What do you love about being a pharmacy technician?

I chose this career after serving in the military. I thought it would be a good way to help serve the public in the healthcare sector. I was always interested in calculations, formulas, and the history of apothecaries, so I decided to pursue an Associate Degree. I have been PTCB-certified for 20 years now and have been with the same employer for the last 17 years. I obtained a Bachelor's in Business Management and most recently added to my pharmacy education with the Advanced Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT-Adv) credential.

What advice would you give pharmacy technicians as they explore their career paths?

I would recommend that anyone who chooses this career avoid becoming complacent and always look for ways to increase their knowledge of pharmacy. It is an ever-changing environment in the areas of federal/state laws, rules and regulations, new medications, payor reimbursement, and clinical duties. Take time to invest in yourself and become an asset to any organization where you work.

What are some ways pharmacy technicians can avoid becoming complacent?

Complacency prevents you from trying harder, making improvements, and performing at the same level you once did. You can avoid complacency in your work environment by:

• Letting go of your limits

• Taking on responsibility

• Mixing up your routine

• Challenging yourself

• Understanding your own vision

Can you provide more detail about your role in the military? Did any of those skills transfer to your pharmacy roles?

I served in the U.S. Army at the rank of specialist as a crewman on the M1A2 battle tank. I was a tank gunner which is quite a contrast from what I do now. There are few similarities in the job duties except for the ongoing training and the mentality of the job. You see, the number one focus of my job in the military was the safety of my life and the lives of people around me. This is in line with my responsibility for the safety of the patients I serve now. Patient safety, when dealing with pharmaceuticals in a retail setting, is and always will be held in the highest regard. Patients trust their pharmacy professionals to protect them and make sure their medications and prescriptions have been thoroughly handled by the pharmacy team from the point of receiving the prescription, processing, and deciphering the what and why, to dispensing it correctly and efficiently.

In my setting, one of the first telepharmacies in North Dakota, the pharmacist is in a different location in another town on a camera used for prescription verification, product verification, and consulting. Pretty much all other duties are handled by the technician, so I have a huge range of responsibilities to keep the pharmacy fully functional.

Tell us about a time that changed your career trajectory.

Upon nearing the end of my tour with the army, I had a huge career shift. I went from being in a battle tank to starting and completing technical school in two years, launching my pharmacy career, then completing a bachelor's program in business management while working, and next gaining my Advanced Certified Pharmacy Technician credential. This all shifted my career trajectory. My occupation as a pharmacy technician has been the same but my duties and responsibilities are ever-changing. I believe personal progress and gaining more education and certifications will lead to advanced roles and open doors to more opportunities for me in the future.

How have PTCB’s certificates helped you?

My PTCB certificates and my CPhT-Adv credential help my career by expanding my knowledge in each area of study and showing my drive to become better at what I do.

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