Median hourly wage and salary earnings of pharmacy aides were $8.86 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $7.41 and $11.00; the lowest 10 percent earned less than $6.36, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $13.71. Median hourly earnings of pharmacy aides were $8.33 in health and personal care stores, $11.77 in general medical and surgical hospitals, and $9.08 in grocery stores in 2002.
Pharmacy aides help licensed pharmacists with administrative duties in running a pharmacy. Aides often are clerks or cashiers who primarily answer telephones, handle money, stock shelves, and perform other clerical duties. They work closely with pharmacy technicians. Pharmacy technicians usually perform more complex tasks than do aides, although, in some States, the duties and titles of the jobs overlap. (See the statement on pharmacy technicians elsewhere in the Handbook.) Aides refer any questions regarding prescriptions, drug information, or health matters to a pharmacist. (See the statement on pharmacists elsewhere in the Handbook.)
Aides have several important duties that help the pharmacy to function smoothly. They may establish and maintain patient profiles, prepare insurance claim forms, and stock and take inventory of prescription and over-the-counter medications. Accurate recordkeeping is necessary to help avert a potentially dangerous drug interaction. Because many people have medical insurance to help pay for the prescription, it is essential that pharmacy aides efficiently and correctly correspond with the third-party insurance providers to obtain payment. Pharmacy aides also maintain the inventory and inform the supervisor of stock needs so that the pharmacy has the vital medications for those who need them. Some also clean pharmacy equipment, help with the maintenance of equipment and supplies, and manage the cash register.
.Job opportunities for full-time and part-time work are expected to be good, especially for aides with related work experience in pharmacies, or as cashiers or stock clerks in other retail settings. Job openings will be created by employment growth and by the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force.
Employment of pharmacy aides is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2012 due to the increased use of medication in treating patients. In addition, a greater number of middle-aged and elderly people—who, on average, use more prescription drugs than do younger people—will spur demand for aides in all practice settings.
Cost-conscious insurers, pharmacies, and health systems will continue to employ aides. As a result, pharmacy aides will assume some responsibility for routine tasks previously performed by pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, thereby giving pharmacists more time to interact with patients and affording technicians more time to prepare medications. The number of pharmacy aides will not grow as fast as those of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, however, because of legal limitations regarding their duties. Many smaller pharmacies that can afford only a small staff will favor pharmacy technicians because of their more extensive training and job skills.
Most pharmacy aides receive informal on-the-job training, but employers favor those with at least a high school diploma. Prospective pharmacy aides with experience working as a cashier may have an advantage when applying for jobs. Employers also prefer applicants with strong customer service and communication skills and experience managing inventories and using a computer. Aides entering the field need strong spelling, reading, and mathematics skills.
Successful pharmacy aides are organized, dedicated, friendly, and responsible. They should be willing and able to take directions. Candidates interested in becoming pharmacy aides cannot have prior records of drug or substance abuse. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are needed because there is a lot of interaction with patients, coworkers, and healthcare professionals. Teamwork is very important because aides are often required to work with technicians and pharmacists.
Pharmacy aides almost always are trained on the job. They may begin by observing a more experienced worker. After they become familiar with the store's equipment, policies, and procedures, they begin to work on their own. Once they become experienced workers, they are not likely to receive additional training, except when new equipment is introduced or when policies or procedures change.
To become a pharmacy aide, one should be able to perform repetitious work accurately. Aides need good basic mathematics skills and good manual dexterity. Because they deal constantly with the public, pharmacy aides should be neat in appearance and able to deal pleasantly and tactfully with customers. Some employers may prefer people with experience typing, handling money, or operating specialized equipment, including computers.
Advancement usually is limited, although some aides may decide to become pharmacy technicians or to enroll in pharmacy school to become pharmacists.
The work of pharmacy aides is closely related to that of pharmacy technicians, cashiers, and stock clerks and order fillers. Workers in other medical support occupations include dental assistants, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, medical transcriptionists, medical records and health information technicians, occupational therapist assistants and aides, physical therapist assistants and aides, and surgical technologists.
For information on employment opportunities, contact local employers or local offices of the State employment service.
Retail pharmacies employ 80 percent of pharmacy aides. Pharmacy aides work directly with pharmacy technicians. It is essential to be meticulous in this job to avoid potential dangers and to ensure safety when dealing with medications. Because much interaction takes place with patients, fellow employees, and healthcare specialists; well-established interpersonal as well as communication skills are mandatory. Openings for this job will be formed by employment expansion and by necessity to change workers who move to differing occupations or depart the workforce.
Summary of: http://www.careeroverview.com/pharmacy-technician-careers.html
Eighty percent of jobs are in retail pharmacies. Job opportunities are expected to be good, especially for those with related work experience. Aides often are clerks or cashiers who primarily answer telephones, handle money, stock shelves, and perform other clerical duties. They work closely with pharmacy technicians. Because some hospital and retail pharmacies are open 24 hours a day, aides may work varying shifts.
Summary of: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos274.htm
Eighty percent of jobs are in retail pharmacies. Job opportunities are expected to be good, especially for those with related work experience. Nature of the Work Pharmacy aides help licensed pharmacists with administrative duties in running a pharmacy. They work closely with pharmacy technicians. Because some hospital and retail pharmacies are open 24 hours a day, aides may work varying shifts.
Summary of: http://healthcare.monster.com/pharm/articles/pharmaides/
Many technicians and assistants work evenings, weekends, and some holidays. Pharmacy technicians usually perform more complex tasks than assistants do, although in some States their duties and job titles overlap. Technicians usually perform routine tasks to help prepare prescribed medication for patients, such as counting and labeling. A pharmacist must check every prescription before it can be given to a patient. Some also clean the pharmacy equipment, help with the maintenance of equipment and supplies, and manage the cash register.
Summary of: http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/ooh20002001/275.htm
What are the duties. What work hours and wages should be expected. Are there opportunities for advancement as a Pharmacy Technician. Pharmacy technicians assist and support licensed pharmacists in providing health care and medications to patients. Pharmacy technicians may perform many of the same duties as pharmacists, however, all of a technician's work must be checked by a pharmacist before medication can be dispensed to a patient.
Summary of: http://www.rxptec.org/career.html
Many technicians work evenings, weekends, and holidays. Technicians usually perform routine tasks to help prepare prescribed medication for patients, such as counting tablets and labeling bottles. Technicians refer any questions regarding prescriptions, drug information, or health matters to a pharmacist. Pharmacy aides work closely with pharmacy technicians. They must verify that the information on the prescription is complete and accurate.
Summary of: http://www.collegegrad.com/careers/proft99.shtml
Find topics and keywords appearing on any of more than 500 pages. May operate cash register and accept prescriptions for filling.
Summary of: http://www.careers.org/career-reference/occupations/31-9095-pharmacy-aides.html
This is because some states limit what technicians can do. Technicians also fill out insurance claim forms. Some technicians clean and maintain pharmacy equipment. Work ActivitiesThe following list of occupational tasks is specific to this career. They like to work in a friendly, non-competitive environment.
Summary of: http://www.iseek.org/sv/13000.jsp?id=100154
Eight out of 10 jobs are in retail pharmacies. Job opportunities are expected to be good, especially for those with related work experience. Aides often are clerks or cashiers who primarily answer telephones, handle money, stock shelves, and perform other clerical duties. They work closely with pharmacy technicians. Pharmacy technicians usually perform more complex tasks than do assistants, although, in some States, their duties and job titles overlap.
Summary of: http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/ooh20022003/ocos274.htm
This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. For example, a drywall installer might benefit from experience installing drywall, but an inexperienced person could still learn to be an installer with little difficulty. Job Training Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. Job Zone Examples These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others.
Summary of: http://online.onetcenter.org/link/summary/31-9095.00