Final answer:
A person must meet specific educational and licensing criteria to work as a pharmacy technician or trainee, including obtaining a doctorate in pharmacy and a state license, with a solid knowledge of chemistry and biology.
Step-by-step explanation:
A person may not work as a pharmacy technician or pharmacy tech trainee unless they meet certain educational and licensing requirements. In the context of a career focus on being a pharmacist, it is important to understand that while pharmacy technicians support pharmacists, the pharmacists themselves are highly trained professionals who dispense drugs prescribed by doctors. To become a pharmacist in the United States, one must hold a doctorate in pharmacy, commonly known as a Pharm.D., which requires four years of education at a specialty pharmacy school after completing undergraduate prerequisites. Once the education is completed, aspiring pharmacists must obtain a license from the state in which they wish to practice, which generally involves passing a series of examinations.
In addition to their education, pharmacists need to have a strong foundation in both chemistry and biology to understand drug effects on the human body. The role of a pharmacist is not only to distribute medication but also to advise physicians and patients on the selection, dosage, interactions, and proper usage of drugs. Pharmacists nowadays work in various settings such as drugstores, hospitals, and other medical facilities, and though they rarely compound drugs as they did in the past, their scientific knowledge remains critical for ensuring patients' health and safety.
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