Pharmacy Associate Degree Online
Guide to programs offering an Associate Degree in Pharmacy
If you're looking for a career in the medical field but don't want to spend the million years (and small fortune) it takes to become a doctor, then you might want to consider getting your pharmacy associate degree.
With a pharmacy associate degree you'll embark on a career as a pharmacy technician. You'd work in a pharmacy processing prescriptions, preparing medication, and distributing medications to customers, allowing the pharmacist to have more one-on-one time with customers.
This is a field that has recently skyrocketed in demand, mainly because the pharmacy industry is experiencing so much growth. Wondering why they're growing? It's all because of the current senior population, and the upcoming Baby Boomers, all who will be taking more and more medication the older they get. Stores like Walgreens, Rite-Aid, and CVS are popping up everywhere, and they're looking for highly skilled professionals to come work in their drugstores.
The reason why getting a pharmacy associate degree is such a good idea is because you have to have one to work in this industry. This means that you have a very good chance of finding a job, since the labor pool is extremely low compared to many other degrees.
This field is also one of the fastest growing fields in the country, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Through 2016, an estimated 376,000 new pharmacy tech jobs will open up in response to this rapid growth. This is good news for people with a pharmacy associate degree.
With a pharmacy associate degree you'll be learning things like:
- Chemistry
- Pharmaceutical Calculations
- Psychology
- Human Relations
- Human Structure and Function
- Pharmacy Inventory Management
- And much more!
You'll also acquire a ton of important skills that will be vital in your career. By the time you're done with your pharmacy associate degree, you'll know:
- Patient care skills
- Different drugs, and their uses
- Ethics and customer service
- Pharmacy procedural skills
- Prescription processing
- Pharmacy software and other equipment
- Medical terminology
- And much more!
So, job outlook looks fantastic, you'll be learning lots of really cool things, so there's only one thing left to ask: how much can you make with a pharmacy associate degree?
Well, it varies. But before you throw up your hands in frustration, hear us out for a minute. A lot has to do with where you're located. Obviously pharmacy technicians in a metropolitan area are going to make more than a rural one. So, the range is pretty wide, from $8 an hour to $17 an hour or more.
But, keep in mind that these wages will most likely go up as demand increases. When a company needs you badly and you've got the skills to do the job, you'll be able to ask for a higher salary and probably get it. So, don't let these figures discourage you. They're bound to go up.
So, if you're interested in medical field then the future looks pretty bright if you go with a pharmacy associate degree. You won't have trouble finding a job, that's for sure!
