Trade Schools
Pharmacy technicians are invaluable members of a pharmacy team.
Their duties can include filling prescriptions, labeling, giving medications to patients, calculating dosages, preparing compound or intravenous medications, and filing insurance claims.
If you are detail-oriented and have a passion for helping people, this may be the career for you.
You’ll need strong communication skills.
Math and reading skills are also critical.
4 Steps to Become a Pharmacy Technician
To become a pharmacy technician, you’ll need to complete an approved training program and get a certification.
Some states require you to be registered with the Board of Pharmacists or licensed as well.
1. Know Your State’s Requirements
The first step to becoming a pharmacy technician is to understand the requirements your state has.
Only 5 states have no requirements for licensing or registering as a pharmacy technician.
These are:
- Hawaii
- Wisconsin
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Delaware
If you plan to work in any other state, you should learn the requirements your state has.
Even if you are in a state with no requirements, employers may require you to complete an approved training program and get your certification.
2. Complete a Pharmacy Technician Training Program
You can choose a certificate or diploma program, which takes about 1 year to complete.
The other option is an associate’s degree program, which takes about 2 years to complete.
Regardless of the type of program you choose, it will need to be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) or the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).
3. Get Certified
The next step in becoming a pharmacy technician is to get a certification.
While not required in all states, a certification will make it easier for you to find a job.
Certifications are nationally recognized, so they are valid for every state in the U.S.
The two nationally recognized certifying agencies are the Pharmacy Technician Board (PTCB) and the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Both will require you to pass a pharmacy technician certification exam, or PTCE, to become certified (try our practice test to see if you’re ready).
4. Get Registration or Licensing
Some states will require you to register with the government pharmacy board or get a license through the state.
This is separate from your pharmacy technician certification.
If your state doesn’t require this, you can skip this step.
Licensing Requirements to Become a Pharmacy Technician
The licensing requirements to be a pharmacy technician vary by state.
Some states require you to have a national certification. Some require you to register with the state, and some require both.
Generally, if you meet the requirements for certification, you should be able to get registered or licensed.
However, you may be required to pass a drug test and a background check.
Most states will have these as requirements.
Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, or PTCB, offers a pharmacy technician certification, or CPhT.
You’ll need to complete an application before the exam.
You’ll include your diploma or transcript from your pharmacy technician course.
You’ll also need a clean background.
If you have any criminal charges or disciplinary action from a pharmacy board, you must include this on your application.
National HealthCareer Association
The National HealthCareer Association also offers a pharmacy technician certification.
You can apply to take the exam online.
You’ll need to have completed a pharmacy technician training program or have one year of work experience.
You’ll also need to pay a fee of $200 to register for the exam.
Online Training Programs
Ashworth College
Ashworth College offers a pharmacy technician career diploma.
The online program is self-paced, so you can work at your own pace.
You’ll learn pharmacology, drug classification and pharmacy classifications, and pharmacy practice.
As part of the program, you’ll complete an externship.
Ashworth partners with Walgreens and CVS pharmacies to ensure that you can get valuable experience no matter where you live.
Once you’ve completed your pharmacy technician course, you’ll be prepared to take the NHA ExCPT Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam or the PTCB’s PTCE Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam.
U.S. Career Institute
U.S. Career Institute offers a Pharmacy Technician Certification Program.
The program is self-paced, and it can be completed in 4-9 months.
You’ll learn oral medical and pharmaceutical terminology, and basic human anatomy and physiology.
You’ll learn how to perform mathematical calculations and how to use dosage calculators using metric, apothecary, and household measurements.
Once you’ve graduated from the program, you can complete an 80-hour externship with a local Walgreens.
You’ll need to meet some requirements before participating.
This includes a physical, proof of immunizations, a background check, and a negative tuberculosis test.
Once you’ve completed the program, you can choose to take the NHA ExCPT Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam or the PTCB’s PTCE Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam.
The cost of one certification exam is included in your tuition.
Stepful
Stepful offers an online pharmacy technician training program that can be completed in just 4 months.
This program is given in a synchronous format.
This means instead of being self-paced,
you’ll need to be online at certain times for live lectures.
You’ll also need to complete assignments within a given time frame.
Classes are available in the morning or evening, part-time.
Once you’ve completed the program, you are eligible for a 130-hour externship with a local pharmacy.
Your career coach will help you secure an externship and then find a job.
Like the other programs on our list, after completing the course you are eligible to take PTCB’s PTCE Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam or NHAs ExCPT exam.
Lanier Technical College
Lanier Technical College offers an online pharmacy technician course.
You’ll learn medical and pharmaceutical technology, basic anatomy related to pharmacology, and pharmaceutical calculations.
You’ll also practice pharmacy technician duties in an online pharmacy module.
Once you’ve completed the course, you can participate in a 100-hour externship with a local pharmacy.
After graduation, you are prepared to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) PTCE exam.
The cost of the exam is included in your tuition.
Valdosta State University
Valdosta State University offers a Pharmacy Technician course.
The program is self-paced and completely online.
It’s typically completed in 1 year or less.
You’ll study orientation to the pharmacy, pharmacy law and ethics, pharmaceutical calculations, and pharmacology.
You’ll also practice with an online lab module that includes a retail and hospital setting.
You’ll also have a virtual externship in retail and hospital settings.
The final requirement is a final exam that you must pass to complete the program.
After completing the program, you are eligible for an externship.
The externship will be with a national pharmacy chain and last for 100 hours or more.
You’ll need a high school diploma or GED to qualify for an externship.
The externship is not required as part of the course, but it is recommended.
After completing the program, you are prepared to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) National Certification exam or the NHA ExCPT exam.
Find more online programs:
12 Best Online Pharmacy Technician Programs
Pharmacy Technician Salary
The median salary for a pharmacy technician is $37,790.
This means 50% of pharmacy technicians will make more, and 50% will earn less.
The lowest salary for pharmacy techs is $29,640 a year, with 10% of people making less than this.
The top 10% will earn more than $50,640.
