3 Benefits Of A Career As A Pharmacy Technician At CVS

A Chance to Make a Difference - Pharmacy techs are extremely valuable resources to customers who have questions about their medications, how much medicine they need to take, when they'll start to feel better, and other medical matters. Sometimes the calming and reassuring voice of a pharmacy technician can be a comfort to a customer going through a health crisis. It's not unusual for pharmacy techs and customers to be on a first-name basis, especially at the retail level.

Pharmacy technicians are also sometimes advocates as they work with doctors, insurance companies, and various CVS Health programs to help customers in need of financial assistance. Those who advance in the field have a chance to work with patients on a more personal level.

Geographic Flexibility - With almost 10,000 retail locations in 49 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, job seekers have a great opportunity to find a pharmacy tech position close to where they live, or where they may want to live. It's nice to have options!

Entry Into the Healthcare Profession - There is a growing demand to fill positions in healthcare jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow 15% in the next decade, which is much faster than the average for all occupations, adding about 2.4 million new jobs.

Whether you're a student studying medicine, a professional looking to break into the field, or just someone looking to make a career change, a pharmacy technician job is a great starting point.

There are many areas to grow just within the pharmacy tech field, but beyond that professionals have options for advancing their careers at CVS Health. Many with prominent careers at CVS Health have started as pharmacy technicians (more on that later). Some pharmacy technicians may also go on to work elsewhere in the medical/healthcare field.

How To Become A Pharmacy Technician At CVS Health

Those who apply for a pharmacy technician job must be at least 16 years old. Job seekers applying without any previous experience should research state licensing requirements by visiting their state's board of pharmacy website or by talking with the hiring manager.

There are no pharmacy technician license requirements in the states of Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C.

Most other states require registration at their boards of pharmacy and the completion of a pharmacy technician training program or certification. Fortunately, CVS Health has a program that meets the requirements of an accredited pharmacy training program.

Candidates selected for pharmacy technician jobs at CVS Health have to complete the company's pharmacy training program, LearnRx. This 120-day program teaches new pharm techs customer service skills, the business of pharmacy, patient safety, pharmacy workflow, and inventory.

Those who take part in the LearnRx program will have a strong support structure in place that includes the pharmacy manager, high-performing pharmacy technicians who double as coaches, and field colleague trainers.

Pharmacy Technician Roles At CVS Health

Pharmacy technician roles at CVS Health break down into the following categories.

Retail Pharmacy Technicians - Retail pharmacy technicians are very community-oriented as they often interact with the most people and are the first point of contact for patients getting their prescriptions and other medical needs met. Being a retail pharm tech is a great opportunity for an individual looking to mix their passions and expertise with customer service.

Long-Term Care Pharmacy Technicians - These positions could be a great opportunity for individuals looking to work in medical settings.

Omnicare long-term care pharmacy technicians provide much-needed care to those in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and chronic care settings by assisting with medication dispensing, medication orders, and helping with several other customer service matters.

Through Omnicare, an industry-leading long-term care pharmacy services provider, you have the chance to provide compassionate, supportive care to patients throughout the continuum of care.

Mail, Specialty, and PBM - Managed care pharmacy technicians for the company's pharmacy benefit management and mail-order business with CVS Caremark use innovative technology to provide high-quality care.

These pharm techs help patients understand and manage prescriptions. Job seekers interested in one of these specialty positions have a unique opportunity to maximize the efficiency of one of the most sophisticated pharmacy management systems in the industry.

How To Grow Your Career At CVS Health

Once you're part of the company, CVS Health not only gives its employees the tools to become the best pharmacy technicians possible but options to grow their careers.

All pharmacy technicians are encouraged to become nationally certified, and CVS Health offers additional classes and materials to help colleagues study for the national exam. The company will also sponsor eligible colleagues to take the exam by covering the cost of the exam. In states where ASHP/ACPE is required, CVS Health has an extended program to meet those needs and provide colleagues with the deeper level of knowledge necessary to satisfy the requirement.

Many pharmacy technicians that stay with CVS Health often further their skills to become a coach, inventory specialist, lead technician, or even a field colleague trainer.

Others have gone on to pursue different roles at CVS Health, including Matt DeSilva, who started as a pharmacy technician in 2004 and now serves as the company's manager of real estate and acquisitions.

"I was originally going to school to be a pharmacist, so I figured getting some store-level experience before college was a great start. When I ended up graduating with an economics degree instead, it was great to have that experience because it led to many more opportunities within the company," DeSilva says. "I liked that CVS Health is a big company with experience in different areas of health care, but also that going to your local CVS Pharmacy felt like they truly care about you."

Marquesha Atkism served as a staging pharmacy technician and pharmacy technician from 2012-2013, and now serves as the company's manager of account management for senior living.

"I began as a staging technician and quickly realized there was an opportunity to grow within the company," Atkism says. "The most exciting part of working for CVS Health is the opportunity to learn and grow within the company. CVS Health's culture makes staying with the company easy and ideal."

Benefits And Perks Of Working At CVS Health

CVS Health has built a strong reputation for its company culture and has been recognized by Fortune Magazine as one of the "World's Most Admired Companies" for seven consecutive years.

Three major areas that CVS Health builds its company culture around are creating an environment of diversity, inclusion, and belonging, maintaining talent that wants to grow with the company, and corporate social responsibility. The company is also committed to hiring veterans and has an award-winning internship program to help students break into the healthcare field.

Other Benefits and Perks of Working at CVS Health:

• Robust health benefits, including free health screenings and immunizations
• Health and wellness programs
• Employee stock purchase program
• Parental leave/adoption coverage/assistance
• Career growth programs
• Merchandise discounts from CVS/pharmacy
• Education reimbursement
• Employee assistance program

Pharmacy Technician Jobs Near Me

Are you interested in a pharmacy technician career at CVS Health? Visit the company's pharmacy technician page to learn more about these exciting career opportunities.

CVS Health is also currently seeking entry-level and experienced pharmacy technicians to join their COVID-19 Support Team.