Becoming a Registered Pharmacy Technician — It Really Is Worth It!

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How Getting Registered as a Pharmacy Technician Will Move Your Career Forward

Many pharmacy assistants either have gone through some post-secondary education or have learned directly in the pharmacy. Through many years of work and experience they are able to develop their skills and earn a higher wage compared to when they first started in the industry. Most pharmacy assistants are content with the amount of work that they produce, and while at one point in their career they may have pondered the idea of being a registered pharmacy technician, they’ve never taken the leap to continue their education and become certified. So the question must be asked, is it worth it to become a registered pharmacy technician and if so, what are the benefits? As you’ll learn in this blog, there are 3 main key differences between PA’s and RPHT’s – read on to learn more.

 

After reading this article, look here to see how you can get registered.

It’s all about that money, money

Most pharmacy assistants will be paid around $14-16/hour with very limited experience, because even with the required education they haven’t been tested in a real job environment and proved their worth. Over time I have seen pharmacy assistants work up to making $19/hour and more after 5-10 years of experience. On the other side of the coin, to become a registered technician it takes an additional 2 years of post-secondary education; however, they can start making minimum $20/hour right off the bat with no prior experience.

Added responsibilities

Pharmacy assistants generally have limited responsibilities because they have not become certified to do anything beyond their regular tasks. This is where registered technicians can play a huge role; they are able to check a small basket of drugs and blister packs, which takes a lot of stress off the pharmacist and makes them a valuable asset. When the pharmacist gets overwhelmed by the amount of blister packs, especially in an environment such as a long-term care facility, the registered technician has the capability to do the final checks, relieving the stress from the pharmacist.

More hiring options

Registered pharmacy technicians have more options for places they can work – simple as that. Some registered technicians work in a retail pharmacy due to a nursing home contract or more commonly in a LTC facility but the golden egg lies in working in a hospital. This is the dream of 99% of registered technicians in the industry, and a workplace where a pharmacy assistant is not highly sought after.

In closing

These are the reasons why some pharmacy assistants decide to continue their education and become a licensed registered technician. Sometimes it is just one of these factors that stimulate someone to pursue a registered technician role and sometimes it is all of them; however, it is ultimately up to you to decide whether these benefits are worth you taking the extra time and hard work to make it to the next level.

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