The pharmaceutical industry is a good industry in which to become involved, especially as there are a number of opportunities for growth and career advancement in this line of work. In addition it is s consistently stable line of work. There are a number of pharmacy technician programs in Mississippi through which you can become a certified pharmacy tech. these programs will prepare you to take the certification examination as well as prepare you for your career as a pharmacy technician in the real world.
Overview
The pharmacy technician programs on offer in Mississippi prepare you for a career that has many opportunities for future advancement. Although it is important that you ensure that you attend a good school, there are plenty of such schools to choose from and you should have very little trouble gaining access to them if you meet the necessary prerequisites. Salaries for pharmacy technicians in this state are very good making it an attractive career choice.
What Is A Pharmacy Technician?
A pharmacist’s job can be very busy and requires very close attention to detail. Consequently pharmacy technicians are trained and hired who are able to lighten the workload that a pharmacist is required to deal with. In some cases pharmacy aides are also hired to answer the phone and do basic customer service, but many pharmacies require pharmacy technicians to perform these roles in addition to their regular work. A large part of the job involves filling prescriptions. However you will be monitored by a qualified pharmacist at all times and in most pharmacies a pharmacist is required to check the work that a pharmacy technician does before the prescription is given t a patient. Errors in medication administration can be very serious. Consequently there are a number of pharmacy technician programs in Mississippi which are aimed at ensuring that pharmacy technicians receive the level of training necessary to make a success of the job and that they avoid these dangerous mistakes.
According to www.pharmacyechs.net as a Mississippi pharmacy technician, you will:
- Receive and fill prescription orders
- Ensure accurate pill count and labeling
- Match patients to the correct medications
- Keep stock and inventory of medications
Pharmacy Technician Training In Mississippi
There are a number of training and education requirements in the state of Mississippi and, although they may not all be compulsory, they all essential when it comes to increasing your chances of finding employment in this state.
Educational Requirements
The educational requirements are as follows:
- You must graduate from high school, earning a high school diploma, or you must have an equivalent of a high school diploma in the form of a GED.
- You will then need to enroll in an accredited pharmacy technician training program. You could choose to complete a two year training program offered at a junior college. However there are also a number of other training options, including the options to study online which can be more flexible as well as more convenient.
If you completed the following subjects at school you will find that it is far easier to complete and pass all of the necessary coursework and tests required by your program:
- Algebra
- Chemistry
- Anatomy
- Biology
- General health studies
In your training course you will cover the following subjects:
- Mathematics
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Law
- Drug classifications
- Government regulation of drugs
- Drug side effects
- Drug abuse
- The effects of various drugs on the human body
Exam
Mississippi is one of the states which require pharmacy technicians to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board exam (the PTCB). The main purpose of the exam is to ensure that you are, in fact, sufficiently skilled to be trusted with the high level of responsibility that comes with being a pharmacy technician.
State Certification
In Mississippi you must register with the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy after passing the exam and within 30 days of accepting employment. To do this:
- Fill out an application that the state board provides
- Pay a $50 fee
Certification must be renewed annually and can be revoked in cases where the pharmacy technician is deemed guilty of misconduct.
Pharmacy Technician Careers In Mississippi
When we consider that physical therapy is a career that falls within the healthcare industry we will realize very quickly that the career outlook for students who train to be physical therapists in any state will be very good. This is because the healthcare industry is always on the increase, increasing faster than any other industry, and in addition to this it comes with guaranteed job security and stability regardless of the current economic atmosphere. At the moment the career outlook for pharmacy technicians in Mississippi is extremely good. The average annual salary that a pharmacy technician working in this state can expect to earn is about $24,650 a year. At the moment there are about 3,390 pharmacy technicians employed in this state, indicating that it is a fairly popular state to work in with quite a high density of jobs to choose from. It is also a good state for new pharmacy technicians to seek employment in as there is an expected growth of 31% for jobs in this industry in this state. The most popular degrees in Mississippi for pharmacy technicians are the Associate’s degree offered by several pharmacy technician programs, as well as the Certificate program.
List Of Pharmacy Technician Programs In Mississippi
Becoming a pharmacy technician in Mississippi can be challenging especially given the fairly limited number of options that you have in terms of training programs. In addition it is your responsibility to ascertain whether or not the programs that you are interested in have appropriate accreditation. In addition to face-to-face schools there are a number of online and correspondence schools that you may be able to benefit from attending. These schools require you to work on your own and motivate yourself, so it is up to you to decide whether or not you have the capabilities required to do this. Many students need a classroom situation to learn properly and, if you are one of those students, you may want to steer away from distance education.
Schools In Mississippi
Anthem Career College:
The city in which this school is located: Memphis
The program offered by this school: Pharmacy Technician
Remington College:
The city in which this school is located: Mobile
The program offered by this school: Pharmacy Technician
The city in which this school is located: Memphis
The program offered by this school: Pharmacy Technician
Online Schools
Keiser University eCampus Online (Gragg):
The program offered by this school: Associate of Arts in Health Services Administration
Correspondence Schools
Virginia College:
The program offered by this school: Pharmacy Technician
This program is designed to prepare students to support licensed pharmacists by assisting during patient consultation, counter dispensing operations, and prescription preparation.
Penn Foster Career School (Health)
Ashworth College:
The program offered by this school: Pharmacy Technology
Pay
The average amount of money that you can earn as a pharmacy technician in Mississippi is about $29,930 a year. However there are differences in salary from city to city:
- In Biloxi you can expect to earn about $32,738 a year
- In Ocean Springs you can expect to earn about $29,174 a year
- In Gulfport you can expect to earn about $32,738 a year
- In Oxford you can expect to earn about $29,625 a year
- In Hattiesburg you can expect to earn about $30,695 a year
- In Pascagoula you can expect to earn about $29,174 a year
- In Laurel you can expect to earn about $27,801 a year
- In Tupelo you can expect to earn about $29,625 a year
- In Meridian you can expect to earn about $27,801 a year
Although you will not earn as much in Mississippi as a pharmacy technician as you may be able to earn in certain other states, the salary on offer is still very good and worth your attention. Note that there are a number of other factors that can affect your salary in Mississippi in addition to the specific city you work in. these factors include the employer that you work for and the specific industry that you work in. in addition your level of education may affect how much your employer is willing to pay you. In some cases your gender could play a role in your salary.
Choosing a school through which to do your pharmacy technician training is a very important choice that will inform the rest of your career form thereon out. It is therefore essential that you take the time and effort necessary to consider all of the options that you may have. In addition you need to be sure that the school you are attending is accredited. Most pharmacy technician programs in Mississippi are of good quality, but it is your responsibility to check their credentials.