How to Become a Pharmacy Aide
Pharmacy Aides help licensed pharmacists with administrative duties in running a pharmacy.
Employment is projected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations through 2012.
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 turnover, replacing workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force.
Here's what you need to know:
1) What is a Pharmacy Aide?
2) Requirements for the career
3) Salary Potential
1) What is a Pharmacy Aide?
Pharmacy Aides perform administrative duties such as answering telephones, handling money, stocking shelves and performing other clerical duties.
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.
Most people have medical insurance these days to help pay for the prescription. So 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.
They work closely with pharmacy technicians who perform more complex tasks.
Pharmacy aides are almost always trained on the job. They may begin by observing a more experienced worker.
2) Career Requirements
Below are some career requirements:
- High school diploma or its equivalent
- Cannot have prior records of drug or substance abuse
- Possess strong customer service and communication skills
- Possess strong spelling, reading, and mathematics skills
- Should be able to perform repetitious work accurately
- Possess good computer skills
- Experience working as a cashier desirable
3) Salary Potential
Earnings vary by geographic location, employment setting, and years of experience.
The median hourly salary of a Pharmacy Aide is approximately $7/hour to $11/hour.
Salaries range from about $6/hour to over $13/hour.