how long pharmacy technician 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?

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 …

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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 …

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?

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.

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 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 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.

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 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.

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.

How long does it take to become a pharmacy tech?

If you want to learn pharmacy tech and become a pharmacy technician, you can do it in as little as 4 months. On average, our online pharmacy technician school program is completed in 9 months.

What is a pharmacy technician?

They work directly with pharmacists and other healthcare providers, helping to save lives and providing comfort and relief to adults and children alike. Pharmacy Technicians perform an extremely important service to the people in their communities.

What are the skills required for a pharmacy technician?

Skills covered in the Pharmacy Technician Program include pharmacy procedures, drug interactions and reactions, an overview of various drug categories, pharmacy law, compounding, and other Allied Health basics. Back to top.

What is PTCE in pharmacy?

When you graduate you will be prepared to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Is pharmacy technician program affordable?

We strive to ensure our Pharmacy Technician program is both flexible and affordable. This is why we offer low, monthly payment options for every student. We are committed to providing you with a high-quality education at an affordable price. Make an investment in yourself today!