Career Advancement Opportunities for Pharmacy Technicians: Beyond Retail and Hospitals

Pharmacy technicians play a vital role in ensuring the smooth operation of pharmacy departments, from counting and sorting medications to maintaining records. However, many pharmacy technicians wonder about their future career paths beyond their current roles in retail or hospital settings. This article explores various opportunities for career development and advancement, highlighting the benefits and requirements for different roles in the pharmaceutical and medical fields.

Exploring Further Education and Career Paths

While becoming a pharmacy technician can be a rewarding experience, the career advancement opportunities can often be limited to becoming a “senior” technician or a supervisor of other pharmacy techs. However, this does not mean that the career options are limited. Many pharmacy technicians decide to pursue further education to expand their professional horizons and achieve higher roles within the medical field.

Some common career paths that are open to pharmacy technicians include:

Training pharmacy staff members or other health-related staff through various organizations Becoming a pharmacist Becoming a nurse, especially an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) with prescriptive authority Continuing education towards a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm. D.) degree

These career paths require substantial additional education and a strong commitment to continuing professional development. For instance, a Pharm. D. degree typically requires four years of undergraduate education followed by four more years of pharmacy school. Additionally, career advancement to roles such as APN often require supplementary training and certification.

Real-life Examples and Success Stories

Let's look at some real-life examples to better understand the career development opportunities:

One pharmacy technician who was working at a beauty counter at Walgreens was hired to work in the pharmacy. After being persuaded to transfer into the pharmacy, she changed her major and successfully graduated from pharmacy school. Multiple pharmacy technicians have become nurses, with some even becoming APNs who have the authority to write prescriptions. Several pharmacy technicians have opted to attend pharmacy school and have successfully completed their Pharm. D. degrees, significantly enhancing their professional profiles and earning potential.

The Two Main Paths for Pharmacy Technicians

Pharmacy technicians can follow two primary career paths: retail and hospital settings. While there are opportunities for growth in both areas, the level of advancement tends to be limited. For instance, in retail settings, the highest role a tech can attain is often a lead technician, which may not be available due to the volume of prescriptions.

In hospital settings, national certification is often required and can be considered a form of career development. However, after three years in a hospital setting, most of the initial development occurs within the first six months. Beyond that, there are limited opportunities for further advancement.

Paving the Way for Future Opportunities

For pharmacy technicians who wish to pursue roles outside of traditional pharmacy settings or to leverage their expertise in other areas of the medical field, further education and specific certifications are likely required. Nonetheless, the experience gained as a pharmacy technician provides a solid foundation and a significant advantage in many related fields. Many employers value the practical experience and expertise of pharmacy technicians, making them well-positioned for opportunities that require both academic credentials and real-world pharmacy experience.

By investing in further education and developing specialized skills, pharmacy technicians can unlock a multitude of career advancement options, making their journey both fulfilling and rewarding.