What Is a Pharmacy Aide?
Pharmacy aides are entry-level employees who work with pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and assist in the daily operations of a pharmaceutical company or organization. Pharmacy aides are not required to have any kind of certification and often receive on-the-job training after being hired.
They are usually responsible for administrative tasks such as answering the phone, checking inventory, stocking supplies and operating cash registers. Pharmacy aides cannot legally fill prescriptions or mix medications, so those responsibilities are always taken care of by pharmacists or pharmacy technicians.
Pharmacy aides can have a wide variety of schedules and employment locations. They may work for a retail pharmacy or in hospitals or healthcare centers. Retail pharmacies are increasingly open 24 hours a day, so pharmacy aides working for these types of businesses often have block schedules and late-night shifts. Many pharmacy aides’ schedules can include full nights, weekends and holidays. Pharmacy aides need to be organized, responsible and have great people skills.
How to Become a Pharmacy Aide
There is no formal training legally required in order to work as a pharmacy aide. However, most employers prefer candidates to have a high school diploma in order to be considered.
Pharmacy aides who would like to increase their salary potentials or who would like to advance to pharmacy technicians can work toward an associate degree while they are employed as aides. This is a great option for students who would like to study to become pharmacy technicians and gain real-world pharmaceutical experience at the same time. Candidates who have experience using a cash register, doing inventory, and working with customers will have a leg up on other applicants for pharmacy aide positions.
After being hired, pharmacy aides typically undergo less than three months of on-the-job training. Pharmacy aides working in large pharmacies who have gained a substantial amount of experience may be promoted to supervisor positions, but they will not be allowed to handle medications without legal certification.
Pharmacy Aide Career Outlook & Salary
The career outlook for pharmacy aides will be mixed for the next decade. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of pharmacy aides is actually projected to decrease by 6% from 2008 to 2018. The decrease in pharmacy aide jobs, however, will be due to an actual increase in pharmaceutical operations nationally. A growing population of middle-aged and elderly citizens will begin to need more prescription medication as time goes on.
This increase will cause insurers to look for cheaper ways to fund patient care, and they are projected to increasingly fund patient care by pharmacists. With more pharmacists becoming involved in patient care, pharmacy technicians may see an expansion of their responsibilities within the pharmacy and may begin to cover more tasks that are generally the responsibilities of pharmacy aides. With more pharmacy technicians answering phones and stocking supplies, the amount of pharmacy aides needed may begin to decrease.
However, those looking to become aides should not change their goals, as the industry of pharmaceuticals as a whole is strong. Median hourly wages of pharmacy aides were $9.66 in 2008. The lowest 10% earned under $7.69, and the highest 10% made over $14.26.
