Enrollment Requirements and Certificate Program Information

Only a high school diploma or GED is required in order to become a pharmacy technician. However, there are some states and the majority of employers that will require or prefer those applicants that have completed a formal training program. The certificate pharmacy technician program can be found through vocational schools, community colleges and online universities. Degree programs will take two years to complete whereas the certificate programs will vary at one to two years for completion.

The certificate programs will usually cover medical terminology, fundamental pharmacology, drug regulations, patient documentation and recordkeeping. The student might also have the opportunity to complete an internship at local retail pharmacies, public or private hospital pharmacies and medical clinics. Advanced courses included in a program will involve pharmacy practice in specific industries, safety and sterilization practices, inventory and documentation procedures, legal dispensary and labeling requirements, proper drug handling and measuring methods, insurance, medical billing and coding, inventory control and documentation procedures.

Those students that are interested in pursuing the associates of specialized technology in pharmacy technology can learn that this degree is not offered at every college or university.  An alternative to this type of degree is enrolling in the associate of applied science in pharmacy technology. This program will teach the skills that are necessary in order to become a certified technician.

This associate’s degree program will typically take two years to complete, unless the student enrolls in an accelerated program which can be completed in 16 to 18 months. Students will learn how to prepare medications, create patient profiles, keep patient information up-to-date, take pharmacy inventory, and work with insurance companies regarding medication coverage for patients. Students will also come to know how a pharmacy actually functions, and the role the pharmacy technician will play when assisting the pharmacist. The technician’s main goal in a pharmacy setting will be to complete as many tasks as possible in order to free up the time of the pharmacist so that they may better serve customers when giving consultations.

Graduates from this program will also have a better understanding of the legal limitations and responsibilities of the technician. By law a tech will not be able to provide consultation to a customer, regarding any questions they may have about their prescriptions and will be required to refer the customers to the pharmacist instead. Students that are interested in applying for a program will need to have a math and science academic background and have their CPR and First aid certification. Some programs might also require the students to pass a criminal background check or drug screening prior to being accepted.

Courses Included in the Program

In a technician program the students will complete both classroom and clinical study courses. Students will also participate in seminars as they learn more about working as part of a pharmacy team. Future techs can learn about specialized skills such as pharmacology, pharmacy law, accurately measuring and weighing medications, sterilization and safety and medical terminology.

Certification for pharmacy technicians is required by some states and while not mandatory in others, many students will still choose to obtain certification in order to increase their chances at finding employment or making a higher salary in their current position. Technicians can obtain certification through such organizations as the Pharmacy technician Board, which will only require the applicant to have their high school diploma and completion of a formal training program, with no past history of drug related crimes.

To maintain certification a pharmacy technician must provide proof of twenty hours of continuing education credits every two years after the initial certification.

How to Choose a Pharmacology Program

Some states will not require formal training in order to work as a pharmacy technician, however, by completing a training program you’ll have more experience in the field as opposed to new employees that require on the job training and you’ll therefore be more valuable to potential employers who will save money that will otherwise be used for training programs.

Some pharmacy technician schools will offer information sessions for potential students in order for the applicant to determine if a technician program is right for them before they commit to enrolling in a program.  The sessions will cover such topics as cost versus benefits, overall job duties, course curriculum and pharmacy technician certification options and responsibilities. Often admissions tests can be administered by the school during one of these sessions or it can be required before a student enrolls in order to evaluate a student for acceptance into the program.

Many of these schools will offer programs that will include internships that can help to prepare a student for immediate employment once they have completed the required courses. Through affiliations with local pharmacies a student is able to gain experience in the field by performing such duties as inventory control, recordkeeping, medication counting and physician order transcription. Every school will differ in this area as some will offer more lab time as opposed to more time spent in the field.

Pharmacy Technician Courses for Degree and Certificate Programs

Applicants for pharmacy tech programs will need to be 18 years of age and have their high school diploma or state equivalent. Students will need to complete an admissions application and provide school transcripts for the admissions department to review.

Training for this program can be found through degree or certificate programs, both of which will include field and classroom training. The associate’s degree program covers traditional courses which will include classes in social and behavioral science, mathematics, natural science and general elective classes. Students can also expect courses in anatomy, medication absorption, medical terminology, medical laws and ethics and medication dosage effects.

Certificate programs that are available for this field can be completed in one to two years and will also include an internship in a professional pharmacy setting and courses in drug interactions, medication absorption, anatomy, pharmacology laws and ethics and patient documentation.

After completion of either program the student will need to take certification exams through an accredited organization such as the PTCB, in order to obtain their licensure for this profession. To qualify for recertification the technician will need to earn twenty hours of continuing education every two years for license renewal.

As a professional, the technician can work in a number of environments such as retail pharmacies, dental offices, scientific research and development labs, private or public hospitals and medical clinics.

Earning your Certification through the PTCB and NHCA

The certification exam through the PTCB and NHCA will allow the pharmacy tech to perform their duties in a more effective manner with professional pharmacists, by providing effective and safe patient service and care. Pharmacy technician certification can be achieved through specific requirements such as being 18 years of age, having a high school diploma or equivalent, having no past felonies, no misdemeanors in the past five years and obtaining a passing grade on the technician exam. Both the NHCA and the PTCB exams are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, also referred to as NCCA.

These exams will assess the student’s ability to perform duties in a pharmacy setting and requires the student to apply on either organizations website, in order for the organizations to determine if the applicant meets testing requirements. Should the student meet the requirements they will receive a list of testing sites in their area. The cost for the exam is 130$ and will focus on such areas of the profession as reading and transcribing physician orders, how to prepare insurance claim forms, how to manage a pharmacy’ inventory, establishing and maintaining a patient’s profile, and how to measure, count, weigh and pour medications. The tests will consist of both multiple choice and essay questions, with a total of three hours available to complete the exam.

How to Maintain Certification with Continuing Education

In order to maintain your certification as a pharmacy technician you will need to complete 20 hours of continuing education every two years, which can include re-taking the certification exam.  Some hours of continuing education will need to be devoted to pharmacy law or by completing in-service projects. These projects are work assignments that do not involve the technician’s routine duties in the pharmacy. The tech will need to make arrangements with their pharmacist for this type of CE credit. You can also find free continuing education options online through such organizations as the Council for Pharmacy Education, also referred to as the ACPE.  Home study or online study courses in medication distribution, math, pharmaceutical science, inventory control, pharmacology therapy and biology can be counted as two hours towards your continuing education with each course.

Certificate and Degree Programs for the Pharmacy Technician

The certificate program for the pharmacy tech can be completed in one to two years and will teach students how to fill prescriptions, interact with patients and mix, weigh and measure medications.  Student will also learn how to work closely with pharmacists and how to refer patients to pharmacist consultations, should they have questions regarding their prescription.  Common education requirements prior to enrolling in a certificate program will include being the minimum age of 18 and having a high school diploma or state equivalent.

Courses for this program will include anatomy, physiology, drug absorption, pharmacology ethics and laws, pharmacy procedures, drug interactions, medical terminology and medical transcription. During your enrollment in this program you can participate in an internship program, working and learning under the supervision of a professional pharmacist, gaining valuable field experience. As an intern you will observe the pharmacist at work, assist in counting medications and take inventory of drugs stored in the pharmacy.

Some colleges and universities will also offer an associate’s degree program for the pharmacy technician which will include a one year internship in a pharmacy setting during the final year of the program. Associate’s degree programs can be more commonly found at online universities for this specific career field. Courses for this program will include drug interactions, adverse effects, medication dispensation, pharmacology basics, anatomy, medication absorption rates, medical terminology, chemistry, biology and medical law and ethics.

Since a pharmacy technician will need to interact with patients and other medical health professionals they will need to have good customer service and communication skills. They will also need to have good spelling, have basic computer skills and be detail oriented.

Earning your Certification in this Field

Pharmacy technician requirements will vary by state so it’s important for the student to know whether they are required to have certification before pursuing employment. Voluntary certification is also available for this field and can be helpful when trying to find employment. The two organizations that offer the pharmacy technician certification are the PTCB, also known as the Pharmacy Technician Certification board and the NHA, or National Health Career Association. In order to be eligible for the certification exam the applicant will need to have their high school diploma and proof of completion from an accredited pharmacy technician certificate program, or two years of work experience in the pharmacology industry.