With way more to do than stand behind a counter, the professional Pharmacist relies on a Pharmacy Technician for assistance. The Pharmacy Technician, under supervision, plays an important role in both treatment preparation and patient care. Duties include ordering, stocking, packaging, and preparing medicine, maintaining patient records, preparing insurance claim forms, and managing the register. In the hospital pharmacy Technicians may even administer, assemble and deliver patient medications.
Pharmacy technicians are typically trained on the job, but post-secondary school education is growing increasingly valuable as pharmacies rely more on professional training of employees. Formal training is offered by some hospitals, vocational/technical schools and community colleges. Depending on the individual program, the student can earn a certificate, associate degree or diploma in two years or less. Graduates may choose to take the voluntary National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination, and must be re-certified every three years by completing 20 contact hours through pharmacy associations, colleges, training programs and employers.
- Bevill State Community College – School of Health Sciences
- Shelton State Community College
- Trenholm State Technical College
- Wallace Community College
- Wallace State Community College – Hanceville