How to Become a Chemotherapy Technician
Chemotherapy involves the use of intravenous medicine to destroy cancer cells in the body. The job of a chemotherapy technician is to assist a pharmacist or a physician mixing the drugs used to treat cancer patients. The technician is also responsible for appropriately labeling bottles and operating equipment such as stirrers. Other responsibilities include documenting treatment and billing the patient.
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Instructions
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Study a chemotherapy technician associate degree program at a junior or community college. An associate degree gives you an advantage in a field where many others derive their qualifications from on-the-job training. Many employers prefer technicians with an associate degree, according to Education-Portal.
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Attend a junior or community college with a pharmacy technician program. Such programs also teach how to use chemotherapy equipment. You learn how to label medicine, restock pharmaceutical inventory and manage patient files. A pharmacy technician working with cancer patients helps the physician to mix the drugs used in chemotherapy.
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Graduate from high school, with an emphasis on mathematics, science and health studies. Some health institutions recruit high school graduates and train them to become chemotherapy technicians. (While in high school, work to get high grades).
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Apply for an entry-level position in a hospital after you graduate from high school. A job in oncology puts you closer to cancer patients. Enlist when the hospital is looking for candidates to train as chemotherapy technicians. Usually, hospitals prefer candidates already working in the health field for on-the-job training.
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Get certified once you complete your training. You can obtain certification by taking the pharmacy technician certification exam (PTCE). This is a multiple-choice exam that covers pharmacist assistance, inventory control and administrative practices. Certification is also available through the National Pharmacy Technician Association.
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