Pharmacy Technicians

The best way to explore this field is to get a part-time or summer job at a local retail pharmacy. Although your duties may be limited to stocking the shelves, working the cash register, or making deliveries, you will still gain valuable experience by working in this environment and interacting with trained pharmacists and technicians. By doing this, you may even be able to find a mentor who is willing to give you advice about education and the pharmacy technician career.

Another option is to volunteer at a local hospital which will provide you with an excellent opportunity to be in an environment similar to the one in which many professional technicians work. As a volunteer, you can hone your communication skills and learn about medical settings by interacting with both patients and medical staff. You may even have the opportunity to meet and talk with pharmacy technicians; you could also arrange a job-shadowing experience.

Participate in information interviews with pharmacy technicians. During such an interview—which can be conducted on the phone, through video-conferencing technology, or in-person—you will get the opportunity to ask technicians about their educational training, job duties, work environment, and other topics that will help you to learn more about the field. Ask your school counselor or a teacher to help you set up information interviews.