In a time of evolving healthcare demands, pharmacy technician programs are becoming vital pathways for students seeking promising careers in Salt Lake County.
The University of Utah’s pharmacy technician program is designed to equip students with the skills needed for a secure future, rewarding them with a livable wage suitable for single residents.
Upon graduation and licensure, those joining U of U Health enjoy immediate pay increases along with future promotion opportunities.
Licensed pharmacy technicians can ascend to Tech II within just a year, which entails handling more complex medications and mentoring new team members.
After three years, individuals can advance further to higher roles, such as Tech III or pharmacy technician manager, capitalizing on enhanced salary and career growth.
Most students in this program find employment in and around University Hospital in Salt Lake City while pursuing their studies online.
However, opportunities also exist at community health centers in areas like Farmington, Park City, South Jordan, and Stansbury, providing diverse job prospects.
“We really cover a lot of ground,” states Shantel Mullin, PharmD, an associate professor at the College of Pharmacy.
She advocates for future expansions that would enable students to find job placements in rural regions, presenting a chance for full-time pharmacy technicians to earn generous incomes, particularly those who benefit from free educational opportunities.
Recognizing the industry-wide shortage of pharmacists, the College of Pharmacy is actively addressing this issue through initiatives like the technician trainee program.
In 2022, the college gained national attention as the first institution to waive the first year of tuition for PharmD students, making education more accessible.
Additionally, the program does not mandate a PCAT score or a bachelor’s degree for admission, with many students qualifying with only a two-year associate degree and certain science and math prerequisites completed.
Despite the competitive nature of pharmacy school, the University of Utah places a high value on students’ hands-on experience.
Relevant work experience as a technician underscores a candidate’s suitability for a pharmacy career, illustrating the importance of practical training.
Katie Anderton, a first-year PharmD student, expresses pride in the program’s focus on ambition and intelligence rather than merely financial standing or standardized test scores.
With the reduced tuition, Anderton identifies the primary challenge as not financial pressure, but balancing the workload to fulfill prerequisite class requirements.
“I think it’s a reasonable barrier,” she notes.
“We are here to work hard. [Taking] a holistic view of the things you’ve done outside of class is more important than one PCAT score or if you are wealthy enough to afford it.”
The initiative to lower tuition rates enhances opportunities for a wider demographic, fostering greater access to healthcare while ensuring that pharmacies remain well-staffed.
Raghbir Makhar, pharmacy technician manager at U of U Health, reflects on these positive changes, observing that his department is now fully staffed for technicians.
“The past four years have been really helpful because I have 40 people working for me who are in the program,” says Makhar.
“Without those 40 people, I cannot run the pharmacy.”
image source from：attheu
