So, you’re thinking about becoming a pharmacist—but wondering if starting out as a pharmacy technician is worth it? I know, I know. You’re might think, “Why would I want to be a tech first when I could just jump straight into a pharmacy program?”
Fair question, my friend. Let’s talk about how starting as a tech can give you real-world experience and why taking that step can be a smart move for your future in pharmacy.
1. A pharm tech certification is a lower risk investment than a doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) degree
Pharmacists need a lot of education. A potential pharmacist must apply to pharmacy school, gain acceptance, complete the program and earn their PharmD degree, a pursuit that takes many years. (Please note that Rasmussen does not offer a PharmD program.1)
A PharmD program isn’t just expensive, it’s also demanding. The last thing you want is to spend years (and thousands of dollars) pursuing a pharmacy degree only to realize the field isn’t a fit.
Pharmacy technician programs, on the other hand, can be completed in as few as 9 months!2
Starting as a pharmacy technician gives you a front-row seat to what the job is really like. I’ve seen pharmacy techs start out eager to become pharmacists, only to find out they hated the fast-paced retail pharmacy setting or the stress of handling insurance claims. And that’s okay! It’s better to figure that out before sending out pharmacy school applications.
One former coworker was set on becoming a pharmacist. She loved the science, the patient care and the idea of helping people. But after a few months as a tech, she started dreading coming to work. The fast-paced environment, dealing with angry customers and constantly fighting with insurance companies completely drained her.
One day, after a particularly bad shift, she looked at me and said, “I can’t do this for the rest of my life.” She ended up switching career paths before ever stepping foot in pharmacy school, saving herself years of frustration and student debt.
On the flip side, my pharmacy tech experience solidified my decision to go from technician to pharmacist. Sure, the job had its frustrating moments, but I thrived on the challenge. I loved learning about medications, helping patients and solving problems. There was one elderly patient who came in weekly with medication questions, and I became her go-to. That trust confirmed this was the right career for me.
2. You get paid to learn as a pharmacy technician
Let’s be real, pharmacy school is expensive. But guess what? When you start as a pharmacy technician, you’re getting paid to gain hands-on experience. Instead of just learning about filling prescriptions and insurance in a classroom, you’ll be doing it and earning a paycheck.
By the time you get to a pharmacy program, you’ll already know your way around a pharmacy, and that puts you ahead of the game. When I first started as a pharmacy tech, I barely knew the difference between ibuprofen and acetaminophen.
Seriously, I thought they were interchangeable.
But after a few months, I could process prescriptions, troubleshoot insurance issues, and even predict which meds would be on backorder. I wasn’t just learning the technical skills either. I was learning how to juggle tasks, talk to patients, and explain medication instructions in plain language.
These are all things that helped me hit the ground running once I started my PharmD program. Here are some of the best things you'll gain from the pharm tech work experience.
Navigating insurance
One of the biggest lessons? Insurance. Before becoming a pharmacy technician, I had no clue how complicated coverage could be. But after months of re-submitting claims and fielding patient questions, I understood the system better than many of my classmates did when we all worked through the PharmD.
I even became the go-to in my study group for decoding third-party rejections.
Learning how drugs interact with each other
Let’s talk about drug interactions. While checking drug interactions wasn’t officially my job, my pharmacist knew I wanted to go from pharmacy technician to pharmacist and would quiz me during slow shifts.
At first, I’d freeze like a deer in headlights. But over time, I started spotting the usual suspects like how warfarin interacts with just about everything or why you never mix metronidazole and alcohol unless you want to ruin someone’s night.
Seeing these real-world situations made pharmacology in school feel way more familiar.
Learning how to talk to patients
Another advantage? Customer service skills! I used to think pharmacists just counted pills all day. Oh, how wrong I was! Turns out, a huge part of the job is talking to patients, solving problems and managing stress. Working as a pharmacy tech taught me patience, professionalism and how to keep calm when someone’s yelling about a rejected prescription.
By the time I got to my PharmD program, I had so much more confidence than I would have otherwise. I had already worked with patients, handled the tough stuff and seen what the job really looks like. You can’t get that from a textbook.
3. You’ll know more about your ideal career situation
Working as a tech helped me learn what wasn’t for me. I realized I wanted to move beyond retail pharmacy.
That’s why, after pharmacy school, I completed a residency and specialized as an oncology pharmacist. Today, I work in a hospital pharmacy, focusing on chemotherapy and collaborating with doctors.
Even though I took a different path, the foundation I gained as a pharmacy technician still helps me every day. The attention to detail, patient communication, and critical thinking I developed are assets in every corner of the healthcare industry. And that matters for any branch of pharmacy you go into.
4. You build strong relationships (that can help you later!)
Networking is everything in the pharmacy world. When you work as a pharmacy technician, you’ll meet licensed pharmacists who can mentor you, write recommendation letter and maybe even help you land a great pharmacy internship.
When I was a tech, I worked under an amazing pharmacist who taught me way more than my training manual ever could. She walked me through the nuances of drug interactions, how to work with difficult patients, and even gave me study tips for the pharmacy technician certification exam. Later on, she wrote me a glowing recommendation for pharmacy school, which I’m sure played a big role in me getting accepted.
But it wasn’t just about recommendations, it was about learning from someone who had been there. She would quiz me on different medications during slow shifts, pushing me to think critically rather than just memorize.
One time, a patient came in with a new prescription, and before even looking at it, she asked me, “Based on what they’ve been taking, what kind of medication do you think this is?” Moments like that sharpened my clinical thinking—skills that later became essential in my PharmD program.
Even after I became a pharmacist, the connections I made as a pharmacy tech continued to help me. The relationships I built with other technicians, licensed pharmacists, and even pharmacy sales reps opened doors to new jobs, mentorship, and career advice. The pharmacy industry is a small world, and having a strong network can make a big difference.
5. You’ll master the basics early on
Pharmacy school throws a lot at you fast. But if you’ve already worked as a pharmacy technician, you’re not walking in blind. You’ll know how to read a prescription, understand sig codes and navigate a pharmacy system. That real-world pharmacy technician experience gives you a solid foundation. One that can make your PharmD program feel a lot more manageable.
I remember sitting in my first-year class while the professor explained DAW (Dispense as Written) codes and the difference between brand-name and generic drugs. Half the class of pharmacy students looked lost. Meanwhile, I had already seen these things in action.
It was a game-changer for me. Not only did I understand these concepts, but I had real-life experience applying them. I wasn’t just memorizing information for a test, I already knew how these things worked in an actual pharmacy setting.
Very few paths in the healthcare industry let you gain hands-on experience before committing to years of school. Future surgeons don’t get to try surgery first. Law students don’t draft briefs before law school. But as a pharmacy tech, you’re already working alongside licensed pharmacists, helping patients, solving problems and seeing what the job actually looks like.
That makes the jump from student to professional feel a lot more natural.
6. You’ll develop exceptional patience
Let’s be honest, pharmacy can be stressful. You’ll deal with frustrated patients, insurance headaches and prescriptions written in handwriting that looks like ancient hieroglyphics. Working as a pharmacy technician before becoming a pharmacist is like boot camp for patience and problem-solving. You learn how to handle these daily challenges with calm (and maybe just a little eye-rolling).
I once had a customer yell at me because his insurance wouldn’t cover his medication. Old me might’ve panicked. But tech me? I stayed calm, explained the situation and offered options. And these scenarios don’t magically disappear when you earn your pharmacy degree—they become yours to solve, with added expectations around pharmacy law and your responsibility for people working under your charge.
Having that early experience as a tech made a huge difference once I stepped into the role of a licensed pharmacist.
Many pharmacy technicians take on a variety of roles. In retail, you might manage insurance claims. In hospital settings, you could assist with sterile compounding. And in long-term care, you’ll help prepare blister packs. Some techs even work in specialty pharmacy, supporting complex therapies for chronic conditions. Getting this kind of exposure helps you understand where you might want to focus your career. That kind of insight is valuable.
7. It looks great on your pharmacy school application
Pharmacy school is competitive, and real-world experience can give you an edge. When you apply with a pharmacy technician background, you’re not just saying, “I think I want to be a pharmacist.” You’re showing that you’ve worked alongside licensed pharmacists, seen the reality of the job and still want in. That kind preparation stands out.
Techs work in all kinds of pharmacy settings, alongside other kinds of healthcare professionals as well. Maybe you start in retail pharmacy and later move into a hospital, where you see inpatient pharmacists making medication recommendations during rounds. Or maybe you gain experience in a mail-order pharmacy, learning the business side of pharmacy while handling high-volume prescriptions.
At the end of the day, very few career paths allow you to test-drive the job before fully committing. Whether it confirms your passion or shows you a better fit elsewhere, pharmacy technician experience gives you clarity. And that is priceless.
Interested in learning more? If you're thinking about starting your journey in pharmacy, becoming a pharmacy technician is a great first step. Learn more about the value of this choice at 5 Reasons a Pharmacy Technician Certification is Worth It.
1Rasmussen University does not offer a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree program. To enter into a pharmacy degree program there are specific requirements regarding the undergraduate degree program/coursework that is needed. As well the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) is required to apply to pharmacy schools. It is important to check the entrance requirements of the pharmacy school that you wish to apply to and professional licensing requirements. For professional licensing requirement, please contact the appropriate board or agency in your state of residence.
2Completion time is dependent on the number of transfer credits accepted and the number of courses completed each term.
