Search by ZIP code for an Accredited College or School that offers the Degree, Certification, Courses, or Program needed for your New Career!
Your Free Consultation with a College Rep could change your life and your future!
Important Career Information
Job opportunities are expected to be good, especially for those with certification or previous work experience.
Many pharmacy aides work evenings, weekends, and holidays.
About 75 percent work in retail pharmacies, grocery stores, department stores, or mass retailers.
How Much Do Pharmacy Assistants and Aides Make?
Median hourly pay of pharmacy aides were $9.66 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent were paid between $8.47 and $11.62. The lowest 10 percent were paid less than $7.69, and the highest 10 percent were paid more than $14.26.
Certified technicians may earn more than non-certified technicians. Some technicians and aides belong to unions representing hospital or grocery store workers.
What does a Pharmacy Assistant and Aide do?
Pharmacy Assistant and Aide Jobs, Job Description, and Responsibilities
A pharmacy aide helps 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. A pharmacy aide works 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. Aides refer any questions regarding prescriptions, drug information, or health matters to a pharmacist.
Job Working Conditions for Pharmacy Aides
A pharmacy aide works in clean, organized, well-lighted, and well-ventilated areas. Most of their workday is spent on their feet.
Aides work the same hours that pharmacists work. These include evenings, nights, weekends, and some holidays, particularly in facilities, such as hospitals and retail pharmacies that are open 24 hours a day. There are many opportunities for part-time work in both retail and hospital settings.
Pharmacy Assistant and Aide Training, College Programs, and Advancement
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 pharmacy aides interact daily with patients, coworkers, and health care professionals. Teamwork is very important because aides are often required to work with technicians and pharmacists.
To become a pharmacy aide, one should be able to perform repetitive work accurately. Aides need good basic mathematics skills and good manual dexterity. 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.
Where are the Jobs? Pharmacy Assistant and Aide Jobs
Pharmacy aides held about 50,000 jobs in 2004. About 80 percent work in retail pharmacies either independently owned or part of a drug store chain, grocery store, department store, or mass retailer; the vast majority of these are in drug stores. About 10 percent of pharmacy aides work in hospitals, and the rest work in mail-order pharmacies, clinics, and pharmaceutical wholesalers.
Job Outlook and Job Opportunities for Pharmacy Assistants and Aides
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 technicians more time to prepare medications. Employment of pharmacy aides will not grow as fast as jobs of
pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, however, because of legal limitations regarding aides' duties. Many smaller pharmacies that can afford only a small staff will favor pharmacy technicians because of their more extensive training and job skills.
These pages and search results are copyrighted by OVERVIEW 1997-2010. All Rights Reserved.
Link to this page?? Click in the box. Copy the code!
Show me Facts for other Careers!
MedVance can help you afford, schedule and get hired! We offer financial assistance to qualified students. Ask us how! We offer classes on flexible schedules designed around your needs.
We have a great Career Services department designed specifically to help you find work.
Available Programs:
• Information Technology and Biomedical Technician
• Medical Assistant
• Medical Billing and Coding Specialist
• Medical Laboratory Technology
• Medical Office Administration
• Pharmacy Technician
• Practical Nursing
• Radiologic Technology
• Sterile Processing Technician
• Surgical Technology
• Vocational Nursing
Locations:
Baton Rouge, LA
Cookeville, TN
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Grand Prairie, TX
Houston North, TX
Houston South, TX
Miami, FL
Nashville, TN
Stuart, FL
West Palm Beach, FL
Locations: Brea, CA El Monte, CA Huntington Park, CA Irvine, CA Los Angeles, CA Ontario, CA San Berardino, CA San Diego, CA
Job opportunities for full-time and part-time pharmacy aides 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 jobs growth and by the need to replace specialists who transfer to other careers or leave the labor force.
Employment of pharmacy aides is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all careers through 2014 because of the increasing use of medication in treating patients. In addition, a greater number of middle-aged and elderly people-who use more prescription drugs than younger people-will spur demand for aides in all practice settings.
for all other Online Career Programs!
for all other Campus-based Career Programs!
Aides have several important duties that help the pharmacy to function smoothly. An aide 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 dangerous drug interactions. In addition, because many people have medical insurance to help pay for prescriptions, it is essential that a pharmacy aide correspond efficiently and correctly with the third-party insurance providers to obtain payment. A pharmacy aide also maintains inventory and informs the supervisor of stock needs so that the pharmacy does not run out of the vital medications that customers need. 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 pharmacy aides 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 jobs growth and by the need to replace specialists who transfer to other careers or leave the labor force.
