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4P091 Career Guide

Air Force

4P091: Pharmacy Technician

Career transition guide for Air Force Pharmacy Technician (4P091)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 4P091 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Pharmacist

$135K
High matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

PharmD DegreeState Pharmacy License

Pharmacy Technician

$38K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Pharmacy Technician Certification (PTCB or ExCPT)State registration or licensure (if required)

Medical and Pharmaceutical Sales Representative

$95K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Sales experienceIn-depth product knowledge trainingExcellent communication skills

Healthcare Administrator

$85K
Moderate matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Healthcare AdministrationKnowledge of healthcare regulations and complianceLeadership and management skills

Quality Assurance Specialist (Pharmaceuticals)

$75K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Knowledge of GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices)Auditing skillsRegulatory compliance expertise

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 4P091 training built — and where they transfer.

Procedural Compliance

Adhering to strict protocols for drug storage, dispensing, and record-keeping to maintain safety and regulatory standards.

Meticulously following established guidelines and regulations to ensure accuracy and prevent errors in high-stakes environments.

Resource Optimization

Managing pharmacy inventory, forecasting demand, and minimizing waste to ensure efficient use of resources while meeting patient needs.

Strategically allocating and managing resources to maximize efficiency and achieve organizational goals within budgetary constraints.

Situational Awareness

Monitoring drug interactions, adverse reactions, and patient conditions to proactively identify and address potential risks.

Maintaining a broad understanding of complex systems and anticipating potential problems to make informed decisions and prevent negative outcomes.

System Modeling

Understanding the pharmacy information system's architecture to maintain and update it according to current needs and technology.

Comprehending how interconnected components work together in a system, allowing for effective troubleshooting and improvements.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Regulatory Affairs Specialist

SOC 13-1041.00

You've been immersed in the world of pharmaceutical regulations and compliance within the Air Force pharmacy. This experience gives you a solid foundation to navigate the complex landscape of regulatory requirements in the pharmaceutical or medical device industries. You already understand the importance of adhering to standards and maintaining meticulous records, which are critical in regulatory affairs.

Supply Chain Analyst

SOC 13-1151.00

You've been managing pharmacy inventory, forecasting demand, and minimizing waste. These skills translate directly into the supply chain field, where you can analyze data, optimize processes, and ensure efficient flow of goods and services. Your experience in resource optimization makes you well-suited to identify areas for improvement and drive cost savings.

Quality Assurance Analyst

SOC 19-4041.00

You've been conducting inspections of drug storage and usage areas. That experience gives you a head start in ensuring products or services meet certain thresholds and standards. You are a perfect fit to ensure quality by detecting and correcting errors.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Pharmacy Technician Apprentice Course, Sheppard Air Force Base, TX

640 training hours16 weeksUp to 15 semester hours recommended in Allied Health Sciences

Topics Covered

  • Pharmaceutical Calculations
  • Pharmacy Law and Ethics
  • Medical Terminology
  • Drug Identification and Storage
  • Prescription Processing
  • Aseptic Technique and Compounding
  • Inventory Management
  • Pharmacy Information Systems

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)70% covered

While military training covers dispensing, pharmaceutical calculations, and inventory, additional focus should be placed on current pharmacy law, regulations, and specific brand/generic drug names.

Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)75% covered

Requires review of current pharmacology, patient safety procedures, and HIPAA regulations relevant to civilian pharmacy practice. Study state-specific pharmacy laws.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Compounding Sterile Preparations Technician (CSPT)Registered Pharmacy Technician (RPT)Medication Therapy Management Specialist (MTMS)Lean Six Sigma Green Belt

Technical Systems Translation

Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Pharmacy Information System (PIS)Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems with pharmacy modules, such as Epic Willow, Cerner RxStation, or McKesson Pharmacy Management
Controlled Substance Management System (CSMS)Narcotics tracking software, such as RxSafe or BD Pyxis MedStation
Medical Logistics (MEDLOG) systemHospital inventory management software, such as Tecsys or Infor Healthcare
Defense Medical Logistics Standard Support (DMLSS)Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems for healthcare supply chain management, such as Oracle Fusion Cloud SCM or SAP Ariba
Air Force Medical Service (AFMS) Drug FormularyCommercial drug formularies and databases, such as Lexicomp, Micromedex, or Clinical Pharmacology
Adverse Drug Event Reporting System (VAERS)Pharmacovigilance software and adverse event reporting systems, such as Argus Safety or Veeva Safety
Tri-Service Medical Information System (TRIMIS)Integrated healthcare information systems, such as InterSystems TrakCare or Allscripts Sunrise

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