Experts and pharmacy students both recommend practicing as a pharmacy technician in preparation for a career as a pharmacist. While the role and responsibilities of a pharmacy technician vastly differ from that of a pharmacist, there are valuable insights you can gain from your pharmacy technician training and experience. Pharmacy technicians have a firsthand look at pharmacists at work, understand the day-to-day operations of the pharmacy, and accumulate valuable nuggets that they would not otherwise learn in a formal program. Apart from that, the experience in a pharmacy, be it retail or institutional, will stand out on your application to pharmacy school. In a nutshell, becoming a pharmacy technician before enrolling in pharmacy school has numerous benefits, but there are exceptions to the rule. We’ll explore the pros and cons below.
The Key Benefits of Becoming a Pharmacy Technician Before a Pharmacist
Develop clinical skills
Due to their extensive role and function within the pharmacy, technicians have a unique opportunity to develop the very skills required for success in the clinically-focused role of a pharmacist. A commitment to patients and helping the pharmacist dedicate his/her time in the pharmacy to patient care paves the foundation for technicians to become great pharmacists.
Get a better understanding of the role
A theoretical acknowledgment of the role of the pharmacy cannot capture the dynamic role of the pharmacist in a real-world setting. Technicians not only see pharmacists in action, but also work side by side with them and experience the day-to-day challenges of dispensing medications and counseling patients. Through careful observation of the pharmacist, a pharmacy technician will acquire skills to navigate the difficulties later on.
Solidify their career decision
In a 2022 survey by the Muse, 72 percent of workers in the United States regret their career choice. Your stint as a pharmacy technician will either confirm or refute your decision to become a pharmacist before you invest the substantial time and money it takes to do so.
Get a competitive edge on your application to pharmacy school
Put your credentials and experience as a pharmacy technician on display on your pharmacy school admissions profile. They speak loudly of your commitment to the profession and desire to learn and get hands-on. They may be the factors that help admissions choose you over another applicant.
Career advancement opportunities
Your position as a pharmacy technician could transition seamlessly to one of a pharmacy intern by the time you’re midway through pharmacy school.
Get an advantage during pharmacy school
Many technicians claim that their first-hand knowledge of brand-name and generic drugs and their indications helped them breeze through drug-related modules in pharmacy schools. They also learn a lot about over-the-counter drugs and various counseling techniques to outperform their associates in the classroom.
A wealth of experience
A technician graduating with a pharmacy degree may have clocked 6 to 8 years of experience in the pharmacy versus peers who may only have the exposure of the pharmacy clinical. Who do you think would be the most attractive candidate to an employer? Moreover, some technicians have the option to continue working for the same employer – but in their new role.
Exploring the Downside of Becoming a Pharmacy Technician Before Pharmacy School
Pharmacy technician schools can be costly
Depending on where you live, a full pharmacy technician diploma program can cost thousands. This money can be funneled into your pharmacist degree. One way to reduce the cost is to seek out in-house training at a local pharmacy or more affordable programs that will prepare you for national certification.
The temptation to settle
If you plan to work as a technician for a few years before pursuing your pharmacy degree, there will be the temptation to settle. The regular income, job stability, and financial commitments are not easily given up to pursue higher education. Have a solid plan to exit when the time is right.
The pharmacy technician and pharmacist educational pathways are vastly different
The PharmD program requires 6 to 8 years of study including 3 to 4 years of pre-professional coursework followed by another 4 years of professional study. The point is that it requires a greater commitment than training to become a pharmacy technician and more intense study. Working full-time or even part-time work may seem almost impossible when completing the grueling degree.
Needs some preparation
It should come as no surprise that your pharmacy technician training alone cannot get you into pharmacy school. You must have a strong background in science which should begin in high school. While some pharmacists admit to making the decision later on in life, the hurdles can be great without advanced preparation.
Becoming a Pharmacist FAQs
What is the fastest way to become a pharmacist?
There are very few shortcuts on this path. Your pharmacy technician training may be a valuable asset on your admissions profile, but it offers no credit for the program itself. You can look for a direct-admit program if you have the qualifications or complete a 2-year preprofessional program followed by four years of professional studies.
Are there Pharmacy Technician to Pharmacist Bridge Programs?
A few schools offer a bridge program designed for pharmacy technicians to become pharmacists. Some of them include:
Pacific University Oregon – a five-year flexible pathway to become a pharmacist without a bachelor’s degree and costly admissions testing
University of North Texas Health Science Center – Designed for pharmacy technicians. No PCAT is required.
North Dakota State University – A pathway program for pharmacy technicians to complete the PharmD. Previous college credits are required.
What is the cost of pharmacy school?
The doctorate degree is a substantial financial investment. The average cost is $29,000 for in-state tuition at public schools and $93,000 at private universities before the application of financial aid.
Although the tuition is greater than most career paths, grants, scholarships, and financial aid could alleviate the burden on your finances. Furthermore, an average starting salary of $87,000 to $131,000 annually makes the investment worthwhile for many pharmacy students.