how long is the pharmacy technician course

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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 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 often do pharmacy technicians have to be recertified?

Technically, a certified pharmacy technician never finishes her or his training, because they must be re-certified every two years to ensure they’re up-to-date with all the advances that impact their work. Now you see why the question of length of training is so hard to pin down to just one answer.

Where is Fortis Pharmacy Tech?

Fortis offers pharmacy technician programs at campuses in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland and Tennessee.

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.

Do you need a GED to become a pharmacy technician?

Some states don’t require formal training to become a licensed pharmacy technician, although candidates must have graduated from high school or received a GED. In those states, it’s still possible to qualify for the profession through on-the-job training.

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.