Look up your state's requirements for becoming a pharmacy tech. If your state is one that allows you to become a pharmacy tech without certification, check for any other requirements they may have. For example, you may need to complete some kind of state test, or a certain number of hours of state pharmacy board approved training.
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Although there are many resources which offer training for pharmacy technicians, a person can become a pharmacy technician without any training. Search Pharmacy Technician Programs. Get information on Pharmacy Technician programs by entering your zip code and request enrollment information.
There are currently no licensure requirements for pharmacy technicians in New York. Do one of the following and register with the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy: Become nationally certified through the PTCB or another approved certifying agency.
Become nationally certified through the PTCB and register with the State Board as a pharmacy technician. Register with the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy and either: Do one of the following and register with the California State Board of Pharmacy: Become nationally certified through the PTCB.
This test is very difficult to pass without preparation or experience working as a pharmacy technician. Get information on Pharmacy Technician programs by entering your zip code and request enrollment information. A person in these states can become a pharmacy technician without attending school or participating in a formal training program.
Many people can, and absolutely love the flexibility that self-study or an online pharmacy tech program offers. So, if you're simply looking to pass the pharmacy tech national exam and can go through everything on your own and study it, then you could probably pass the PTCB or ExCPT, yes.
The PTCB exam can be tough and being prepared is the key to success. As with any other important exam, studying before the big day can make a big difference in your final score. Follow these study tips to make sure you feel confident once exam day arrives. Yes, there might be some obscure questions on the test.
High school diploma or equivalentPharmacy technician / Entry level education
To become a certified pharmacy technician, you need to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) Exam. Once you pass your PTCB exam, you can start working as a certified pharmacy technician. The PTCB exam is a 90-question, multiple-choice exam that currently tests on nine separate knowledge areas.
Pharmacy Tech Math The four main components in Pharmacy Math are: Weight, Volume, Temperature and Time. To prepare for the PTCB or ExCPT exam, it's recommended to know math enough to work out complex word problems and some algebra. Additionally, conversions are referred to in nearly all pharmacy tech math calculations.
The general rule is that the PTCE is the first choice of hospitals and other large employers, while the ExCPT is better for finding work in a commercial pharmacy (at Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid and similar places). Plus PTCE is recognized in over 44 states.
It should be noted that, while we refer to them as level I pharmacy technician, level II pharmacy technician, and level III pharmacy technician, these three levels are also sometimes referred to with the numbers after the title (pharmacy technician I, pharmacy technician II, and pharmacy technician III).
$36,740 per yearAccording to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a pharmacy technician's median salary in 2021 was $36,740 per year or $17.66 per hour. The job outlook is bright in the profession, with a projection of 4% growth between 2019-2029.
The duration of the pharmacy technician program depends on the credential earned and type of learning institute. Certificate programs can be completed in 6 to 12 months based on the schedule. Degree programs take up to two years for full-time students.
To work as a pharmacy technician in the state of California, you must have a current pharmacy technician license. Licensing is not required for persons working as pharmacy clerks or pharmacy assistants.
The salary a pharmacy technician earns in California is considerably higher than the national average by 30%. While the national average salary is $36,450, a pharmacy technician earns $47,620 in California.
While each state is different, there are many that allow a person to simply begin working as a pharmacy technician with no prior training. Some sta...
In Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Main, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebra...
Any state not mentioned above requires that a pharmacy technician be certified prior to employment in a pharmacy. In these states there is no stand...
1. Why do you want to be a pharmacy technician? 2. What days and times are you available for work? 3. How would you react to an upset customer? 4....
It is possible to study for yourself and then pass the national pharmacy tech exam. The requirement is to pass that test, regardless of how you got...
The pharmacy tech test is considered difficult. Anything related to medicine is tough to learn, whether it is human or animal. According to nationa...
If you are a genius, you might pass the PTCB test without studying, but even that would be unlikely. This is a hard test involving a lot of medical...
There are likely 30 math questions on the PTCB test. There are a total of 90 questions, and a third of them relate to math in some way. Some studen...
There is a simple calculator built into the test, and the math questions asked are not complicated. You may not use your own calculator while takin...
The PTCB certification lasts for two years. Regardless of when you got it, all registrations expire on the last day of October, so it could be a fe...
How to Become a Pharmacy Tech Without Going to School. Many positions in the medical field require postsecondary schooling, but it’s not always necessary to attend college or a vocational school to become a pharmacy tech. This is a position that’s easier to get started in than many others in health care, helping you quickly obtain a career in ...
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) currently costs $129. Pharmacy Technician Certification (CPhT) with the National Healthcareer Association requires the completion of a training program in addition to a high school degree or equivalent.
The ExCPT exam currently costs $117. It’s possible to quickly get started as a pharmacy technician without going through formal school programs. Instead, you could opt to get certification or go through a training program with a pharmacy.
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) currently costs $129.
Currently this option does not require schooling. Instead, you take an exam. However, in 2020, PTCB is changing the eligibility requirements to include a PTCB-recognized training or education program or equivalent work experience.
These programs vary by the company. CVS offers on-the-job training to become a pharmacy tech, and Walgreens has Walgreens University , which provides a pharmacy tech training program and path to certification through PTCB.
Complete an employer-based on-the-job training program within 180 days of beginning employment in a pharmacy, or; Complete a board-approved pharmacy technician training program conducted by an accredited institution or college, or; Become nationally certified through the PTCB or another approved certifying agency.
Register as a non-certified technician with the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy, complete an on-the-job training program directed by a pharmacist-in-charge, become nationally certified through the PTCB or another approved certifying agency, and apply for certified technician designation with the State Board.
Register with the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician candidate, complete both 600 hours of on-the-job training and a board-approved training program, and become nationally certified through the PTCB or another approved certifying agency.
Complete a board-approved pharmacy technician training program that provides a minimum of 240 hours of training, or; Complete a pharmacy technician training program provided by a military branch, or; Graduate from a school of pharmacy accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), or;
Pennsylvania. There are currently no licensure requirements for pharmacy technicians in Pennsylvania. However, if a proposed bill becomes law, then Pennsylvania technicians would be required to complete a training program approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Pharmacy and register with the state board.
Often, you only need a high school diploma or an equivalent to become a pharmacy technician.
Even if you take some pharmacy technician training, the level of resources and commitment is different from completing a college or advanced education.
If you don’t want to take any training, you can obtain a certification from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).
That is, when you pass the NHA exam, you will have a nationally-recognized credential that will open the doors to fantastic job opportunities. In states that require licensure, there is often a preference of one agency over another, but the majority will recognize the PTCB credential, which is the older of the two.
If that describes your status, you might be called in to interview with pharmacies, but they may require full licensure as a condition of employment. In states that do not require either certification or licensure, holding a national certification will help you stand out among the other applicants. Many national and regional retail chains may have ...
Certification is another way to prove you've completed the required education and gained the necessary skills to work in this career. Unlike a license, a certificate comes through a third-party agency and not your state’s government.
Your certification will last two years. Even if you don't work in a state that requires you to get a license, you'll likely want to attain your national certification.
Working under the supervision of a pharmacist, a pharmacy technician helps both the pharmacist and the customer, often serving as a link between the two. Depending upon the particular setting in which they work, pharmacy techs may be responsible for measuring, mixing and compounding medications, contacting doctors’ offices to confirm dosing ...
As a result, pharm techs receive a solid compensation, with a national median annual salary of $33,950 in 2019 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The role of a pharmacy technician goes far beyond helping process prescription requests and taking care of packaging and labeling. Their work makes an enormous difference in the efficiency and safety of pharmacy operations.
Pharmacy techs work in all sorts of pharmacies, including those you see in grocery stores and department stores. Local and national drug stores offer a lot of pharmacy technician jobs. Health systems with inpatient and outpatient pharmacies also hire these medical professionals to help process prescription requests.
Certification is another way to prove you've completed the required education and gained the necessary skills to work in this career. Unlike a license, a certificate comes through a third-party agency and not your state’s government.
Certification is a voluntary process by which a non-governmental agency (like PTCB) recognizes an individual who has met qualifications specified by that organization.
PTCB does not provide state licenses or registrations. PTCB provides national CPhT certification and other related credentials. Please contact your state Board of Pharmacy or licensing agency for further assistance.
Pharmacy technicians must first determine if they can become PTCB certified. There is no age minimum. And pharmacy experience isn’t required. But pharmacy technicians must have a high school diploma or GED. A college degree isn’t required. Applicants for certification must also disclose their criminal background – if any. It’s also mandatory for applicants to report if any state pharmacy board has taken action against them. A criminal history, especially one including drug-related crimes, can hurt an applicant’s chance at certification. Applicants aren’t automatically disqualified if they have a criminal history. The PTCB will review all applications fairly. Applicants are still encouraged to apply, even if they have a criminal history.
Certified pharmacy technicians must complete 20 hours of continuing education every 2 years to remain PTCB certified. And all course credits must come from courses that are specifically for pharmacy technicians. Failure to earn continuing education hours means the certification will expire. After that point, there is a 1 year reinstatement period in which to renew certification. If certification isn’t renewed within that year, it’s necessary to start over and retake the exam.
To become PTCB certified, applicants must pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam. Applicants preparing for this test are encouraged to enroll in a training course for pharmacy technicians. It’s best if the course is accredited, preferably by a pharmacist organization. For example, courses by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists are nationally accredited. Courses by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education are nationally accredited, as well. Applicants preparing for the exam can also make use of additional study tools. There are books, smartphone apps, and flashcards that can help technicians study for the exam. Most notably, the PTCB has a practice exam easily accessible online. However, passing the practice exam doesn’t guarantee a passing score on the actual exam.
The level of education required is perhaps the biggest difference between pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. In some states, technicians aren’t required to have any formal training or credentials. A high school diploma or GED is all that’s required. Other states require certification or some other form of training before technicians can work in a pharmacy. Although there is not a national education standard, some technicians have to pass the PTCE. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) administers the test. PTCB is a national organization that provides pharmacy education, develops pharmacy protocols, and certifies pharmacy technicians. All 50 states recognize PTCB certification – even if the state doesn’t officially require certification. Pharmacy technicians have a choice between several programs that will prepare them to pass the PTCE. Programs are available from online providers, private organizations, and schools and universities. Some pharmacies even offer training programs to their technicians. Not all states require formal training for pharmacy technicians. But when formal training is required, programs normally last between 8 weeks to 2 years – depending on the state. Training programs offered by a pharmacy for its technicians usually have 8 weeks of traditional classroom learning. Then there are up to 6 months of on the job training. Pharmacy technicians have several additional options when it comes to education. Training received from an educational institution will result in earning an associate degree, certificate, or diploma. Earning a certificate usually takes less than a year. And to earn a diploma usually takes 12 to 18 months. But an associate degree usually takes exactly 2 years. Continuing education topics that pharmacy technicians focus on include:
Some states require pharmacy technicians to take at least a few continuing education courses in-person. But more often, it’s possible to take all of the courses from an online course provider. Here are some pros and cons associated with taking these courses online:
Some states allow pharmacy technicians to take online continuing education courses. Not all states allow this, so check with your state before enrolling in an online course. The courses available to you depend on your state. But the process for enrolling in online courses is basically the same across the board.
Requirements for registration, license, and certification vary by state. Hawaii and Pennsylvania currently have no continuing education requirements for pharmacy technicians. Here are some of the states that require pharmacy technicians to complete continuing education: