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How does Retail Pharmacy tech. compare to hospital Pharmacy tech?
Once I complete my certification I want to go into working at the hospital, but a lot of people recommend working retail like Walgreens or CVS.
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5 answers
Updated
Patricia’s Answer
Think about this: being a pharmacy technician can lead to jobs in creating EHR software. I know many pharmacists and technicians who help build medication records and check pharmacy processes. Working in a hospital can teach you about infusion procedures and the challenges with biosimilar medications, which are becoming more common.
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martha’s Answer
I was able to be a pharm tech at CVS when I was in high school and it was great! I wanted to transition into a hospital setting but never happened for me because I ended up pursuing a different career.
Retail can be very fast paced (at least the location I was at was). Day to day: running the drive thru, filling prescriptions, answering phones, adding in insurance, putting up stock, taking in new prescriptions, and dealing with the public.
To my understanding the hospital aspect is still fast paced but you don’t have to deal with the drive thru or the general public, you’d be interacting with coworkers and doctors throughout the hospital.
Retail can be very fast paced (at least the location I was at was). Day to day: running the drive thru, filling prescriptions, answering phones, adding in insurance, putting up stock, taking in new prescriptions, and dealing with the public.
To my understanding the hospital aspect is still fast paced but you don’t have to deal with the drive thru or the general public, you’d be interacting with coworkers and doctors throughout the hospital.
Updated
Zakari’s Answer
Hi Mariah,
I recommend you start as a retail pharmacy tech for 2 years then transition to the hospital to get the feel of it first. Plus, it’s easier to get a job with little to no experience, you’re able to learn the ins and outs of insurances, and it a great opportunity for you to gain the required hours to get a certification. Hospitals want you to already have the experience and it’s more competitive. However, the hospital do have more opportunities and offer more pay.
I recommend you start as a retail pharmacy tech for 2 years then transition to the hospital to get the feel of it first. Plus, it’s easier to get a job with little to no experience, you’re able to learn the ins and outs of insurances, and it a great opportunity for you to gain the required hours to get a certification. Hospitals want you to already have the experience and it’s more competitive. However, the hospital do have more opportunities and offer more pay.
Updated
Mary’s Answer
All pharmacy techs are involved in dispensing prescriptions and inventory management, however in hospitals techs often work in sterile and oncology preparations, drug distribution, while retail techs often are responsible for administering vaccines under guidance of pharmacists, and have more face to face interactions with patients. It is best to consider certification to work in either setting
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Jing’s Answer
Hi Mariah,
With your questions, understood that you’re on the right path now. Here are some tips for your reference:
1. From work type and work environment standpoint, hospital pharmacy tech needs to work with doctors/nurses, it's more structured and team based, less dealing with public, it can handle IV meds, sterile compounding, emergency meds which is clinical/medical focus; retail pharmacy tech needs to treat customer service and pharmacy operations, which need to face lots of customers.
2. From salary and benefits standpoint, hospital techs usually earn more and have better benefits but retail tends to start lower pay.
3. From career development standpoint, hospital pharmacy tech is usually the long-term “better” job with more advancement opportunities, but it requires certification + experience; retail pharmacy tech is entry door into pharmacy world, as beginner, you can be with little experience or no experience, but it has limited advancement unless you become pharmacist or move to management.
Agree to others, the best choice for you is to start in retail and then move to hospital ASAP. You can get certified firstly and work in retail for 6-12 months to gain experience, then apply to hospitals, this is the easiest way. For sure if you can obtain experience with internships, you can try to apply directly to hospital after certification.
Best wishes and good luck
With your questions, understood that you’re on the right path now. Here are some tips for your reference:
1. From work type and work environment standpoint, hospital pharmacy tech needs to work with doctors/nurses, it's more structured and team based, less dealing with public, it can handle IV meds, sterile compounding, emergency meds which is clinical/medical focus; retail pharmacy tech needs to treat customer service and pharmacy operations, which need to face lots of customers.
2. From salary and benefits standpoint, hospital techs usually earn more and have better benefits but retail tends to start lower pay.
3. From career development standpoint, hospital pharmacy tech is usually the long-term “better” job with more advancement opportunities, but it requires certification + experience; retail pharmacy tech is entry door into pharmacy world, as beginner, you can be with little experience or no experience, but it has limited advancement unless you become pharmacist or move to management.
Agree to others, the best choice for you is to start in retail and then move to hospital ASAP. You can get certified firstly and work in retail for 6-12 months to gain experience, then apply to hospitals, this is the easiest way. For sure if you can obtain experience with internships, you can try to apply directly to hospital after certification.
Best wishes and good luck