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Degrees and Schools
Most pharmacy technicians have formal training, which is preferred by many employers. These programs are offered through community colleges, vocational schools and some hospitals, and graduates are awarded associate's degrees, certificates or diplomas. Programs are designed to prepare graduates for national certification, which is required in some states. It is also useful for all pharmacy technicians who are looking for ways to improve their chances of being hired.
Classes
Pharmacy technician students spend their time in classes, labs and pharmacy internships. Courses typically include:
- Medication names, purposes and dosing
- Pharmaceutical and medical terminology
- Medical record keeping
- Pharmaceutical calculations and techniques
- Ethics, pharmacy law and protecting patients' health information
Online Classes and Programs
Online pharmacy programs, like programs offered through community colleges and vocational schools, include courses that prepare pharmacy technicians for national certification and their future careers as pharmacists. These programs, while convenient, may not coordinate internships or assist in job placement like on-campus programs.
Employment Requirements
A certificate, diploma or associate's degree from a postsecondary program is expected by most employers who hire pharmacy technicians. Employers also look for pharmacy technicians with previous work experience volunteering at a hospital or community pharmacy, operating cash registers, working with computers and maintaining inventory.
National certification tests, offered through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians, are not required in all states but demonstrate a standardized level of training. Test applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent, no drug / pharmacy-related felony convictions, and no felony convictions of any type within five years.
How to Evaluate Schools
When evaluating pharmacy programs, consider asking the following questions:
- Curricula and focus - Does the list of available courses cover the many different areas of pharmacy work? Will graduates be well-prepared for career advancement, such as becoming a pharmacist?
- Accreditation and regulation - Does the program emphasize preparation for the PTCB or ICPT certification tests, especially in states where national certification is required? If an online program, does the parent institution have accreditation from agencies approved by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or United States Department of Education (USDE)?
- Class structure and practical experience - Are classes small enough for a productive learning environment? Does the school offer plenty of supervised practical experience in an actual pharmacy setting?
- Graduate success - Over the previous several years, how many graduates found work as a pharmacy technician? What kind of job placement assistance did they receive from the school?
- Tuition and financial aid - Are financial aid options such as scholarships, student loans and grants explained thoroughly to students? What resources are available to help them take advantage of these opportunities?
Pharmacy Technician Job Description
Pharmacy technicians play a key role in keeping pharmacies running smoothly and protecting patients' health. They interact with customers, doctors, insurance companies and pharmacy staff to make sure patients receive the right prescription and are charged the right price. Pharmacy technicians must be skilled in managing detailed work, accurate record keeping and communicating effectively.
In some states, pharmacy technicians are also called pharmacy aides, and may not be permitted to help prepare prescriptions. But it is common for pharmacy technicians to have more complex duties than pharmacy aides. A pharmacy technician's, responsibilities usually include:
- preparing prescriptions to be filled
- stocking shelves and tracking inventory
- submitting claims to insurance companies and verifying coverage
- updating patients' medical profiles with accurate information
- making calls to doctors' offices, patients and insurance companies
- answering telephones and helping customers at the counter
- working the cash register and handling money
- referring questions to the pharmacist
- maintaining equipment and supplies
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