10 Alternative Careers for Pharmacy Technicians
Are you a pharmacy technician who is looking for a change? Are you tired of filling prescriptions and counting pills? If so, then you may be wondering what your alternative career options are. Luckily, there are many different careers that you can pursue in the medical field.
In this blog post, we will discuss 10 alternative careers for pharmacy technicians. So, if you’re ready to explore new opportunities, keep reading!
What’s a Pharmacy Technician?
First, let’s start with a brief overview of what a pharmacy technician does. Pharmacy technicians are responsible for assisting pharmacists with dispensing medications, performing pharmacy calculations, and providing customer service. Pharmacy technicians typically work in retail pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics.
What about a Hospital Pharmacy Technician?
Hospital pharmacy technicians typically have more responsibilities than pharmacy technicians who work in a retail pharmacy. They may be responsible for stocking and ordering medications, preparing IVs, and providing patient education.
Now that we have a better understanding of what pharmacy technicians do, let’s explore alternative career options!
How to Become A Certified Pharmacy Technician
One alternative career option for pharmacy technicians is to become certified. In order to become certified, you must pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE). Once you’ve passed the certification program, you will be able to use the title “Certified Pharmacy Technician” or “CPhT.”
Becoming certified can help you with career advancement and may open up opportunities for new jobs. For example, some employers may only hire certified pharmacy technicians and require formal education.
Search Pharmacy Technician Programs
The first step to becoming a certified pharmacy technician is finding an accredited pharmacy technician program. Once you have completed a pharmacy technician program, you will be eligible to take the PTCE.
There are many different types of pharmacy technician programs available, so it is important to do your research and find one that fits your needs. For example, some programs may be offered online while others may be offered in a traditional classroom setting.
You can use the search tool on the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) website to find accredited pharmacy technician programs in your area and request enrollment information.
Top 10 Alternate Pharmacy Technician Careers
Are you looking for related alternatives to pharmacy technicians? Below you will find pharmacy technician similar professions that might be of interest to you:
– Dental Assistant
Dental assistants are responsible for a variety of tasks in the dental office, such as organizing patient records, taking x-rays, sterilizing instruments, and preparing patients’ teeth for dental procedures. If you’re interested in working with dentists and dental patients, then a career as a dental assistant may be a good fit for you.
????- Average Salary for a Dental Assistant: $37,000 per year
– Medical Assistant
Like pharmacy technicians, medical assistants also perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks in a medical facility like an office or clinic. However, they may also have additional responsibilities, such as taking vital signs, scheduling appointments, and handling insurance paperwork. If you’re interested in working closely with patients and physicians, then a career as a medical assistant may be right for you.
????- Average Salary for a Medical Assistant: $33,610 per year
– Patient Care Technician
A Patient Care Technician (PCT) is a health care worker who provides basic patient care services, such as taking vital signs and assisting with activities of daily living. If you’re interested in working in the field of medicine but don’t want to pursue a career as a registered nurse, then becoming a PCT may be a good option for you.
????- Average Salary for a Patient Care Technician: $29,100 per year
– Customer Service Representative
If you have excellent communication skills, and interpersonal skills, and enjoy working with the public, then a career as a customer service representative may be right for you. Customer service representatives work in a variety of industries, including healthcare administration, retail, and banking.
????- Average Salary for a Customer Service Representative: $32,500 per year
– Medical Biller and Coder
If you don’t want to work directly with patients but still want to work in medical facilities, then becoming a medical biller and coder may be a good option for you. Medical billers and coders play an important role in the healthcare industry by ensuring that medical claims and insurance information are processed correctly and efficiently.
????- Average Salary for a Medical Biller & Coder: $39,840 per year
– Phlebotomist
Phlebotomists are responsible for collecting blood samples from patients for diagnostic testing. If you want to continue a career in the medical field but don’t want to work directly with patients, then becoming a phlebotomist may be a good career option for you.
????- Average Salary for a Phlebotomist: $34,000 per year
– Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Have you thought about becoming a certified nursing assistant (CNA)? CNAs provide basic patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse. If you enjoy working with patients and want to make a difference in their lives, then becoming a CNA could be the right career choice for you.
????- Average Salary for a CNA: $27,520 per year
– Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Another career you may have interested in is an emergency medical technician (EMT). EMTs provide basic emergency medical care and transportation for patients. If you are interested in a career that is both exciting and rewarding, then becoming an EMT is right up your alley.
????- Average Salary for an EMT: $34,320 per year
– Paramedic
Like EMT’s, Paramedics provide advanced emergency medical care and transportation for patients. If you want a career where you work with other medical professionals, that is both challenging and rewarding, then becoming a paramedic is definitely the right choice for you.
????- Average Salary for a Paramedic: $40,000 per year
– Healthcare Administrator
Many pharmacy techs find that they don’t want to work directly with patients after a while, if this is the case for you, then becoming a part of health care administration may be a good option for you. Healthcare administrators plan, direct, and coordinate the delivery of healthcare services.
????- Average Salary for a Healthcare Administrator: $98,350 per year
With so many alternative careers for pharmacy techs, it can be hard to decide which one is the right choice for you. Still not sure if any of these alternative career paths are the right career path for you? Not to worry pharmacy techs! We’ve got even more alternative jobs for medical staff for you to consider! Check out these additional career paths for a restless pharmacy technician looking for career growth:
More Alternative Jobs for Pharmacy Technicians
– Physical Therapy Assistant
Physical therapy assistants (PTAs) work under the supervision of physical therapists to provide rehabilitative services to patients. If you’re interested in helping people recover from injuries and illnesses, then a career as a PTA may be right for you.
????- Average Salary for a Physical Therapy Assistant: $56,610 per year
– Occupational Therapy Assistant
Occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) work under the supervision of occupational therapists to help patients regain independence and improve their quality of life
????- Average Salary for an Occupational Therapy Assistant: $60,220 per year
– Pharmacy Technician Instructor
Another alternative career option for pharmacy technicians is to become a pharmacy technician instructor. As a pharmacy technician instructor, you would be responsible for teaching students the skills and knowledge necessary to become pharmacy technicians.
????- Average Salary for a Pharmacy Technician Instructor: $52,000 per year
– Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
If you are passionate about the pharmaceutical industry and have excellent communication skills, then working as a pharmaceutical sales representative may be the perfect alternative career for you. As a pharmaceutical sales representative, you would be responsible for promoting and selling pharmaceutical products to healthcare professionals.
????- Average Salary for a Pharmaceutical Sales Rep: $60,000-$100,000 per year
– Clinical Research Coordinator
If you are interested in working in the clinical research field, then becoming a clinical research coordinator at a medical research facility may be the perfect alternative career for you. As a clinical research coordinator, you would be responsible for managing and coordinating clinical trials and research studies.
????- Average Salary for a Clinical Research Coordinator: $66,000 per year
– Pharmacy Consultant
If you are looking for an alternative career for pharmacy students that allows you to use your knowledge and expertise to help others, then becoming a pharmacy consultant may be the perfect option for you. As a pharmacy consultant, you would provide advice and guidance to pharmacies on how to improve their operations.
????- Average Salary for a Pharmacy Consultant: $85,000 per year
There are so many job options for pharmacy technicians that it can be hard to decide which one is right for you. Hopefully, this list has given you some ideas about alternative careers that you may not have considered before. Talk to your supervisor or another pharmacy technician about their experiences and what they think would be a good fit for you.
With a little research, you should be able to find the perfect alternative career for you!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest-paid pharmacy technician?
The highest-paid pharmacy technician is the one who has the most experience and education. They may also be certified by a nationally recognized organization, such as the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).
Do I need a degree to become a pharmacy tech?
No, you do not need a degree to become a pharmacy technician. However, many employers prefer to hire candidates who have completed a formal training program or have some college experience.
What is the career outlook for pharmacy technicians?
The career outlook for pharmacy technicians is good. The demand for qualified pharmacy technicians is expected to grow by 12% from 2018-2028, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.
What are the requirements to become a pharmacy tech?
The requirements to become a pharmacy technician vary by state, but most states require that applicants be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalent. Some states also require certification from a nationally recognized organization such as the National Health Association (NHA) or the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).