Pharmacist
$135KHigh match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — PharmD Degree
- — State Pharmacy License
Live · Guide v1.090590 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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USAF · 90590Career Guide · Operations · VWC.CG.90590.R.04
90590 · USAF · EnlistedPharmacy
Pharmacy
Technician.
Air Force 90590 (Pharmacy Technician). 640 hours of formal training translate to 4 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $38K–$145K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours640DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 15 semester hours recommended in Allied Health Sciences
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways4validated
Cert coverage2/5direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 90590 background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.
Sort · Match descending
/ 02 · Skill Bridge
The gap, named.
What 90590 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have10
- 01Composite Health Care System (CHCS)→ Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems like Epic or Cerner
- 02Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application (AHLTA)→ Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems
- 03Defense Medical Logistics Standard Support (DMLSS)→ Inventory management software for pharmaceuticals, such as those offered by McKesson or Cardinal Health
- 04Automated Dispensing Cabinets (ADCs)→ Automated medication dispensing systems like Pyxis or Omnicell
- 05Controlled Substance Management System→ Narcotics tracking software and secure storage solutions used in pharmacies
- 06Medical Facility Drug Formulary→ Hospital or pharmacy drug formulary databases and management software
- 07Procedural Compliance→ Roles requiring strict adherence to regulations and protocols, such as those in healthcare, finance, or government.
- 08Resource Optimization→ Effective management of budgets, inventory, and personnel in civilian business environments.
- 09Situational Awareness→ Ability to quickly grasp and adapt to evolving circumstances in fast-paced civilian settings.
- 10System Modeling→ Understanding and manipulating complex systems, such as database management or IT infrastructure.
To learn08
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+SQL for data querying and manipulation+Data visualization tools like Tableau or Power BI+ITIL framework for IT service management+HL7 standards for healthcare data interoperability+Fundamentals of computer hardware and networking+Troubleshooting techniques for common software and hardware issues+Business process modeling techniques+Requirements gathering and documentation methods
How VWC fits
Vets Who Code is a free, full-time software engineering accelerator for veterans, active duty, and military spouses. We close the fundamentals — terminal, web platform, AI tooling, portfolio projects — so the rest of this list becomes specialization, not square one.
See VWC Programs →/ 03 · Civilian Pathways
Where your code lands.
Pharmacy Technician
$38KGood match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — Pharmacy Technician Certification (PTCB or ExCPT)
- — State Registration (if required)
Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
$95KModerate match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Strong Sales Skills
- — Networking
- — Pharmaceutical Industry Knowledge
Medical Science Liaison
$145KModerate match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Advanced Scientific Degree (PharmD, PhD)
- — Clinical Trial Knowledge
- — Excellent Communication Skills
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 90590 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Procedural Compliance
This role demands strict adherence to established protocols for drug storage, dispensing, and documentation, ensuring patient safety and regulatory compliance.
Transfers to
The ability to meticulously follow complex procedures and regulations is crucial in many civilian sectors, particularly those involving safety and compliance.
Resource Optimization
Managing pharmacy resources efficiently, including requisitions, inventory control, and minimizing waste, is essential for effective pharmacy operations.
Transfers to
Skills in optimizing resources translate to effective management of budgets, inventory, and personnel in civilian business environments.
Situational Awareness
Maintaining awareness of drug shortages, adverse reactions, and changes in patient needs to ensure optimal therapeutic outcomes.
Transfers to
This translates into the ability to quickly grasp and adapt to evolving circumstances in fast-paced civilian settings.
System Modeling
Understanding and operating pharmacy information systems, along with identifying areas for improvement, reflects system modeling capabilities.
Transfers to
Your experience with pharmacy systems translates well to other system-oriented roles where you'll be able to understand and manipulate complex systems.
/ 05 · Non-Obvious Matches
Roles the recruiter won't suggest.
Adjacent civilian roles your training maps to that conventional military-to-civilian advice tends to miss.
Compliance Officer
SOC 13-1041.00You've been immersed in procedural compliance and quality assurance within a highly regulated environment. As a Compliance Officer, you can use your expertise to ensure organizations adhere to laws, regulations, and internal policies, preventing costly errors and maintaining ethical standards.
Adjacent · MatchLogistics Analyst
SOC 13-2081.00You're adept at managing inventory, optimizing resource allocation, and ensuring timely delivery of pharmaceuticals. As a Logistics Analyst, you can leverage these skills to streamline supply chains, improve efficiency, and reduce costs for businesses across various industries.
Adjacent · MatchQuality Assurance Specialist
SOC 19-4041.00You're experienced in developing and directing quality assurance programs, inspecting activities, and correcting discrepancies. This background makes you an ideal fit for ensuring products or services meet quality standards, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing corrective actions.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Pharmacy Technician Training Program
Sheppard Air Force Base, TX640hHours
16wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 15 semester hours recommended in Allied Health Sciences
Topics · 8
- Pharmaceutical Calculations
- Drug Nomenclature and Terminology
- Sterile and Non-Sterile Compounding
- Prescription Interpretation and Dispensing
- Inventory Management and Supply Procedures
- Pharmacy Law and Ethics
- Automated Pharmacy Systems
- Medication Safety and Error Prevention
Partial coverage · 2
- Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)70%
While military training provides extensive experience with pharmaceutical procedures, a CPhT requires a strong understanding of retail pharmacy practices, insurance billing, and specific state regulations. Study these areas to bridge the gaps.
- CompTIA Security+40%
Given experience maintaining pharmacy information systems, Security+ can be a good fit. Focus studying on topics not typically covered in military pharmacy IT like network security, cryptography, and vulnerability management.
Recommended next · 03
- Certified Health Informatics Systems Professional (CHISP)Adjacent
- Accreditation in Pharmaceutical Compounding (APC)Adjacent
- Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS)Adjacent
/ 07 · Systems Translation
What you ran, in their words.
Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent | Domain |
|---|---|---|
| Composite Health Care System (CHCS) | Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems like Epic or Cerner | Operations |
| Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application (AHLTA) | Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems | Operations |
| Defense Medical Logistics Standard Support (DMLSS) | Inventory management software for pharmaceuticals, such as those offered by McKesson or Cardinal Health | Medical |
| Automated Dispensing Cabinets (ADCs) | Automated medication dispensing systems like Pyxis or Omnicell | Operations |
| Controlled Substance Management System | Narcotics tracking software and secure storage solutions used in pharmacies | Operations |
| Medical Facility Drug Formulary | Hospital or pharmacy drug formulary databases and management software | Medical |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 90590 into a resume that ships.
Pair this guide with the VWC AI-powered translator: drop in your service record, get back ATS-optimized civilian resume language tuned to the tech roles above.