how long is a pharmacy technician course

What are the requirements to become a pharmacy tech?

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 long does it take to become a pharmacy technician?

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 to become a registered pharmacy tech?

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. Cambridge College offers our Pharmacy Technician certification program to students ready to enter the field. Our program takes …

How much does a pharmacy tech earn?

May 19, 2019 · A traditional college setting with standardized courses may take up to two years to complete; however, you can pursue an expedited route and complete your pharmacy training through an accredited online program. Career Step’s Pharmacy Technician program is designed to be completed in just four short months on a full-time schedule. However, the online program is …

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

How long does it take to become a pharmacy technician?

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: Pharmacology.

What is a pharmacy technician certification?

Certification for pharmacy technicians is handled by two organizations: the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), and the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). Both offer credentials referred to as Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). The PTCB requires that applicants hold a high school diploma or equivalent, ...

What is a pharmacy technician?

Pharmacy technicians are allied health professionals who help pharmacists by handling simple tasks on their behalf. Duties common to pharmacy technicians include gathering data from customers, dispensing medication, and taking inventory. Educational programs that can lead to a career as a pharmacy technician can often be completed in under a year, ...

How often do you need to renew your pharmacy technician license?

Certification must be renewed every two years for both organizations. States may require a pharmacy technician to obtain certification in order to receive a license, but even in states where certification is not required, it is typically preferred by employers.

How old do you have to be to be a pharmacy tech?

Pharmacy technicians must be at least 18 years old, and hold a high school diploma or the equivalent. Background checks and drug screenings are commonly required, due to the restrictions placed on ...

How many hours do you need to be a PTCB?

Beginning in 2020, the PTCB will also require applicants complete a PTCB-recognized educational program or have an equivalent amount of work experience (500+ hours). The NHA credential has similar requirements, with applicants who have not completed an educational program needing a full year of work experience.

Do pharmacy technicians need to be certified?

Pharmacy technicians are sometimes trained on-the-job, and this job experience can also be used to obtain certification under certain circumstances. Some states do require that pharmacy technicians receive certification and/or licensure in order to work, which may make formal training mandatory.

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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How long does it take to become a pharmacy technician?

Training to become a pharmacy technician can take anywhere from a few months to a year, and taking that little bit of extra time to earn a national certification through the PTCB or NHA is definitely worth it if this is the career you want to pursue.

How do I become a pharmacy tech?

The first step to starting a pharmacy technician career is to earn a high school diploma or GED equivalent. With a basic education, you can qualify for on-the-job training. However, many people find that looking for employment is easier if they have undergone some form of post-secondary training, such as an online pharmacy technician certification ...

What certification do pharmacy technicians need?

You should be aware of two main types of certification for pharmacy technicians as you set out to start your new career. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) certification requires pharmacy technicians to have a high school diploma and pass a certification exam.

What is a pharmacy technician?

A pharmacy technician’s job is to assist the pharmacist with certain daily tasks such as entering data, measuring out and packaging medications, processing payment information, and accurately placing the correct labels on medication. That’s in addition to more basic skills like answering phone calls, taking inventory of the pharmacy’s supplies, and providing high quality customer service. It’s a position that requires a great deal of precision and attention to detail as well as an understanding of basic pharmacology, expertise in dispensing medication, and a deep knowledge of pharmacy law and ethics.

How old do you have to be to get a healthcare certification?

The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certification has a minimum age requirement of 18 years and requires applicants to have a high school diploma, complete a formal training program, and have at least 1 year of work experience before they can sit for the certification exam.

Is pharmacy technician a good career?

Becoming a pharmacy technician is a wise career choice. Not only do you get the satisfaction of helping others every day at work, but you also get the added benefits of great pay, job security, and advancement opportunities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for this career is bright, ...

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.

How long does a pharmacy technician license last?

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.

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.

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 ...

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 is the role of a pharmacy technician?

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.

What is a certification in a job?

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.

What Do Pharmacy Technicians do?

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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