Simple Steps to Becoming a Great Pharmacy Technician

You see the news reports every day. You see the numerous infomercials on the exciting and rewarding career as a pharmacy technician. This career choice is in high demand. Yes you may go to your local drug store, fill out an application, and become a pharmacy tech in no time. Wrong!!! That is the easy way and it’s the less rewarding way to become a pharmacy technician. If you want to go from a pharmacy technician with no credibility to a great pharmacy tech where employers are knocking down your door, you need to follow these steps to achieve the much needed success you desire and deserve.We live in an era where litigation cases have doubled. If you want to protect yourself from these money hungry henchmen, you must educate yourself and stay current on every aspect of your career field. Becoming a pharmacy tech has many benefits, but it also comes with a boat load of responsibility. Over the years, I have seen many organizations formed to protect the consumers and patients from the careless behavior of many health care workers. In order to protect you and get the much needed credibility that you deserve, many states are requiring that an exam is passed to work behind the counter of a pharmacy. So starting off, step number one in becoming a great pharmacy technician is passing the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam.Passing the pharmacy technician certification exam places you in an elite group of individuals. You may now practice in states that previously wouldn’t even allow you to apply. This exam goes in depth about many areas of pharmacy. Passing the exam lets employers know that you are competent. There are many areas of pharmacy that you may venture into, but the actual exam covers topics from every area possible. Whether you are going to practice in a retail setting or go for the higher wage and practice in an institutional setting, the exam will cover topics in both areas. If you want to go from good to great, try getting some hands on experience.Passing the certification exam is a start, but I would go a step further and get some type of formal training. Passing an exam gives you the mental knowledge, but getting hands on training puts you in the line of fire. You get to “get your hands dirty” so to speak. I attended a junior college and completed my pharmacy technician training. I received a technical diploma for all my hard work and dedication. Not only did I receive my technical diploma, I got the best hands on training in the form of an externship. There are many training facilities that are forming. When making your decision, only consider schools that are accredited and recognized by the different pharmacy organizations. So you have your certification out the way, you took your formal training at an accredited school for pharmacy, now for the final piece of the puzzle.The final piece of the puzzle is staying up to date on your CE requirements. CE requirements or also known as continuing education credits are credits that Certified Pharmacy Technicians must complete in a timely manner in order to stay in good standing or remain Certified. These CE credits can take the form of online quizzes given by accredited organizations, or it can even be lectures and seminars that are given all across the country. Although these requirements can be completed in a short amount of time, they are normally packed with enormous amounts of information that will be beneficial to the pharmacy tech.So there you have it. Some basic steps to take that can have a huge impact on your career as a pharmacy technician. Don’t be your average pharmacy technician. Go above and beyond on what the everyday pharmacy technician does to get a paycheck. Stand out from the crowd and be different. Take the simple steps to advance your career. Doing this will allow you to reap huge rewards in the near future.

US Markets in green on Friday; Dow 30 up over 345 points, Nasdaq Composite, S&P 500 up nearly 1%

US Markets were trading in the green on Friday with Dow 30 trading at 30,678.80, up by 1.14%. While S&P 500 was trading at 3,701.66, up by 0.98% and Nasdaq Composite 10,690.60 was also up by 0.71 per cent

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US Markets in green on Friday; Dow 30 up over 345 points, Nasdaq Composite, S&P 500 up nearly 1%
Earlier today, Indian stock markets ended the week on a winning note. It was the sixth straight gains for equity markets. Source: Reuters
US Markets were trading in the green on Friday with Dow 30 trading at 30,678.80, up by 345.25 points or1.14 per cent. While S&P 500 was trading at 3,701.66, up by 35.88 points or 0.98 per cent and Nasdaq Composite 10,690.60 was also up 75.75 points or 0.71 per cent. A Reuters report said that today’s strength was on the back of a report which said the Federal Reserve will likely debate on signaling plans for a smaller interest rate hike in December, reversing declines set off by social media firms after Snap Inc’s ad warning.

Source: Comex

Nasdaq Top Gainers and Losers

Source: Nasdaq

Earlier today, Indian stock markets ended the week on a winning note. It was the sixth straight gains for equity markets. The BSE Sensex ended at 59,307.15, up by 104.25 points or 0.18 per cent from the Thursday closing level. Meanwhile, the Nifty50 index closed at 17,590.00, higher by 26.05 points or 0.15 per cent. In the 30-share Sensex, 13 stocks gained while the remaining 17 ended on the losing side. In the 50-stock Nifty50, 21 stocks advanced while 29 declined.

The Good and the Bad About Online Education

The availability of online education has grown significantly over the past decade and to the point where it is now an option that almost all college and university students think about when comparing their education options. You can not only do online courses and online degrees, but you can fully go attend an online school and graduate with a degree without ever setting foot in a classroom.Even though it is now a viable option there are sound arguments about the pros and cons of online courses, online degrees, and online schools. The following will take a look at the pros and the cons of online education.The Pros of Online Education SchoolsWhen it comes to online schools, most of the pros revolve around the flexibility and convenience that online courses offer to students. Those who advocate for online education often cite these pros:• There is no commute• You can continue to work and pursue your career while going to school• Online school options continue to grow and there is no shortage of online education degrees to consider• Many of the major colleges and universities now offer programs online• Location is no longer a big of a factor when deciding which school to attend• More and more careers are internet based, so doing your degree online makes sense• Online education is ideal for many people that are more introverted and prefer an online learning environment• It is an ideal option for people with physical disabilities• People often are more comfortable engaging with others in an online environmentThe Cons of Online SchoolsWhen it comes to the cons associated with online schools, most of the cons are related to isolation and lack of interaction in the classroom. Those who argue against online education often cite these cons:• There is a lack of human interaction• You miss out on the college experience• There is something to be said about the debates and discussions that occur in a traditional classroom setting• Quality of education is often questioned• Some employers still see online degrees as less credible than traditional degrees• The onus to complete course work is solely on you – some people will have difficulty with this• Online courses open the door for procrastinationThere are good and there are bad things about online education. While it is convenient and the world is now more digital and online-based than ever, there is something to be said about the lack of interaction and quality of education that you can receive online.Overall, when considering your education options, you need to think about the academic situation that makes most sense for you and your current situation. An online school may make sense for you, or it may not. The choice is yours! Just make sure you fairly consider all of your options before making a final decision.