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Two online surveys conducted in late 2021 focused on understanding a high shortage of pharmacy technicians and a high turnover rate.
Many pharmacy technicians revealed the reasons for their job dissatisfaction or why they left their previous jobs.
One reason why pharmacy technicians are dissatisfied with their jobs is having a heavy workload.
Salary was the most common reason for leaving or considering leaving their job for 42 percent of the survey respondents.
One other thing revealed by the survey was that 49 percent of the survey takers were still working as a pharmacy technician for at least 10 years.
Pharmacy technicians who want to change careers can get a new job.
They can earn a higher salary and maybe have less work-related stress when they consider these six top alternative careers for pharmacy technicians.
List of Alternative Careers
The top alternative careers pay more than the average salary for pharmacy technicians.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that pharmacy technicians earned an average of $40,300 in 2023.
The six top alternative careers also have good job growth for the next several years.
1. Medical Records Specialist
Description
Medical records specialists develop, process, and maintain patient files.
They use classification systems to assign and enter clinical codes for each patient’s diagnosis and medical services.
It is the job of medical records specialists to limit access to patients’ medical records.
Transferable Skills
Pharmacy technicians, like medical records specialists, work in a variety of settings.
They collect and enter patients’ information into a computer system, assign codes, and safeguard patients’ information.
These skills are easily transferable when pharmacy technicians transition into a medical records specialist career.
Pharmacy technicians have other transferable skills when they choose a medical records specialist career, including recording patients’ medical histories and reviewing information for accuracy.
Potential Requirements
Medical records specialists usually do not have to earn a college degree.
Employers often have their educational requirements.
Some employers may require that medical records specialists have a certification.
One example is the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) certification.
Benefits
The average 2023 salary was $48,780 for medical records specialists.
Compare this salary to the average of $40,300 that was earned by pharmacy technicians.
The job growth outlook for pharmacy technicians through 2033 is expected to be faster than average.
It is expected that there will be much faster than average job growth for medical records specialists.
2. Health Information Technologist and Medical Registrar
Description
Health information technologists and medical registrars determine the requirements for electronic healthcare systems.
They help to design them and develop them.
They may also collect, organize, and update information that is in clinical registries or databases.
Analyzing clinical data, educating staff, and protecting the privacy of patients’ records are some other duties that are performed by health information technologists and medical registrars.
Transferable Skills
Pharmacy technicians need to have good computer skills and good analytical skills.
They need to have good interpersonal skills.
These skills, along with being detail-oriented, and being able to organize and update information, are easily transferable to a career as a health information technologist or a career as a medical registrar.
Potential Requirements
Health information technologists and medical registrars need to have a college degree.
Some employers require that they have an associate degree.
Employers may require that they have a Bachelor’s degree or a Master’s degree.
Pharmacy technicians who do not have a college degree will need to earn one.
Benefits
The 2023 average salary for health information technologists and medical registrars was $62,990.
They earned more than $22,000 above the average salary for pharmacy technicians.
The job growth for this alternative career is expected to be 16 percent through 2033, compared to seven percent job growth for pharmacy technicians.
3. Pharmacist
Description
Pharmacists dispense and fill prescription medications, based on orders that they receive from physicians or other healthcare workers.
Pharmacists advise physicians on the proper dose and the side effects of prescription medications.
They communicate with patients about how to take medications and the possible side effects.
Some other duties of pharmacists include administering vaccines, including pneumonia vaccines and flu shots, maintaining pharmacy records, and supervising pharmacy technicians.
Transferable Skills
Pharmacy technicians know how to maintain patient records and pharmacy records.
They have the interpersonal skills to communicate with other pharmacy staff, with physicians, and with insurance companies.
Working as a pharmacist requires attention to detail, inventory management skills, and making sure that patients are not allergic to newly prescribed medications.
Pharmacy technicians have these transferable skills.
Potential Requirements
Pharmacists need to have a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) degree from an accredited pharmacy school or program.
They also need to have a pharmacy license.
All states require pharmacists to have a license.
Pharmacy technicians need to earn the required degree and the required license.
Benefits
The 2023 average salary for pharmacists was $136,030.
Good job growth is expected for pharmacists for at least the next 10 years.
4. Telepharmacy Technician
Description
Pharmacy technicians can advance their skills in the pharmacy by becoming telepharmacy technicians.
Telepharmacy technicians use telecommunication platforms to deliver remote pharmaceutical care under the supervision of a pharmacist.
Telepharmacy technicians work from anywhere, which helps patients and physicians who are in rural areas.
They also help patients and physicians who are located in underserved areas where there may not be a pharmacy.
They type up prescriptions, enter patients’ information into a database, and stock Automated Dispensing Cabinets.
Transferable Skills
Pharmacy technicians have many skills that telepharmacy technicians need, including good communication skills, being detail-oriented, and having good computer skills.
Entering patient information into the database and assisting with patient counseling are some other transferable skills.
Potential Requirements
Gaining proficiency in telehealth software is required for people who want to work as telepharmacy technicians.
Pharmacy technicians need to check the State Board of Pharmacy to see whether the state where they work offers telepharmacy services.
Benefits
Some sources indicate that telepharmacy technicians may have a positive impact on pharmacy technicians.
It allows them to gain new skills and to use their existing ones in new ways.
The average salary for telepharmacy technicians varies by employer.
The salary ranges from $50,000 to more than $111,000 a year.
Check with individual employers for more salary information.
5. Medical and Health Services Manager
Description
Medical and health services managers are sometimes called healthcare executives or administrators.
They plan and coordinate medical and health services.
Medical and health services managers also train and supervise staff.
They set and carry out goals and make sure that they comply with laws and regulations.
Some medical and healthcare services managers manage a certain area or department, while others direct an entire medical facility.
Transferable Skills
Pharmacy technicians have strong interpersonal communication skills, work to maintain patient privacy, and have strong computer skills.
They perform a variety of duties.
The skills that pharmacy technicians have can transition to a medical and health services manager career.
Potential Requirements
Medical and health services managers usually need to have a Bachelor’s degree.
Some employers may only require an associate degree, while others require their medical and health services managers to have a Master’s degree.
Pharmacy technicians who want to work in this career need to gain experience in a clinical role or an administrative role.
Working as a pharmacy technician is a good start when you want to have a medical and health services manager career.
Benefits
Medical and health services managers earned an average salary of $110,680 in 2023.
There is an expected much faster-than-average job growth outlook for medical and health services managers through 2033.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that there will be an average of 61,600 new jobs added each year for medical and health services managers over the next decade.
6. Medical Assistant
Description
Medical assistants schedule patient appointments.
They interview patients and take their vital signs.
They help physicians with patients’ examinations.
Medical assistants give medications or injections to patients under the direction of a physician.
They perform a variety of other administrative and clerical duties, depending on their employer or their medical specialty.
Transferable Skills
Medical assistants and pharmacy technicians both need to have good interpersonal skills and communication skills.
They both need to have good organizational skills.
Pharmacy technicians perform inventory management skills, which medical assistants perform as part of their duties.
Helping patients to understand their medications is another skill that is required by both medical assistants and pharmacy technicians.
Potential Requirements
Pharmacy technicians do not need to earn a degree to work as medical assistants.
Most medical assistants complete an accredited medical assistant program.
Some states require medical assistants to have a license or certification.
Pharmacy technicians need to check their state’s requirements.
Benefits
The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that there will be much faster than average job growth for medical assistants over 10 years when compared to other occupations.
The average salary for medical assistants is higher than the average salary for pharmacy technicians.
Tips for Transitioning Careers
Pharmacy technicians who want to change careers can leverage their existing skills in their resumes and job interviews.
Learning the educational and work requirements for the career that they want to work in helps them to make a smooth transition to an alternative career.
Earning a degree and earning a certification can help pharmacy technicians who want to change careers.
Gaining work experience can help them to transition into a new career.
Conclusion
Pharmacy technicians have worked hard to gain valuable skills.
The skills that they have help them to make a smooth transition to an alternative career.
Job applicants who have strong computer skills, strong communication skills, who are detail-oriented, and who have strong organizational skills are valued by other employers.
Pharmacy technicians use these skills in their daily work duties.
Taking the next steps towards exploring and pursuing a new career can help pharmacy technicians who want to earn a better salary and who want their employer to value their skills.
