how long is a pharmacy tech course

What are the requirements to become a pharmacy tech?

Programs that offer training and education towards becoming a pharmacy technician are available as certificates, diplomas, and associate's degrees, with certificate programs able to be completed in as little as 9 months. Coursework featured in pharmacy technician programs may commonly include:

How long does it take to become a pharmacy technician?

Mar 05, 2018 · Most states, however, require formal training at a college or vocational school. Studies can be as short as about four months, or as long as two years, depending on whether you want a certificate, diploma or associate degree.

How to become a registered pharmacy tech?

Our program takes approximately 36 weeks to complete, so less than a year. After you complete the program, you’ll have what it takes to take and pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE). Finally, you’ll be ready for employment.

How much does a pharmacy tech earn?

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists accredits only those pharmacy technician training programs that include a minimum of 600 hours of …

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What certification do I need to become a pharmacy technician?

Plus, many employers require pharmacy technicians be certified, which means taking the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or National Healthcareer Association (NHA) certification test.

How long does it take to get a license in the US?

Most states, however, require formal training at a college or vocational school. Studies can be as short as about four months, or as long as two years, depending on whether you want a certificate, diploma or associate degree.

How Long Is Pharmacy Technician School?

Most employers will require you to have some post-secondary education to showcase your knowledge and skills. The easiest way to do so is by attending a college or university to obtain a certificate.

Is Pharmacy Technician School Hard?

As a pharmacy technician, you’ll need to know how to prepare proper medication doses and understand how to communicate effectively with patients. These responsibilities require you to know various subjects we’ll cover in courses such as:

Become a Pharmacy Technician With Cambridge

Your pharmacy technician career is just around the corner with Cambridge. We’re here to help you succeed from your first day of class through your career. To learn more about our program or to apply today, give us a call at 877-206-4279 or send us a message. We can’t wait to hear from you!

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What Do Pharmacy Technicians Do?

Pharmacy technicians work directly under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. Their duties include:

What Does the Job Market Look Like?

As overall demand for healthcare grows, so will demand for pharmacy technicians. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the economy could add an additional 47,600 job openings for pharmacy technicians over the 2016-2026 period—a growth rate of about 12 percent.

What You Learn in a Pharmacy Technician Training Program

A pharmacy technician training program teaches the knowledge and skills you need to provide safe, ethical service to customers and act as an effective member of the pharmacy team. Topics of study can include:

Certification, Registration, or Licensure?

Most states regulate pharmacy technicians in some way. Typically, the requirements for practice include:

Short-Term Training, Long-Term Career Satisfaction

We hope this helped you understand what’s involved in becoming a pharmacy technician. While studying for your diploma and passing your certification exam can take less than one year, it opens the door to a career path that can make a positive impact on your life—and the lives of the people you’ll serve.

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Pharmacy Technician Training Programs

Community colleges, vocational schools and even hospitals and stand-alone pharmacies offer pharmacy technician training classes in pharmacy operations, mathematics, legal issues and pharmacology. In addition, many programs also incorporate an internship or externship that provides students with experience working in a pharmacy.

Pharmacy Technician Licensing and Registration

About 80 percent of the states regulate pharmacy technicians by requiring them to become licensed, register with the state or hold professional certification. According to the Pharmacy Technicians Certification Board, as of April 2013, eight states require licensure, while 29 require registration.

Pharmacy Technician Certification

National certification of pharmacy technicians is conducted through organizations such as the National Healthcareer Association and the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.

Continuing Education Requirements

State governments, along with professional certification boards, often require pharmacy technicians to complete continuing education units as a condition of license or registration renewal. Your state licensing or registration board can provide you with information on continuing education requirements.

What is a pharmacy tech?

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 ...

What is a pharmacy technician certification?

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.

How much does a pharmacy tech make?

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).

Where do pharmacy techs work?

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.

What degree do pharmacy technicians need?

Prospective pharmacy technicians who are considering an undergraduate degree in the future may want to go with an associates’ degree, as many of their credits can be applied to a future degree.

How do I become a pharmacy technician?

There are two distinct paths to becoming a pharmacy technician: Certificate or Diploma Program. Associate’s Degree Program. 1. Pharmacy Technician Certificate or Diploma Program. The fastest route to becoming a pharmacy technician is through a certificate or diploma program.

Do pharmacy techs need continuing education?

Pharmacy techs who pursue credentialing from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) are required to pursue continuing education credits in order to maintain their status. The same is not true for those who limit their credentials to having graduated from certificate programs.

What Do Pharmacy Technicians do?

What Does The Job Market Look like?

What You Learn in A Pharmacy Technician Training Program

Certification, Registration, Or Licensure?

Short-Term Training, Long-Term Career Satisfaction

• We hope this helped you understand what’s involved in becoming a pharmacy technician. While studying for your diploma and passing your certification exam can take less than one year, it opens the door to a career path that can make a positive impact on your life—and the lives of the people you’ll serve. Note: All job opening and salary data comes from nationwide projections an…

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