how long is the 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?

Oct 14, 2013 · Pharmacy technicians can get the training necessary to enter the profession in less than a year. Many vocational programs are 9 to 12 months long. However, more students are opting to pursue an Associate of Science degree, studying for a full 2 years to become more competitive as job applicants.

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Nov 10, 2021 · Related: Learn About Being a Pharmacy Technician. How to become a certified pharmacy technician. The following steps provide a general outline to becoming a certified pharmacy technician: 1. Choose an educational or training program. If you want to enter your career as quickly as possible, a diploma or certification program may be the best ...

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!

How long does it take to become a pharmacy technician?

Pharmacy technicians can get the training necessary to enter the profession in less than a year. Many vocational programs are 9 to 12 months long. However, more students are opting to pursue an Associate of Science degree, studying for a full 2 years to become more competitive as job applicants.

What degree do pharmacy techs need?

Pharmacy technicians need postsecondary training or education to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to function effectively in the workplace. In general, either a vocational tech certificate or an associate degree in Pharmacy Technology is acceptable as long as it is accredited by the American Society of Health -System Pharmacists (ASHP), ...

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

To get into a pharmacy technician school, most candidates need to be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or the GED equivalent. Because of the nature of the profession, aspiring pharmacy techs will need to undergo a criminal background check.

Do pharmacy techs need continuing education?

About 1 in 3 pharmacy techs need continuing education credits to keep their certifications valid and up to date. For most graduates, PTCB certification is voluntary, but even these techs may benefit from the prestige of national professional recognition.

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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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What kind of training is needed for a pharmacy technician?

Determine what kind of training program will be right for you. For instance, if you want to enter your career as quickly as possible, a diploma or certification program may be the best choice for you. If you're interested in moving beyond the role of a pharmacy technician in the future, an associate's program that prepares you for continuous career advancement may be the right type of program. No matter what kind of training and education you complete, your coursework will cover pharmacology, human anatomy and physiology, healthcare systems, laws and ethics and medical terminology.

What is a pharmacy tech?

Pharmacy technicians are integral members of a healthcare team who assist licensed pharmacists in many types of daily activities in the pharmacy. From filling medications to billing insurance companies, these professionals rely on their education and training to perform successfully in their careers. If you're interested in becoming a pharmacy technician, there are several aspects about your career path to consider. In this article, we'll discuss what pharmacy technicians do, the differences between registered and certified techs, how to become one and answer the question how long does it take to become a pharmacy technician?

How often do you need to renew your pharmacy tech certification?

Pharmacy technician certification will require you to renew your credentials every two years. This is to ensure that you are up-to-date on new medical advances, changes to medications, newly introduced medications, laws, policies and other pharmacology-related trends. Many hospitals, clinics and public healthcare facilities support their pharmacy techs' continuing education to keep their certifications current.

What is PTCE in pharmacy?

The exam tests your knowledge and understanding of pharmacology applications, and certification demonstrates your ability to apply these concepts in the workplace. After obtaining your certification, you are fully qualified to work as a pharmacy technician.

Do pharmacy technicians need a national certification?

Registered pharmacy technicians may not have their national certification through the PTCB, but they have obtained their licenses to work in a pharmacy in the state they live in. Pharmacy technicians who only hold a state license and are registered with their state of emplacement may need to obtain a separate state license if they move to a different state. You may also need your national certification in addition to your state registration, if your state requires it.

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.

Pharmacy Technician Higher Education

After you have completed your high school education or its equivalent, it is recommended that you enroll and complete a program to get certification in Texas.

Complete On-the-job Training

Technically, on-the-job training is the only requirement to become a pharmacy technician. It allows you to gain the clinical experience you need to understand and appreciate the work situation.

Get Your Pharmacy Technician Certificate

To work as a pharmacy technician, you must have an active registration with the TSBP. You can also become certified by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). Once you are registered with the TSBP, you do not need to maintain your PTCB certification.

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.

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...

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