In any one of its 10 locations throughout the Sunshine State, Everest University (Formerly known as Florida Metropolitan University-FMU) offers a vast assortment of career training programs from accounting to massage therapy. Prospective students interested in earning their associate or bachelor’s degrees, or would like to earn a diploma have the options to do so in a variety of vocational programs like medical assisting, pharmacy technician, or even an MBA (Masters in Business Administration).

For example, the massage therapy program at Everest University provides hands-on training in core massage techniques including Swedish and deep tissue massage and neuromuscular therapy. In addition to practical education, students learn how to do orthopedic assessments, about anatomy and pathology, and acquire necessary skills through courses in medical law, ethics, adjunctive therapy, and business management. Massage therapist entrepreneurs find these supplementary courses both informative and essential in making the move towards opening private massage businesses or day spas. Upon completion of this program, graduates are awarded a diploma and are career ready for entry-level employment as professional massage therapists.

If you find the field of medicine appealing, the pharmacy technician program at Everest University is a great career training course that teaches candidates the fundamentals of working in the pharmaceutical industry. Students participating in this course of study learn about anatomy and physiology; digestive, respiratory and reproductive systems; healthcare systems; medical terminology, nutrition, pharmacology, pharmacy administration, pharmaceutical calculations; and more. Graduates of this program can go onto achieving occupations as pharmacy technicians in pharmacies, retail outlets, hospitals, medical centers, and other healthcare-related facilities. Earnings for pharmacy technicians range from nine dollars to over $16 hourly.

Want to earn a degree in medical assisting? At Everest University, students have the option to enroll in its associate in science degree in Medical Assisting program where they gain necessary skills and education in anatomy and physiology, EKG interpretation, clinical assisting, medical computer applications, medical coding, pharmacology, phlebotomy; among other coursework. Today, medical assistants have the potential to earn upwards of $34,000+ annually.

While aforementioned programs are just a sampling of the over 20 educational courses available at Everest University, prospective students are pleased knowing that Everest University’s Student Finance Planners also assist students in searching for adequate financial aid to meet educational goals. Everest University also participates in a variety of federal and state student financial assistance programs (for students who qualify). Furthermore, Everest University is an accredited university that has met or surpassed standards for educational quality.

Boasting online courses and flexible day and evening classes, Everest University extends career service assistance to its students, which helps students in developing job-winning resumes, interview preparedness and support in locating gainful employment. HolisticJunction.com acknowledges Everest University and applauds its comprehensive programs in professional vocational training.

If you would like more information about this diverse career training university, please visit Everest University today.

Salary source: Bls.gov (US Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Featured School of the Week: Everest University

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Pharma is reckoned as a growth industry of the future. It is a fast growing sector second only to IT growing annually at 15%. Jobs in the pharmaceutical industry range from those in sales and marketing to high-end specialist R&D jobs.

Pharmaceutical science deals with the development and preparation of drugs. A pharmacist works in research laboratories to develop new drugs from natural and synthetic sources, reduce the side effects of the drugs sold in the market and ensures the quality of existing formulations.

The minimum qualification for becoming a qualified pharmacist is a two-year diploma in pharmacy. The minimum qualification is 10+2 (PCB/M). On completing the course, you must undergo practical training for three months in a recognised hospital, pharmacy or dispensary. A mere diploma will only qualify you for the job of a pharmacy technician or dispensing pharmacist in hospitals.

A four-year Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy (BPharm) leads to openings in drug manufacturing industries and food and drug control organizations. Educational qualification required for this course is 10+2 (PCM/B). These courses are offered by a number of institutes. You can find some Medical Colleges india at globeeducation.org

Depending on the extent of study and the area you specialize in (pharmacology, pharmaceutics, hospital pharmacy or quality assurance) study, you can opt for research.

Teaching is another option after a Master’s degree holder. Pharmacy graduates are also appointed by the government as drug inspectors and drug analysts. Hospitals also hire pharmacist consultants to advise physicians on the precise dosage, schedules and possible side effects of the various drugs.

While a diploma-holder can work as a pharmacist in hospitals or as a pharmacy technician, BPharm or MPharm degree-holders can apply for jobs in the pharmaceutical industry.

Although there are limited research openings in India, those with doctoral and post-doctoral qualifications find challenging avenues in R&D labs abroad. Apart from the drug manufacturing industry, pharmacists are also employed in the chemical industry and food and drug control organizations.

In the not so distant past when you walked into a pharmacy needing to get a prescription filled you would have, in most instances, found that your prescription was actually filled by the on duty pharmacists. However, over the past few years a change has occurred in the pharmacist arena and that change is, “a pharmacist probably no longer filling your prescriptions”. Although pharmacists are on duty wherever medications are dispensed; today in most instances, a pharmacy technician or pharmacy assistant are the ones filling prescriptions.

Pharmacy Technicians and assistants have existed for some time but their roles have evolved for a variety of reasons.

A big reason is that they help to reduce health care costs because they get paid much less than a certified pharmacist. Another important reason is that it simply makes sense. Pharmacy technicians and assistants are trained to handle routine work (fill prescriptions and customer service), which frees up the pharmacists to focus more of their time on supervisory duties, as well as patient care.

Melissa Murer, Executive Director of the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, put it this way, “Pharmacists are becoming more focused on patient care, so pharmacy technicians are needed to perform more of the distributive functions.”

In this brief (but hopefully informative article) I attempt to demonstrate what pharmacy technician and assistants do and where they do it.

In general, they assist licensed pharmacists in providing medication and health care to patients by preparing and filling prescriptions and performing clerical tasks. Duties are similar but pharmacy technicians generally have more responsibilities. In addition, technicians and assistants are required to be closely supervised by a licensened pharmacist, although the laws defining what “being supervised” entails, varies by state.

In addition to having all of their prescriptions checked by a pharmacist, technicians and assistants must also direct all patient questions regarding drug information, health matters or prescriptions to the pharmacist.

Pharmacy Technicians

Technicians follow specific procedures when filling prescriptions. After receiving an initial prescription or refill request, they must verify that the prescription information is accurate and then count, pour, retrieve, weigh, measure and if necessary, mix the required medication for the prescription. The next step is to prepare and affix the labels to the proper container. After filling the prescription the technician will then price and file it. Another important aspect of a technician’s job is to prepare patient insurance forms and establish and maintain patient profiles.

In retail pharmacies, technicians will also stock and take inventory of medications (both prescription and over-the-counter) maintain equipment and help manage the till.

In many hospitals, technicians have the responsibility to read the doctors orders from a patients’ chart, prepare and then deliver the medication after it’s been checked by a pharmacist. They may also enter information about patients’ medical records (regarding their medications) or put together a supply (normally 24 hours) of medicine for patients, including the labeling and packaging of each dose. But just like technicians working in a retail pharmacy, each package is checked by the supervising pharmacist before being given to a patient and they also maintain inventories of medicine and other supplies.

Pharmacy Assistants

Duties are similar to pharmacy technicians and while hospitals and pharmacies employ pharmacy assistants, the number of available positions is generally less than technicians. In retail pharmacies they work as clerks or cashiers, answer phones, handle money and perform clerical duties. In hospitals they also deliver medications and assist in stocking shelves.

Pharmacy technicians and assistants work in clean well-organized areas but are required to spend most of their workday on their feet. And because more and more pharmacies are open 24-hours a day work hours can vary with technicians and assistants are often required to work odds hours (nights, evenings and weekends). Therefore, there are many opportunities to work part-time in 24-hour pharmacies. In addition, a percentage of both technicians and assistants work part time because they are studying to become pharmacists.

States have traditionally required a one-to-one ratio of pharmacist to technician but that is also expected to change. Mark Boesen, Director of Government and Student Affairs for the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, has stated that: “Many of the major employers of technicians are expanding the number of their facilities and boards of pharmacy in some States are allowing the legal ratio of technicians to pharmacists to expand. This is a very promising field to work in.”

An increasing demand for technicians with greater responsibility has prompted some States to revise their one-to-one ratio of pharmacist to technician to two or three technicians per pharmacist.

As pharmacy technicians take on more and more tasks previously performed by pharmacists, they must also learn and master new technology. A good example is the increased use (by many pharmacies) of robotic machines to dispense medicines. Technicians will be required to oversee the machine, stock bins and label containers.

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