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How to Become a Pharmacy Technician

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Jump to Schools for Pharmacy Technicians

Pharmacists around the country have a vast amount of tasks to complete to provide effective and satisfying service to patients. To alleviate some of the workload, pharmacy technicians are pharmacy staff members that help pharmacists with many pharmacy duties to help the facility run effectively and efficiently.

 

What does a pharmacy technician do?

Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists with providing prescription medications and other health care products to patients. They typically perform routine tasks such as preparing medications by counting pills, pouring liquids, measuring ingredients, and labeling containers. They also maintain the records and billing information of patients and clean the equipment of the pharmacy. Sometimes pharmacy technicians mix pharmaceutical ingredients while being directed and supervised by the pharmacist.

Pharmacy technicians also carry out administrative tasks including preparing insurance claim forms, ordering supplies, stocking shelves, answering phones, and operating cash registers. They receive the prescription orders and examine them to make sure they are accurate and complete. They also receive the prescription refill requests from patients. They are responsible for referring any prescription questions or health concerns to the pharmacist.

What kind of training does a pharmacy technician need?

Most pharmacy technicians receive informal training on the job, but many employers prefer candidates who have formal training and certification. Many vocational or technical colleges, community colleges, proprietary schools, hospitals, and the armed forces offer certificate, diploma, or associate degree programs for pharmacy technicians. These programs include classroom and laboratory coursework on various pharmacy subjects. Many programs also offer students hands-on experience through internships at pharmacies.

In most states, certification for pharmacy technicians is voluntary. Pharmacy technicians can become nationally certified through the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians and the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. Certified pharmacy technicians must complete 20 hours of continuing education every 2 years to renew their certification.

What are the prospects for a career as a pharmacy technician?

Employment of pharmacy technicians is projected to grow much faster than average for all professions, increasing 32% from 2006 to 2016 (1). The increasing number of people needing prescription medications will drive job growth.

Job prospects are expected to be good especially for pharmacy technicians with formal training and sufficient work experience. Job openings will also arise from the need to replace pharmacy technicians who transfer to other professions or leave the field for other reasons.

How much do pharmacy technicians make?

As of September 2009, the middle 50% of pharmacy technicians earned annual salaries between $27,384 and $33993. The highest 10% earned annual salaries of more than $37,097 (2).

A career as a pharmacy technician is an excellent choice for people interested in assisting pharmacists and patients with prescription medications. Strong customer service skills and ability to work as part of a team are essential. Pharmacy technicians must be responsible, organized, dedicated, and observant. They must pay very close attention to details and be precise because they are dealing with people’s health and lives.

Now what? The next step is easy!

Take the first step today and request free information from our selected top online healthcare schools, or simply use the tables below to find the program that is right for you!

Pharmacy Specific Programs

School NameCampus/Program Info

West Virginia Junior College

Pharmacy Technician

Bridgeport, WV

Ultimate Medical Academy

Pharmacy Technician

Tampa, FL

Ultimate Medical Academy

Pharmacy Technician

Clearwater, FL

Southern Careers Institute

Pharmacy Technician - Day

Austin, TX

Since pharmacy technicians handle prescription medications, most states require registration or licensure with the state board of pharmacy.  The licensing eligibility requirements vary by state, but majority require at least a high school diploma and paying an application fee.  Many others require at least an associate degree.  Most states do not require pharmacy technicians to be certified, but recognize voluntary certification from various private organizations such as the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT).

 

Websites listed on where to get your pharmacy technician license and certification by state.

 

Alabama: http://www.albop.com/formsapps/app.htm#PHARMACY,%20MANUFACTURER/WHOLESALE/DISTRIBUTION,%20INSTITUTION,%20ETC.

Alaska: http://www.labor.state.ak.us/research/dlo/pharmtec.htm

Arizona: https://az.gov/app/pharmacy/index.xhtml

Arkansas: http://www.arkansas.gov/asbp/forms-instructions.html

California: http://www.pharmacy.ca.gov/applicants/apply_for_a_license.shtml

Colorado: http://www.colorado.gov/oed/industry-license/61IndDetail.html

Connecticut: http://www.ct.gov/dcp/cwp/view.asp?a=1622&q=446726

Delaware: http://www.dpr.delaware.gov/boards/pharmacy/index.shtml

Florida: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/pharmacy/ph_applicantinformation.html#

Georgia: http://www.sos.ga.gov/plb/pharmacy/

Hawaii: http://hawaii.gov/dcca/pvl/boards/pharmacy/

Idaho: http://bop.accessidaho.org/forms/index.html

Illinois: http://www.idfpr.com/profs/info/Pharm.asp

Indiana: http://www.in.gov/pla/2893.htm

Iowa: http://www.iowa.gov/ibpe/pharmacy_technician/index.html

Kansas: http://www.kansas.gov/pharmacy/Other%20Licensing%20Procedures.htm

Kentucky: http://pharmacy.ky.gov/Kentucky+Pharmacy+Technician+Registration.htm

Louisiana: http://www.labp.com/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&pid=61&pnid=0&nid=38

Maine: http://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/pharmacy/tech.htm

Maryland: http://www.dhmh.state.md.us/pharmacyboard/license/tech/index.htm

Massachusetts: http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eohhs2terminal&L=7&L0=Home&L1=Provider&L2=Certification%2C+Licensure%2C+and+Registration&L3=Occupational+and+Professional&L4=Pharmacy&L5=Licensing+and+Registration&L6=Pharmacy+Technicians&sid=Eeohhs2&b=terminalcontent&f=dph_quality_boards_pharmacy_p_pharmtech_registration&csid=Eeohhs2

Michigan: http://www.michigan.gov/healthcareers/0,1607,7-221-39742-64803--,00.html

Minnesota: http://www.license.mn.gov/licenses/licensedetail.jsp?URI=tcm:29-3131&CT_URI=tcm:27-117-32

Mississippi: http://www.mbp.state.ms.us/mbop/Pharmacy.nsf/webpages/apLN_apPage?OpenDocument

Missouri: http://pr.mo.gov/pharmacists-forms.asp

Montana: http://bsd.dli.mt.gov/license/bsd_boards/pha_board/board_page.asp

Nebraska: http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/crl/medical/pharm/pharmtech/pharmtech.htm

Nevada: http://bop.nv.gov/Licensees_techs.htm

New Hampshire: http://www.nh.gov/pharmacy/licensing/index.htm

New Jersey: www.state.nj.us/oag/ca/pharm/form/pharmtech.pdf

New Mexico: http://www.rld.state.nm.us/pharmacy/technicians.html

New York: http://www.nhanow.com/pharmacy-technician/requirements/new-york.aspx

North Carolina: http://www.ncbop.org/technicians_forms.htm

North Dakota: http://www.nodakpharmacy.com/apps-forms.asp

Ohio: http://www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/phlic.htm

Oklahoma: http://www.ok.gov/OSBP/Download_Forms/Technicians/index.html

Oregon: http://www.oregon.gov/Pharmacy/Licensing.shtml

Pennsylvania: http://www.nhanow.com/pharmacy-technician/requirements/pennsylvania.aspx

Rhode Island: http://www.health.ri.gov/licenses/healthcare/

South Carolina: http://www.llr.state.sc.us/pol/pharmacy/index.asp?file=pub.htm

South Dakota: http://doh.sd.gov/Boards/pharmacy/PharmacyTechnicians.aspx

Tennessee: http://health.state.tn.us/Boards/pharmacy/applications.shtml

Texas: http://www.tsbp.state.tx.us/pharmacytechs.htm

Utah: http://www.dopl.utah.gov/licensing/pharmacy.html

Vermont: http://vtprofessionals.org/opr1/pharmacists/pharmtech.asp

Virginia: http://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Pharmacy/pharmacy_forms.htm#Technician

Washington: http://www.doh.wa.gov/hsqa/professions/pharmacy/forms.htm

West Virginia: http://www.wvbop.com/applications.htm

Wisconsin: http://www.nhanow.com/pharmacy-technician/requirements/wisconsin.aspx

Wyoming: http://pharmacyboard.state.wy.us/applications.aspx

(1) SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-2009 Edition
(2) SOURCE: Salary.com, Salary Wizard

 

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