Pharmacy Technician-In-Training Apprenticeship
Avera McKennan Hospital, South Dakota
Full time | USD 19.25 - 26.75 HOUR

Location:

Avera McKennan Hospital

Worker Type:

Regular

Work Shift:

Rotating days/evenings/nights/weekends (United States of America)

Pay Range:

The pay range for this position is listed below. Actual pay rate dependent upon experience.

$19.25 - $26.75

Position Highlights

Varied Shifts

May be eligible for $3,000 sign-on bonus!


About the Pharmacy Departments:

Join Avera as a paid Pharmacy Technician-In-Training while you complete Avera’s nationally accredited Pharmacy Technician Education Program. Avera's program is the only accredited program in the state of South Dakota! Our program has a national certification pass rate of 97% compared to the 69% national average. With this program, it allows individuals opportunities to experience different pharmacy departments to best match into a long-term role. Please ask your recruiter for more details upon applying.  


** See specific department for hours**


About the Pharmacy Departments:


Inpatient Pharmacy:

"I started at Avera as a pharmacy technician in training with no prior experience. I had no idea how much I would grow—not just in my career, but as a person. With the ever-expanding Avera system, there are countless growth and leadership opportunities available. Inpatient pharmacy not only services in an inpatient setting but also outpatient cancer treatment, behavioral health, and many more! This is an amazing place to work, and I am truly grateful that I get to call this my career!"

Mikayla Whitcomb, CPhT

Pharmacy Technician Specialist 

 Highlights:

  • Work in various environments which include: medication distribution to clinics and critical access hospitals, repackaging medications into unit dose forms, medication reconciliation, hazardous / non-hazardous sterile compounding, non-sterile compounding, medication delivery.
  • Effectively communicate with nursing staff, providers, patients and co-workers.
  • Varied Shifts: 6:00 am-2:30 pm, 2:30 pm -11:00 pm with weekends and holidays. Optional overnights.

Specialty Pharmacy:

When I started at Avera, I wasn’t sure what my career path would be; through the Tech-in-Training program, I received two years' worth of free online education while gaining hands-on experience across various pharmacy settings. At Avera Specialty Pharmacy, I saw firsthand how vital our work is, especially for patients in rural Midwest communities who rely on us for life-changing medications. ASP has become like a second family, supporting me through all of my endeavors including: certifications, promotions, and pharmacy school. I am thankful for Avera pharmacies taking a leap of faith on me and giving me the gift of knowing what my passion in life is! 

Lidia Loera, CPhT

Pharmacy Technician

Highlights:

  • Monday- Friday schedule
  • Conveniently located at Avera’s Integrated Services Center with several other pharmacy departments.
  • Hybrid Work Schedule: ability to work from home on a hybrid basis after completion of training
  • Business Casual dress code
  • Rotating workflow schedule to cover a variety of duties including; inventory, dispensing, phones (inbound and outbound), shipping, & data entry
  • Specialty pharmacy with some retail, and mail order dispensing

Retail Pharmacy:

Highlights:

  • Fast-paced, customer-facing environment
  • Direct patient care
  • Several locations across Sioux Falls
  • Collaboration with other members of healthcare team (nurses, case management, social work, doctors)
  • Shift: varied daytime hours with rotating weekends.

Long Term Care Pharmacy:

Highlights:

  • Closed door pharmacy
  • Conveniently located at Avera’s Integrated Services Center with several other pharmacy departments.
  • Fast-paced environment
  • Strong potential for advancement
  • Shift: 7:00 am-9:00 pm with occasional weekends and holidays

Home Infusion Pharmacy:

Highlights: 

  • Monday- Friday 8-5 schedule. No nights, weekends, or holidays!
  • Conveniently located at Avera's Integrated Services Center with several other pharmacy departments. 
  • Working with a tight knit, smaller team.
  • Mix of sterile compounding, drug packaging/shipping, and inventory management
  • Opportunity for growth.

Compounding Pharmacy:

Highlights:

  • Employs pharmacy staff specifically trained to fill prescriptions that are compounded for precise needs.
  • Conveniently located at Avera's Integrated Services Center with several other pharmacy departments. 
  • Fast-paced environment with high-quality work
  • Monday-Friday 8:00 AM- 4:30 PM. No nights, weekends, or holidays!


You Belong at Avera

Be part of a multidisciplinary team built with compassion and the goal of Moving Health Forward for you and our patients. Work where you matter.


A Brief Overview

Assists in drug preparation, storage, distribution, and inventory management within a variety of pharmacy environments. It is recommended this entry-level position participates in and completes Avera Health's Pharmacy Technician Education Program to prepare for Certified Pharmacy Technician examination. Upon successful Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) examination, or other approved certifying body, the technician-in-training will be promoted into the role of Pharmacy Technician. Avera's Pharmacy Technician Education Program consists of combined didactic, simulation, and experiential learning activities. Avera requires a two-year employment commitment upon completion of the Pharmacy Technician Education Program. Technician-in-Training works under direct supervision of a registered pharmacist.

What you will do

  • Recommended to participate in and complete Avera Pharmacy Technician Education Program to ensure the ability to become PTCB certified and registered as a Pharmacy Technician.
  • Under Pharmacist supervision, accurately inputs and/or prepares labels and packages inpatient or outpatient medication orders and prescriptions to maintain an efficient, accurate, and high-quality medication delivery system.
  • Demonstrates proficient knowledge of medications, calculations, regulation, and regulation limitations, personal protective equipment, and promotion of patient safety to ensure high-quality patient care and compliance.
  • Successfully communicates with nursing staff, physicians, customers, co-workers, supervisor and management and participates in interdepartmental work groups and committees as assigned to promote high-quality communication and prevent patient harm.
  • Performs clerical functions such as, but not limited to, billing and pharmacy inventory procedures to promote an efficient medication distribution system.

Essential Qualifications

The individual must be able to work the hours specified. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily including having visual acuity adequate to perform position duties and the ability to communicate effectively with others, hear, understand and distinguish speech and other sounds. These requirements and those listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the essential job functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions, as long as the accommodations do not cause undue hardship to the employer.

Required Education, License/Certification, or Work Experience:

  • Pharmacy Technician in Training - South Dakota Board of Pharmacy Registered with respective state's Board of Pharmacy within State requirements within 30 Days
  • Certified Pharmacy Technician - Board of Pharmacy Pharmacy Technician Board Certification or alternative approved training/certification program. Extensions beyond 1 year may be available in some states within 1 Year

Preferred Education, License/Certification, or Work Experience:

  • High School or GED Equivalent
  • Less than 1 year Related experience

Expectations and Standards

  • Commitment to the daily application of Avera’s mission, vision, core values, and social principles to serve patients, their families, and our community.
  • Promote Avera’s values of compassion, hospitality, and stewardship.
  • Uphold Avera’s standards of Communication, Attitude, Responsiveness, and Engagement (CARE) with enthusiasm and sincerity.
  • Maintain confidentiality.
  • Work effectively in a team environment, coordinating work flow with other team members and ensuring a productive and efficient environment.
  • Comply with safety principles, laws, regulations, and standards associated with, but not limited to, CMS, The Joint Commission, DHHS, and OSHA if applicable.

Benefits You Need & Then Some

Avera is proud to offer a wide range of benefits to qualifying part-time and full-time employees. We support you with opportunities to help live balanced, healthy lives. Benefits are designed to meet needs of today and into the future.

  • PTO available day 1 for eligible hires.

  • Up to 5% employer matching contribution for retirement

  • Career development guided by hands-on training and mentorship

Avera is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, Veteran Status, or other categories protected by law. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation for help with your online application, please call 1-605-504-4444 or send an email to talent@avera.org.