-related fields do so because they want to help patients get better. Pharmacy technicians play a direct role in that because they are the ones who help dispense the prescriptions written by doctors and physician assistants. Pharmacists could not run pharmacies without them. There is a need for pharmacy technicians, as mentioned earlier, which is also something to feel good about. If you’re looking for a career where you can help people return to health by giving them the medications they need, working as a pharmacy technician could very well be the career for you.

Hopefully this FAQ session clarified some of your questions about the pharmacy technician profession, as well as those about Coyne College’s pharmacy technician program. Now all that stands between you and your pharmacy technician dreams is enrolling at Coyne College.

 

Start your pharma tech career at Coyne

Coyne College has more than 120 years of experience preparing individuals like you for meaningful careers in a variety of trades. As a student in Coyne’s pharmacy technician program, you will learn the finer points of the profession from experienced instructors. They can provide real-world insight that can help prepare you for the field beyond what is written in a textbook.

At the end of the program, which can be as soon as 42 weeks after your start date, you will be ready to pass your certification exam and start work in a number of pharmaceutical settings.

Financial aid is also available to those who qualify. Coyne also provides career services and job placement assistance to all its students. Put your passion for helping people to use today by enrolling in Coyne College’s pharmacy technician program. To enroll or request more information, visit Coynecollege.edu

How to Become a Successful Medical Assistant

Medical Assistant Programs Chicago

Medical assistants help doctors’ offices, immediate care facilities and other medical facilities function the way they should. They perform duties such as scheduling appointments, taking vital signs and maintaining patient records. Medical assistants are capable of handling clinical and administrative tasks physicians and nurses need them to; they are the Swiss Army knives of the healthcare industry. You may be wondering how you become a medical assistant. What kind of training and attributes do you need to be successful in the occupation? Luckily, if you read on you’ll find out how to become a successful medical assistant.

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Pharmacy Technician FAQ

FAQs about Pharmacy Tech program

If you are looking for a career in the healthcare or pharma industry, one path you may not have considered is becoming a pharmacy technician. Pharmacy technicians are valuable team members of pharmacies across the country. What is a pharmacy technician, and what do they do? We’re glad you asked because below we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions about the pharmacy technician occupation.

What do pharmacy techs do?

Pharmacy technicians play a vital role in the day-to-day operations of a pharmacy. They assist pharmacists in running a pharmacy by doing things like organizing and maintaining inventory, packaging and labeling prescriptions, answering phones and other acts of customer service. They are often the last point of contact patients have when picking up their prescription drugs. Without pharmacy technicians, pharmacies could not operate as well as they currently do.

FAQs about Pharmacy Technician Programs

Why should you choose a career as a pharmacy technician?

There are many reasons you should become a pharmacy technician. For one, it is an occupation in demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of pharmacy technicians is projected to increase by 12 percent through 2026. Not only that, you can finish most training programs, which we’ll get to later, in less than a year. Above all, you will be making sure patients get the prescriptions they need to return to full health.  

How do you become a pharmacy tech?

Diploma programs can typically be completed in a year or less. You may be required to pass a certification exam, depending on the state in which you work. A training program offers a foundation on which to build your career.

Do you need a degree to be a pharmacy tech?

Pharmacy technicians typically complete diploma programs at local community colleges or trade schools. Enrolling in a pharmacy technician program is a good idea because you can learn the skills you will use in the field and feel confident performing the necessary tasks in your first job. It will also make it easier to pass a licensure exam if one is required by your state.

How much does it cost to become a pharmacy tech?

The cost of becoming a pharmacy tech depends on whether or not you enroll in a training program at a trade school or community college and whether you need to pass a licensure exam. Costs vary depending on the school you choose to attend and the program in which you enroll. Financial aid is typically available at most institutions to individuals who qualify. Time is another cost to consider when becoming a pharmacy technician. As you saw earlier, diploma programs can be completed in under a year, though some schools offer associate degree programs that tend to take longer.

Do pharmacy technicians work in hospitals?

Yes. Approximately 16 percent of pharmacy technicians work in hospitals, according to the BLS. They also work in drugstores, pharmacies and other stores that offer pharmacy services.

Now that you have some of your questions answered, maybe you have made up your mind that being a pharmacy technician is the career for you. That’s great news! All that is left for you to do is find a school that offers a quality pharmacy technician training program. For those of you in the Chicago area, your first choice should be Coyne College.

Pharmacy Program Chicago - Coyne College

Start Your Pharmacy Technician Career at Coyne College

Coyne College’s Pharmacy Technician program will provide you with a comprehensive education in the pharmacy technician occupation. At the end of the program, which can be finished in as little as 42 weeks, you can feel confident and ready to start your new career in the pharma industry as a certified pharmacy technician.

Coyne’s experienced instructors will teach you the essential skills you need to excel in the field. As a student in the program, you’ll receive extensive instruction on relevant topics such as:

  • Medical terminology
  • Anatomy and pathophysiology
  • Laws, ethics and principles of pharmacy practice
  • Billing, records and inventory management

Coyne College’s Pharmacy Technician program has a day option at their campus at the intersection of State and Madison streets. Coyne College is dedicated to helping you fit an education into your busy schedule.

Coyne College is proud to offer an array of career services and job placement resources, including mock interviews, externships, resume assistance and a vast alumni network that can help you land entry-level employment after completing the program.

Now is a great time to become a pharmacy technician and be part of bettering the health of the world’s population. Write yourself a prescription for a career as a pharmacy technician and get started today by visiting https://www.coynecollege.edu/.