Pharmacy Technicians
Background
Prescription drugs and medicines are important to medical treatment. Patients and physicians depend on military pharmacies to fill their prescriptions accurately. Pharmacy technicians maintain pharmacy supplies and records. Pharmacy technicians prepare and dispense prescribed drugs and medicines under the supervision of pharmacists or physicians.
What They Do
Pharmacy technicians in the military perform some or all of the following duties:
- Dispense medications to patients
- Mix ingredients in order to produce prescription medications
- Prepare labels for prescriptions
- Read physicians' prescriptions to determine the types and amount of drugs to prepare
- Store shipments of drugs and medications
- Weigh and measure drugs and chemicals
Physical Demands
Normal color vision is required as is the ability to speak clearly. Some specialties may involve heavy lifting.
Special Requirements
No information available.
Helpful Attributes
Helpful attributes include:
- Ability to follow strict procedures and directions
- Ability to work using precise measurements and standards
- Interest in body chemistry
Helpful School Subjects
Helpful school subjects include:
- Algebra
- Anatomy
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physiology
Helpful Fields of Study
No information available.
Work Environment
Pharmacy technicians usually work in hospitals and clinics on land or aboard ships. They may also work in field hospitals.
Services offering this career:
- Air Force
- Army
- Navy
Hiring Practices
To serve in the military, a person must be at least 17; the maximum age for enlistment varies. To enlist, a person must pass a physical exam and an aptitude test. An enlistee must also meet military standards of discipline and be a US citizen or permanent resident alien.
This position is for enlisted personnel.
Wages
The military is competitive with the civilian world when it comes to pay and benefits. All branches offer the same basic pay and benefits.
Pay depends mainly on rank or grade as well as length of service. Bonuses and the situation in which the person is serving (for example: flight duty, sea duty, hazardous duty) also affect pay.
Cost-of-living increases usually occur every year, based on inflation. The military also pays allowances for food, clothing, and housing. All these factors combined are called Regular Military Compensation (RMC). They should all be considered when comparing military pay to civilian pay.
There are two main parts to RMC: basic pay and allowances. There are also additional incentives for special abilities, training, or hazardous duty.
Check out the RMC Calculator to calculate your RMC based on your inputs.
Training Provided
Job training consists of 12 to 17 weeks of classroom instruction.
Course content typically includes:
- Drug types and uses
- Mixing and dispensing drugs
- Pharmacy laws and regulations
Civilian Counterparts
Civilian pharmacy technicians work in pharmacies, drug stores, hospitals, and clinics under the direction of pharmacists. They are usually known as pharmacy helpers and generally do not have responsibility for the compounding and dispensing of drugs. They perform simple tasks, such as storing supplies, cleaning equipment, and delivering prescriptions. While military pharmacy technicians generally have more job responsibilities than civilian pharmacy helpers, they do not have the qualifications needed to become civilian pharmacists. Pharmacists must complete a college pharmacy degree program, pass a state board exam, and serve in a pharmacy internship.
Related Civilian Careers
Employment and Outlook
In peace time the services have about 2,000 pharmacy technicians. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new technicians due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After job training, new technicians work under the supervision of experienced pharmacy technicians and pharmacists. With experience, they work more independently. Eventually, they may supervise other technicians and may manage military pharmacies.