Even though your job will be very different from that of the pharmacist or technician, you’ll usually be working the same hours. Be prepared for long shifts on your feet. Understand the differences between pharmacy assistants and technicians. Unlike assistants, technicians require more certification and education. They’re the ones that will be filling medications, managing medication inventory, and taking prescription information from patients or medical professionals.
It may help to have an advanced degree. Consider getting an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a public relations, business, or mathematical field.
Pharmacy assistants mainly perform clerical tasks. Be prepared to answer phones, restock shelves, and type medical labels.
Business communication Human anatomy and physiology Medical terminology Pharmacology, pharmacy law, ethics, and math (these would require advanced education) Retail pharmacy experience, such as a part-time job Sterile product preparation, pharmacy compounding, hospital pharmacy, and pharmacy software (consider getting a pharmacy or hospital internship) First aid and CPR (take a local community course)
If you’ve taken coursework or completed an internship, ask your professor or advising pharmacist about job opportunities. They may be able to put you in touch with people that are hiring. Don’t forget to check pharmaceutical resources. Look at hospital websites or the American Pharmacists Association for job postings (www. healthecareers. com/apha).
The majority of pharmacy assistants work in lower paying sectors. 75% of assistant pharmacists work in the retail sector. Colleges and universities usually require years of experience too and offer the highest salaries.
Since much of an assistant pharmacist’s job is dealing with customers, expand on any customer service experience you have. Let the interviewer know that you can handle answering phones, dealing with customer concerns, and effectively communicating with the pharmacist.
If you think you want to become a pharmacist, working as an assistant pharmacist will give you a chance to watch a pharmacist at work. This will help you decide if you’d ultimately like to go to school to become a pharmacist.
