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Pharmacy Assisting Degree - Online and Campus Programs

Pharmacy Assistant Studies: Prescription for a High Demand Career

When looking for entry-level pharmacy jobs, the positions of pharmacy aide and pharmacy technician are often confused. Pharmacy aid and pharmacy technician careers are similar in that both:

Assist pharmacists
Find about 75% of available jobs are in retail outlets
Work odd hours that sometimes include nights, weekends, and holidays
Realize the best job opportunities after completing pharmacy assistant or technician programs

However, the differences in their level of responsibilities are substantial. Pharmaceutical assistants handle clerical duties in a pharmacy, such as answering phones, stocking shelves, interacting with customers, and operating cash registers. Pharmacy technicians have more direct responsibility for medications, such as: receiving prescription requests; counting, weighing, and measuring medications, and preparing and affixing medication labels. Pharmacy assistant or technician studies generally require six months to two years to complete. Pharmacy assistant or technician degrees usually lead to an associate of science. Pharmacy assistant and technician programs are offered at hospitals, community colleges, vocational schools, and through the military. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board and the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians offer certification to pharmacy technicians with clean criminal records free of drug or medication related offenses.

Pharmaceutical Aide Salaries and Job Growth

The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects much faster than average job growth through 2018 for pharmacy assistants and pharmacy technicians. On average, pharmaceutical assistants earn $21,500 per year. The middle 50% of pharmaceutical assistants make $17,620 to $24,180 and the top 10% earned $29,660 annually. Pharmacy technicians gross an average salary of $28,500, with the middle 50% bringing in $22,770 to $33,030, and the top 10% of pharmaceutical technicians net almost $40,000.

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Everest College

Leave that dead-end job behind with training from Everest College.

Selected Campus Locations:

Reseda
Santa Ana
Alhambra
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Selected Programs:

Diploma - Pharmacy Technician

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American Career College

American Career College (ACC) offers hands-on training that will prepare students for careers in the healthcare industry at three campuses in Los Angeles, Ontario, and Orange County, California.

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Anaheim
Los Angeles
Ontario

Selected Programs:

Pharmacy Technician

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Heald College

Heald College provides hands-on educational programs that can help students prepare for careers in the healthcare, business, legal and technology fields.

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Rancho Cordova
Milpitas
Hayward
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Selected Programs:

Pharmacy Technology

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UEI College

Get the real-world skills you need from UEI College.

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Encino
El Monte
Bakersfield
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Pharmacy Technician

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Penn Foster Career School

Advance your career with our affordable, self-paced, career-focused distance education programs.

Visit http://www.pennfostercollege.edu/

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Online

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Pharmacy Technician

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San Joaquin Valley College

San Joaquin Valley College is an accredited private junior college committed to the professional success of its students and graduates.
Founded in 1977, SJVC has campuses located throughout California-including an Online division and offers a variety of accelerated Certificate and Associate of Science degree programs in the business, medical and technical fields.

Students benefit from a balance of classroom instruction and real-world experience, learning the skills they need to go straight to work in todays competitive job market.

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