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Pharmacy Technician Schools and Training Programs
Are you looking for a career in the healthcare industry? Would you rather work regular hours in a comfortable environment where you don’t have to rush from one location to another? Do you hope to start working sooner rather than later? If so, you may want to look into a career as a pharmacy technician.
Pharmacy Technician Careers
A pharmacy technician assists a pharmacist in whatever needs to be done in the office. Often, these duties include measuring medicine, preparing medication for patients, labeling bottles, and stocking shelves. Technicians are prohibited from altering any medication doses if a resident pharmacist isn’t there to oversee them.
Pharmacy technicians can work at pharmacies in hospitals, clinics, grocery stores, or other settings. The atmosphere is generally clean and friendly, and the hours are normal.
Working as a pharmacy technician is a significant responsibility: You will be handling some potent medication, and preparing medicine for sick people. This job takes the utmost attention to detail, because a mistake could affect a patient’s health. Attention to detail and accuracy are essential traits in a pharmacy technician.
Training Requirements and Education for Pharmacy Technicians
There is no formal training requirement for pharmacy technicians, but employers tend to favor candidates with formal training and certification. Most community colleges or technical schools offer two-year pharmacy technician associate degrees or one-year certification programs.
Most pharmacy technician schools require that you take classes in medical and pharmaceutical terminology, pharmaceutical techniques and record-keeping and pharmacy law and ethics. In addition most pharmacy technician schools offer internships which will help you gain important hands-on experience. After finishing your studies you can expect to earn a diploma, certificate or associates degree, which depends on the program.
While on the job training is possible receiving formal training is a highly recommended way to begin a pharmacy technician career. By receiving formal training as a pharmacy aide you will be gaining experience and knowledge, two qualities that hiring pharmacies value highly and which will also give you an advantage over other prospective candidates that haven’t attended pharmacy technician school.
Registration
Most states require pharmacy technicians to register with the state board of pharmacy. Eligibility standards vary from state to state, but a high school diploma or its equivalent is typically required, as well as an application fee.
Certification
Certification is not required by most states to work as a pharmacy technician, but employers favor candidates who are certified. Those who pass the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination, administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, receive the title of Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).
To maintain certification, technicians must be recertified every 2 years by taking 20 hours of continuing education. Continuing education hours can be earned from several different sources, including colleges, pharmacy associations, and pharmacy technician training programs. Up to 10 hours of continuing education also can be earned on the job under the direct supervision and instruction of a pharmacist.
Employment and Advancement Opportunities for Pharmacy Technicians
The average annual wage for pharmacy technicians was $29,330, according to the BLS. Employment is expected to grow 31 percent between 2008 and 2018, much faster than average. An aging population in need of prescription medications and scientific advances leading to new drugs are major factors in this trend.
Additional Resources
National Pharmacy Technician Association: Professional association that offers educational resources and networking for Pharmacy Technicians. www.pharmacytechnician.org
Bureau of Labor Statistics on Pharmacy Technicians: The BLS offers a great overview of the pharmacy technician career as well as education and salary information. www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292052.htm
Vatterott College
- Saint Louis
- Omaha
- Joplin
- Kansas City
- Pharmacy Technician
- Pharmacy Assistant
Heald College
- Hayward
- Milpitas
- Concord
- Fresno
- Honolulu
- Rancho Cordova
- Roseville
- Salinas
- San Francisco
- Portland
- Pharmacy Technology
Concorde
- Memphis
- Tampa
- Pharmacy Technician - Diploma
- Pharmacy Technician
- Pharmacy Technician - (AAS)
Carrington College California
- Antioch
- Citrus Heights
- Emeryville
- Pleasant Hill
- Sacramento
- San Jose
- San Leandro
- Stockton
- Pomona
- AS in Pharmacy Technology
Career Colleges of America
- Pharmacy Technician
Brown Mackie College
- Akron
- Atlanta
- Cincinnati
- Findlay
- Fort Wayne
- Louisville
- Canton
- Ft Mitchell
- Tucson
- Fenton
- Albuquerque
- Associate of Applied Science in Pharmacy Technology
- Associate of Applied Science in Biomedical Equipment Technology
Fortis Institute
- Pharmacy Technology - Associate
- Pharmacy Technician
- Pharmacy Technician/Assistant
Get the skills and training you need for a great career at Fortis Institute. * Programs vary by location * Please contact each individual campus for accreditation information * Fortis Institute- Indianapolis advertising code is AC-0163.
Sanford-Brown College
- Pharmacy Technology
- Pharmacy Technician
- Dialysis Technology
The Salter School
- New Bedford
- Pharmacy Tech
Keiser Career College
- New Port Richey
- Saint Petersburg
- AS in Pharmacy Technology
- Pharmacy Technology
Keiser Career College offers career-oriented training programs that prepare students for positions in allied health and computer technology. All programs focus on the specific skills and knowledge needed for today's career fields.
Daymar College
- Bellevue
- Bowling Green
- Jackson
- Owensboro
- Pharmacy Technology - Diploma
- Pharmacy Technology - Associate
Ayers Career College
- Shreveport
- Pharmacy Technician
Santa Barbara Business College
- Santa Maria
- Pharmacy Technology
SBBCollege is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. For information on graduation rates, median debt of graduates who completed these programs and other important information, visit http://www.sbbcollege.edu/consumerinformation/disclosures.php. SBBCollege offers financial aid to those who qualify.
Southern Careers Institute
- Corpus Christi
- Pharmacy Technician - Evening
- Pharmacy Technician - Day
Link 2 Life Emergency Training
- Laguna Hills
- Pharmacy Technician
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