There are mainly 2 ways when it comes to pursuing your pharmacy technician education: pharmacy technician training programs and pharmacy technician programs for post-secondary education.
A significant requirement for you to become a pharmacy technician is to gain clinical experience. One way to get it is by receiving on-the-job training. But, it all depends on your state’s laws. Some will allow you to work based on your on-the-job training, but there are others that require you to be certified or have a formal education.
If your state does allow you to gain on-the-job training, then you can get such at retail or hospital pharmacies. There are many training programs that are accredited by the PTCB or the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.
As mentioned, there are states that will allow you to get your knowledge and experience through on-the-job training. One of the main ways you can get those is through the help of retail pharmacies. You can get an internship or externship. Statistics say that most of those interns are then employed by the pharmacy after completing the training. Furthermore, as long as it is an accredited training program, then you may be able to get certified either through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or the National Healthcareer Association.
Another way for you to get your training is through hospital pharmacies. It is different from retail pharmacies since the training is usually focused on the procedures and policies of the hospitals. Moreover, it is now no longer allowed to apply for entry-level pharmacy technician jobs in hospitals. Hospitals also often hire certified pharmacy technicians that have at least 3 to 5 years of experience. But, it is also considered a good clinical experience. For your internship or externship, you’ll get to work with various healthcare professionals.
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Pharmacy Technician Jobs and Salary
Some states might require you to have a formal education to work as a pharmacy technician. You have to enroll in accredited pharmacy technician schools so you can take the PTCE exam and obtain your national pharmacy technician certification. Furthermore, you can choose from the three: Certificate, Diploma, and Associate Degree.
You can enroll in pharmacy technician certificate programs, which usually take at least 9 months to 12 months to complete. The coursework is usually about the basic concepts of pharmacy law, record keeping, and such. It is also a combination of classroom teaching and lab training.
Check out: How Long Does It Take to Become a Pharmacy Technician?
Diploma programs, on the other hand, is almost the same as certificate programs. They also cover the same coursework, and you can complete it at least 9 months to 12 months. You will also be given hands-on experience through internships or externships.
The pharmacy technician courses you can usually expect from the programs are the following: Introduction to Pharmacy, Hospital Pharmacy Practice, Science of Pharmacology, Pharmacy Ethics, and Dosage Forms and Routes of Administration.
If you want to pursue a more comprehensive educational program, then you should enroll in a pharmacy technician associate degree program. It will take at least 12 months to 24 months to complete because of its expansive coursework. If you also choose to earn an associate degree, then it can help you get ready for a Bachelor of Pharmacy or other related degrees. The pharmacy technician classes you’ll have to take will require some of this coursework: Pharmacy Calculations, Pharmacy Law, Pharmacology, Interpersonal Communications for the Workplace, and Over-the-counter Drugs.
When you have chosen the type of educational program that you want, then the next step is to find the right institution to enroll in. If you don’t know any pharmacy technician university, here are some of the best schools that are accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists:
Foothill College
12345 El Monte Road
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
650.949.7777
Renton Technical College
3000 NE 4th St.
Renton, WA 98056
(425) 235-2352
Spokane Community College
1810 N Greene Street
Spokane, WA 99217-5399
509-533-8400
Southeast Technical Institute
2320 N Career Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57107
605.367.6040
Atlanta Technical College
1560 Metropolitan Parkway SW
Atlanta, GA 30310-4466
404.225.4400
Tulsa Technology Center
6111 East Skelly Drive
Tulsa, OK 74147
(918) 828-5000
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
4089 Val Tech Road
Valdosta, Georgia 31602
(229) 333-2100
Johnston Community College
245 College Road
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-3051
Lakeshore Technical College
1290 North Avenue
Cleveland, WI 53015
920.693.1000
Oconee Fall Line Technical College
560 Pinehill Road
Dublin, GA 31021
1.800.200.4484
Can you learn to work in a pharmacy from a trade school?
Yes, you can. There are many different ways in which you can learn to become a pharmacy technician. As already stated, you can choose to enroll in pharmacy technician colleges, vocational, or trade schools of your choice. You have to find those that are accredited by the ASHP. After that, you can take the PTCB test to get certified. The PTCB is considered as the oldest organization, so most often than not, it is the preferable option for your certification.
Why do students choose pharmacy technician training?
Pharmacy technician training can help them gain the required knowledge and experience for the profession. They’ll be able to have hands-on experience in the healthcare industry. Moreover, a lot of employers prefer it when they have on-the-job training.
What is the required training to become a pharmacy technician?
All aspiring pharmacy technicians must have clinical experience when it comes to their training programs. They need to be able to show that they know the process and the steps of their duties and responsibilities. They can also get their training in retail or hospital pharmacies.
How to become a pharmacist technician while still in high school?
Although the requirements state that you must have a high school diploma or equivalent to become a certified pharmacy technician, there are special circumstances where you can take the PTCE without it. You can take the exam as long as you are within 60 days of earning your high school diploma or equivalent. You must then provide proof of your high school completion before you can be granted your PTCB certification if you do pass.
Check out: Pharmacy Technician Requirements Vary Among States – Learn What Each State Is Looking For Here
Can you take pharmacy technician classes online?
Yes, you can. You can complete the general coursework for pharmacy technicians online and then get the required hands-on training. When looking for online training programs, you must remember three main things. First, you must make sure that it is an accredited program. Second, there are pharmacy technician schools that offer programs online. You can choose those that can provide you hands-on training after you finish the pharmacy technician online course work. Lastly, the online program must help you prepare for the PTCE exam for your certification.
Now you can implement all the necessary things like a real exam that we described by practicing our sample PTCB Practice Test
Pharmacy Technician Practice Test (PTCB)- 1
Pharmacy Technician Practice Test (PTCB)- 2
Pharmacy Technician Practice Test (PTCB)- 3
Pharmacy Technician Practice Test (PTCB)- 4
Pharmacy Technician Practice Test (PTCB)- 5
