Being a Pharmacy Technician is a Great Choice! Here's 5 Reasons Why

July 10, 2014


3. Help Keep Patients Healthy

Being a pharmacy technician is a great way to kick start your career in healthcare. If the idea of racking up a pile of student debt right out of high school doesn't appeal to you, then pharmacy tech might just be a good alternative for you. It's a great way to gain experience in the healthcare field before most students have even finished their first year of post-secondary education. Pharmacy techs work with customers and patients in a vast array of settings. Below are some reasons why this might be the right job for you.








fabioomero / flickr / CC BY

1. Get in the Workforce Quick

The AIMS Pharmacy Tech program is designed to take four months to complete, including hands-on clinical training. With that kind of speed, you won't have to stall your earning potential very long; you'll be working in the field in no time.

The cost of the program is also significantly less than a four-year degree. If you can't afford to go to school for a longer degree, or just aren't comfortable taking on exorbitant student debt, this program could be a great option for you.

2. Work Where You Want

Pharmacies are everywhere. Drugstores, supermarkets, hospitals, some clinics, nursing homes, and even online pharmacies need pharmacy technicians to help keep things running smoothly and optimally for their customers. You have the opportunity to find the environment that's best for you. Also, if you have a background in retail work, you have a unique opportunity to play up your customer service experience when looking for technician jobs at other retail stores. Let your experience work for you.

If you've ever worked jobs that were outdoors, in cold warehouses, or otherwise exposed you to rough conditions, you'll certainly appreciate the fact that working in a pharmacy means working in a well-lit, climate controlled environment, that is also professional and courteous.







Medication can be a stressful topic. Being a pharm tech lets you help people.


Britt-Knee / flickr / CC BY-ND

People who are being treated for illnesses need friendly people to help take care of them-- and that's not limited to the clinic! As a pharmacy technician, you will have the opportunity to help people live healthier, and can serve as an important point of customer service, without having to work in a healthcare facility.

As a technician, you'll work with patients of all ages and backgrounds, which will help build communication skills. People will look to you and the pharmacist as sources of knowledge and support as they start their new medications.

4. Jump-Start your Career in Healthcare

You'll be able to connect with professionals in other healthcare specializations as a pharmacy technician. You can observe pharmacists, nurses, doctors, and other allied health professionals in their work environments, in order to think about and consider possible pathways for yourself. Working in a pharmacy could be a great first step in a larger career in healthcare and pharmaceuticals.

5. Start a Career that's in Demand

The Bureau of Labor Statistics claims that pharmacy technician jobs will grow significantly in the next ten years, by about 32%. This growth is due to increasing demands in the healthcare field in general, since the baby boomer generation is aging and increasingly relies on the health system. There hasn't been a better time to consider a career in healthcare!

To learn more about AIMS Education's Pharmacy Technician program, as well as the other programs of study available at AIMS, get in touch! We'd be happy to hear from you, and talk with you about your educational and professional goals in healthcare.