Western Washington Area Health Education Center
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
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WWAHEC
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
Health
Professionals/
Student Placement
Health Career
Information
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
HOPE
Preceptor & Site Resources
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Volunteer/Retired
Providers Program
K-12 Learning Resources
aka Science
Allied Health
Health Career
Information
HOPE
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Statewide Office
of Rural Health
Community Health
Assessment, Planning
& Development
Primary Care
Provider Recruitment
Shop
WWAHEC
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
Health
Professionals/
Student Placement
Health Career
Information
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
HOPE
Preceptor & Site Resources
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Volunteer/Retired
Providers Program
K-12 Learning Resources
aka Science
Allied Health
Health Career
Information
HOPE
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Statewide Office
of Rural Health
Community Health
Assessment, Planning
& Development
Primary Care
Provider Recruitment
Shop
Health Career Information
Pharmacy Assistant
Job description
The Pharmacy Assistant A helps pharmacists by mixing and filling prescriptions and by maintaining the pharmacy's stock levels.
Activities may include
●
mix pharmaceutical preparations under the direction and supervision of the pharmacist
●
prepare inventory; order and stock supplies
●
package and label drugs, chemicals and other pharmaceutical preparations
●
fill prescriptions with prepared drugs and compound sterile intravenous solutions under the supervision of a pharmacist
●
clean equipment and work areas in the pharmacy
●
sterilize bottles, beakers, and other glassware according to prescribed methods
●
compute charges for drugs
●
deliver prepared medications and run errands
Salaries and benefits*
Wages depend on the level of assistant and employer. Assistants working for hospitals or other health care facilities earn more than those working for community pharmacies. Pharmacy Assistants usually earn $1,387 to $1,785 per month, while a Technician usually earns $1,595 to $2,080 per month. Pharmacy Assistant level B working for the State of Washington earns $1,711 to $2,156 per month and a Pharmacy Assistant level A (Technician Level) earns $1,966 to $2,477 per month. Statewide, Pharmacy Technicians and Assistants average $1,733 to $2,201 per month. In the Northwest, Pharmacy Assistants working for health care facilities average $1,737 to $2,037 per month, while Pharmacy Technicians average $2,077 to $2,408 per month. Most Pharmacy Assistants work for a drugstore or medical facility and receive full benefits.
Training and requirements
Pharmacy Assistant A must complete an accredited course of study usually six to nine months, or, if working for a pharmacy, complete 520 hours of approved on-the-job training. Pharmacy Assistant B must meet on-the-job training requirements established by their employer. In Washington State, training is available at Apollo College, Bryman College (at the Everett, Port Orchard, Renton and Tacoma Campuses), Clark College, Clover Park Technical College, Edmonds Community College, Grays Harbor College, North Seattle Community College, the Pima Medical Institute (at both the Seattle and Renton campuses), Renton Technical College, Spokane Community College, and Tacoma Community College.
Necessary skills
●
above average ability to learn new task
●
good judgment in making decisions
●
excellent attention to detail
●
good math skills
●
ability to see slight differences in color and size
●
excellent eye/hand coordination
●
ability to use hands and fingers to move small objects
●
basic computer skills
●
ability to follow directions and work as a team member
Licensure/Certification
Pharmacy Technicians are certified by the Washington State Board of Pharmacy after completing an approved training course and background investigation.
●
Washington State Department
of Health
Board of Pharmacy
P.O. Box 47863
Olympia, WA 98504-7863
(360) 236-4825
https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/hpqa1/hps4/Pharmacy/default.htm
Helpful high school courses
Include algebra, biology, chemistry, computer science, English, foreign language, and math.
Colleges/Vocational Schools in Washington State
●
Apollo
College
10102 E. Knox, Suite 200
Spokane, WA 99206
(509) 532-8888
●
Bryman College
Everett Campus
(formerly Eton Technical
Institute)
906 Everett Mall Way, Ste. 600
Everett, WA 98208
(425) 789-7960
Port
Orchard Campus
(formerly Eton
Technical Institute)
3649 Frontage Rd.
Port Orchard, WA 98367
(360) 473-1120
Renton Campus
981 Powell Ave., Ste. 200
Renton, WA 98055
(425) 255-3281
Tacoma Campus
(formerly Eton Technical
Institute)
2156 Pacific Ave.
Tacoma, WA 98402
(253) 207-4000
●
Clark College
1800 E. McLoughlin Blvd.
Vancouver, WA 98663
(360) 992-2000
●
Clover Park Technical College
4500 Steilacoom Blvd. SW
Tacoma, WA 98499-4098
(253) 589-5678
●
Edmonds
Community College
2000 68th Ave. W.
Lynnwood, WA 98036-5999
(425) 640-1459
●
Grays Harbor College
1620 Edward P. Smith Dr.
Aberdeen, WA 98520
(800) 562-4830
●
North Seattle Community College
9600 College Way N.
Seattle, WA 98103-3599
(206) 527-3639
Pima Medical Institute
(800) 477-PIMA
Renton Campus
555 S. Renton Village Pl.
Renton, WA 98055
Seattle Campus
1627 Eastlake Ave. East
Seattle, WA 98102
●
Renton Technical College
3000 NE Fourth St.
Renton, WA 98056-4195
(425) 235-2352
●
Spokane Community College
North 1810 Greene St.
Spokane, WA 99207-5399
(509) 533-7000
●
Tacoma Community College
6501 S. 19th St.
Tacoma, WA 98466-6139
(253) 566-5000
Outlook*
The job outlook in Washington for Pharmacy Assistants is good and expected to grow 17% by 2008. Nationally, this occupation is expected to grow 16% by the year 2008. It is estimated that there will be 124 new employment opportunities annually in this field. Currently there are about 3,131 certified Pharmacy Technicians in Washington State.
Professional Associations
●
American Association of Pharmacy Technicians
P.O. Box 1447
Greensboro. NC 27402
(336) 275-1700
http://www.pharmacytechnician.com
●
American Pharmacists Association
2215 Constitution Ave.
NW
Washington, DC 20037-2985
(202) 628-4410
(800) 237-2742
http://www.aphanet.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
●
American Society of Health-System
Pharmacists
7272 Wisconsin Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20814-1439
(301) 657-3000
http://www.ashp.com
* Note: General career descriptions are updated as necessary, however salary expectations and projected outlooks have not been updated since 2000. Go to Workforce Explorer Washington and search your career for the most up-to-date salary and job growth expectations. Washington Healthcare Careers and Workforce College are also good resources for job information.
For additional information, contact your school's career counselor or
WWAHEC
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
Page updated 9/15/04