Why Choose to go to a Pharmacy Tech Program?

[Guest guest]

Why Choose to go to a Pharmacy Tech Program?

Many states do not require a tech education, yet some employers do.

Techs that go to school are able to learn what is required on the job

at a much faster rate. Why? Because the concepts and the technical

jargon is familiar to them. Therefore, they are in a 'catbird'

seat for on the job training. You cannot possibly learn all there

is to know in a program, but you learn much. You get the basic

foundation of what you will need to know in the pharmacy, laws, and

math in a formal method of learning, standard technique etc. Also an

appreciation of the history, foundation, art, and skill of pharmacy

is also obtained.

On the job training is great and should not be ruled out, but it

should be in addition to the didactic or lecture that you will NEVER

get on the job that takes months or YEARS to learn, and mock labs

that prepares you to do the actual work in the real world before

affecting real patients.

Formal pharmacology takes years to learn. Most on the job techs

still struggle with pharmacology. Techs need pharmacology in order

to prevent medication errors. Pharmacology begins with

classification, trade/generics, but it does not end there.

Math concepts are better understood in a classroom or formal

teaching environment and especially when applied to job tasks in

mock labs. Students who are in a class of others who like themselves

want to learn the same information, learn faster and much is to be

said about peer group learning, interacting, and networking.

There is less pharmacist and trainer frustration training those who

have a basic understanding/education than with training those just

off the street, in addition, less time spent training them.

There was a time when all techs were trained on the job because it

was a new career option and there were no schools or programs. Times

have changed! Techs are moving into different areas or arenas that

the older on the job techs were not allowed to go. YES the older on

the job trained tech is moving forward, but only because of their

long time experience. Many new areas for techs require special

education and training that only a tech with a good foundation of

pharmacology (education) or many years of on the job experience or

both are going to be offered.

One thing that must be understood is that one never stops learning;

new things come on the market, new laws enacted and new methods

implemented each year. Education gives the foundation for

understanding at a deeper level.

However basic education does not outweigh years of experience either!

The saying 'we have come a long way baby' definitely applies! There

is too much at stake! In hospital pharmacy and education is a

definite requirement to move the technician forward and to utilize

their abilities as much as possible.

The idea that 'on the job training was good enough for me and

therefore should be or is good enough for the next new generation of

techs' is inconsistent with the professional growth of this career

path.

I URGE anyone thinking of becoming a pharmacy technician to go to

school whether your state requires it or not. You will become a

better tech, who is capable of preventing medication errors, serving,

BOTH pharmacist and patient sooner than any on the job training

alone can provide.

That being said there is much to say regarding tech programs. Not

all are created equal. Some are retail only, some are both retail

and hospital, some are adequate, some are superlative and others

fall short. Consumer beware!

A good program will also have classroom, mock labs (making IV's

compounding etc) and externship (applying what has been learned in

class/lab to on the job training in the real world) program along

with it.

Having said this much depends upon the individual person! Some

learn better by on the job, others by classroom, most by doing both!

Many people enter school like it is something you learn and when you

get out you know it all and can do it all. That may be true with

flower arranging or computer classes, but it is NOT true with

pharmacy tech. Therefore, you will still learn much on the job after

graduating from a tech program. Much like nursing or being a

pharmacist or doctor!!!

Hope that this helps anyone trying to decide to attend school or not.

Did you know that at one time doctors did not go to to school?

Pharmacists did not go to school. Can you imagine this today?

The growth of any profession depends and relies upon better

education!

Education is Key and Power!

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

Pharm Tech Educator

Founnder/Ownr of this site