The healthcare and pharmaceutical industries are growing very quickly, and as such, jobs within these fields are becoming more and more competitive. As the overall population ages, new medications and advancements within the pharmaceutical field necessitate a need for well trained pharmacy personnel who have obtained their pharmacy technician certification (CphT), also known as the PTCB certification.
To receive your pharmacy technician certification requires passing the test given by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). The certification demonstrates that you have the obtained the basic knowledge required to become a pharmacy technician.
Although only a few states require certification, that number will quickly increase as the need for accurate prescription filling and increased consumer safety is recognized by state lawmakers. Consider the fact that prescription mistakes by pharmacists and doctors cause as many as 98,000 deaths each year in the United States according to an estimate by the by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). This number is likely artificially low since the figure only included deaths of patients at hospitals, which excludes nursing homes, emergency rooms, doctors’ offices, etc.
Here are a few of the most obvious advantages to obtaining a pharmacy technician certification for those who choose to become pharmacy technicians.
Advantage Over Non-Certified Job Applicants
The most obvious benefit of obtaining your pharmacy technician certification is the advantage it will give you over non-certified job applicants. Within most industries a credential of some kind can only help your job prospects, and pharmacy technician jobs are no different.
Higher Entry Level Salary
Once you’ve been accepted for a pharmacy tech position, you’ll be able to command a higher salary than non-certified applicants. This benefit speaks for itself.
Better Prospects for Career Advancement
If a pharmacy technician wishes to pursue career growth within the field and become a fully qualified pharmacist, then obtaining a pharmacy technician certification is highly advantageous. Pharmacy schools give more weight to applicants that already have the technician certification.
Opportunities for Lateral Career Movement
Certified pharmacy technicians have the ability to make lateral career moves if they decide against being a technician. Alternatives would include purchasing, inventory specialists, technical sales, pharmaceutical sales, and much more. Since pharmacy techs work with pharmacists and pharmaceutical products every day, entrepreneurial minded individuals are in an excellent position to sell the products.
Being a certified pharmacy technician has many advantages. As the health care and pharmaceutical industries increasingly grow, more individuals will look to get certified to advance their career and become a valuable pharmacy team member.
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