ttips

How Can I Become A Pharmacy Technician?

You usually reach out for an aspirin when you have migraines and feel slight pains. In some situations, these medications would be out of sight. Hence, you need to buy one. So you dress up and talk a short walk to the pharmacy store to purchase another aspirin.

You often come across a lovely young lady who attends to you. She smiles and gives you the right dosage, but you find it difficult to address her by profession. Well, she’s a pharmacist technician, and you’ll learn how to become a pharmacist technician in this post.

According to Drug-Free World, over 208 million people use drugs illegally worldwide. This illegal use covers both the abuse of drugs by individuals. Indeed, this is very harmful to health and should be stopped.

Pharmacy technicians have made their bid to ensure people get the correct medications when they visit a pharmacy. In this article, you’ll learn how to become a pharmacy technician, their salary, job outlook, and much more.

how-to-become-a-pharmacy-technician

Table of contents

What do Pharmacy Technicians do?

A pharmacy technician is a healthcare provider who attends to customers within a pharmacy while working in line with a licensed pharmacist.

Pharmacy technicians usually work in pharmacies, although they can also work in hospitals and health centers.

Their specific duties rotate around giving patients prescription drugs and other medical devices and instructions on their use.

They may also perform other administrative duties in pharmaceutical practice, such as prescription review requests with doctor’s offices and insurance companies to ensure correct medications are provided and payment is received.

Pharmacy technicians often perform as Compounding Supervisor, overseeing day-to-day dosage preparations in adherence to standards and requirements.

Today, pharmacy technicians have direct conversations with patients to help them keep tabs on their medications.

There are many open spaces for pharmacy technicians of the lack of enough professionals in this area. Hence, if you choose to become a pharmacy technician, you need to get started immediately.

Practical training, such as completing an internship in a pharmacy, is required as part of training for licensing and employment as a pharmacy technician.

Many employers often favor pharmacy technicians to be certified by a national or local pharmacy board. You would need to pass the certification exam to practice as a technician.

In some other countries, you must register with a regulatory body to practice as a pharmacy technician.

What are the Pharmacy Technician Programs?

Different institutions usually offer pharmacy technician degrees at all levels. However, the type of program you choose will then depend on your current qualifications.

In pharmacy technology, there’s only a one-degree program you can get. The reason is that higher degree programs are meant to eventually lead you to become a pharmacist.

Thus, the pharmacy technician degree is;

Associate Degree–An associate degree in pharmacy technician is the best option for students with a high school diploma or GED but are rarely ready to pursue a four-year bachelor’s program.

This program gives the students basic background principles and methods of operation in pharmacy. Additionally, as an associate degree student, you perform research while you study.

In summary, if you decide to go for a Bachelor’s degree program, you’re actually on the way to becoming a trained pharmacist.

Can I study pharmacy technician online?

Although schools that offer technician programs are few, they still offer online programs.

Indeed, online programs are flexible and enable you to study from anywhere in the world.

You will eventually need to check out the eligibility requirements before applying.

How much does a pharmacy technician make?

Pharmacy Technicians are trained professionals. Hence, this means they execute their duties with a level of expertise.

From consulting with drug administration to keeping up with patients, they have many duties.

SEE ALSO:  Coventry University: Admission, Tuition, Courses, Scholarships, Ranking 2024

A Pharmacy Technician earns as much as $34,000 to $43,000 annually.

How much do pharmacy technician schools cost?

These schools are few, and most have earned an exceptional reputation in many areas.

Hence, pharmacy technician programs generally cost between $3,000 and $11,000. However, you can use scholarships when you can’t afford tuition.

After you finish your academic program, you’ll go for a certification program to get a license.

Pharmacy Technician Certification

After finishing your pharmacy technician program, you must proceed with certification.

You can’t practice this profession without certification, and you know what this means.

So, depending on your country, you must register with the National Body to get a license.

Also Read: How to become an EKG Technician.

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician?

Pharmacist Technicians are smart and hardworking people. And these professionals perform difficult tasks. To venture into this career, you must follow some basic steps.

Hence, the steps include the following;

Step 1: Get an Associate Degree

An associate degree is the first bridge you will eventually pass to victory. Hence, it is very important.

These associate degree programs take at least two years to complete fully, and you’ll learn basic pharmacy essentials in this degree program.

All students in this program will learn prescription methods, techniques, and drug control.

Step 2: Take an Internship Program

As a technician, practicality is all you need to deal with people’s health.

Therefore, before prescribing, consulting, and administering medication, you must see it implemented and practiced countlessly.

Many health centers allow students who want to become pharmacy technicians to be trained and directed on how to perform their duties.

So, you must finish your internship program to progress in this career path.

Step 3: Get your License

Your license is your right to practice as a technician. So, you need to do all in your power to get it.

Before the National Body issues you a license, you must sit for the licensing exam.

These licensing exams are usually written, while on other occasions, it’s similar to an interview process.

In everything, make it a top priority to get a license if you truly want to practice as a pharmacy technician.

Best Schools for Pharmacy Technicians

To become a Pharmacy Technician, you must start by attending the right school.

We generally compiled a list of the top and best Pharmacy Technician Colleges in the world. And we will state a full detail our 2024 ranking criteria.

Hence, here is a list of the Best and Accredited Pharmacy Technician Schools in the world, with their acceptance rate, graduation rate, and the number of programs they offer.

  • #1. National University College
  •  #2. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia
  •  #3. Florida Vocational Institute
  •  #4. Manhattan Institute
  •  #5. Mountainland Technical College
  •  #6. Concorde Career College-Memphis
  •  #7. Downey Adult School
  •  #8. Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista
  •  #9. Ivy Tech Community College
  •  #10. Columbus State Community College

Also Read: Best Pharmacy Schools in Michigan

#1. National University College

The Associate Degree in Pharmacy Technician will equip the student with the knowledge and skills they need to work as a pharmacy technician. However, they need to learn in a standard institution.

The graduate of this program can work in pharmacies and hospitals as a pharmacy technician following the laws and regulations of the Board of Pharmacy of Puerto Rico.

Finally, the institution is authorized by the Board of Education of Puerto Rico to offer certification programs, associate degrees, Bachelor’s degrees, and masters through certifications.

Visit School

#2. Florida Vocational Institute

This program gets students who want to become pharmacy technicians a guide. At the end of this program, students will receive a diploma degree.

SEE ALSO:  Full List of Turkey Scholarships for Ethiopian Students 2024

In the Pharmacy Technicians Training Program of the Florida Vocational Institute (FVI), you gain the proper skills to enter this industry and prosper.

The pharmacy technician program provides directives on how to help the pharmacist arrange and dispense medications.

Graduate students of Pharmacy Technicians can be gainfully employed in hospitals (private and government), nursing homes, and private and chain pharmacies.

Students will also study the professional and technical skills necessary for direct employment as a pharmacy technician.

Visit School

#3. Manhattan Institute

For over 40 years, the Manhattan Institute has been an important force in the configuration of American political culture. And the development of ideas that promote economic choice and individual responsibility.

Above all, they design the Pharmacy Technician training at the Manhattan Institute to prepare you for employment in this growing profession.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor of the United States, the employment of pharmacy technicians will increase rapidly in the coming years due to advances in medicine and the aging population.

So, if you want to become a pharmacy technician, you should move now.

Visit School

#4. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia

The SJVC program prepares you to work under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist as part of a team responsible for complying with doctors’ pharmaceutical orders.

Graduates can complete the Certificate of Completion of Pharmaceutical Technology program in just nine months or the Associate Pharmacy Technician Science Degree program in just 15 months.

Their pharmaceutical technology students can obtain a certificate of completion in just nine months. Technician program graduates can get an associate’s degree in science in just 15 months.

This school is one of the best places to go if you want to become a great pharmacy technician.

Visit School

#5. Mountainland Technical College

The pharmacy technician program consists of two parts. Part 1 is ongoing laboratory training (400 hours). Part 2 is external training for a pharmacy technician (200 hours).

Interested students who eventually complete this training must possess a high school diploma or GED to qualify for the national exam.

Most importantly, students can apply to become licensed pharmacy technicians in Utah after passing the national exam.

In the meantime, students must finish the license application process with the State of Utah within two years (24 months) of the inception date.

The MTECH pharmacy technical program is accredited by the ASHP and recognized by the PTCB.

Visit School

#6. Columbus State Community College

Essentially, the Pharmacy Technician Program is an entry-level certification program for students who want to become pharmacy technicians. And skills necessary for a career as a pharmacy technician.

Generally, students will learn how to prepare medications for distribution, perform dose calculations, and comply with national and federal regulations.

Additionally, they will learn excellent customer service skills, inventory, and order supplies while exposing themselves to real situations facing pharmacies today.

Completion of the program normally requires 26 to 32 weeks of instruction for full-time students, which are taught for two semesters.

Above all, the program is divided into didactic, simulated, and experimental components, including an external internship period of 140 hours required for ASHP accreditation.

In summary, all this training will teach you how to become a pharmacist technician.

Visit School

#7. Cleveland Clinic’s School of Pharmacy Technology

Specifically, the Cleveland Clinic is a leader in expanding pharmacy technicians’ roles. As one of the country’s only accredited schools of hospital technicians, the School of Pharmacy Technology paves the way for new technical leaders.

Also, the Cleveland Clinic School of Pharmaceutical Technology was designed to achieve what no other pharmacy technician program has done before. In order to combine the two educational pieces of training with real and practical training from day one.

Equally, students acquire the necessary skills to pass the pharmacy technician certification exam and work in a pharmacy.

Above all, Cleveland Clinic School of Pharmacy Technology graduates are well prepared to meet the needs of expanding pharmaceutical practice.

Finally, the Cleveland Clinic School of Pharmacy Technology graduate students can be considered to work in the Cleveland Clinic Health System.

Visit School

#8. Cerritos College

Given the obsession with the image in Los Angeles, it may not be surprising that there are many opportunities in dentistry.

The University of California, Los Angeles, or UCLA, as most commonly abbreviated, offers a four-year DDS program that begins in the laboratory before diversifying into clinical settings.

Known for its quality education and standards, it’s a good place to learn how to become a pharmacist technician.

Visit School

 #9. Pima Medical Institute 

The school is among the top-ranked Asian universities on this list (part of the prestigious Tokyo School of Medicine and Dentistry and the University of Melbourne).

They have an exceptional record in subject areas dealing with healthcare and drug control.

As a great medical institute, this is one place you want to be if you want to learn how to become a pharmacy technician.

Visit School

#10. New York University

The New York University School of Dentistry trains approximately 350 DDS students annually. Students take courses in various biomedical, behavioral, and clinical areas.

All these courses culminate in making the pharmacy technician fully understand and manage duties effectively.

The program’s structure makes it easy for them to perform research and assignments that seek to improve them.

In summary, NYU has an exceptional reputation for excellence and gives you a chance at this great career path.

Visit School

Also Read: Best Pharmacy Schools in Ghana

Conclusion

Pharmacy technicians are making the world a better place today. Their very presence lifts hope.

Although they might not be as knowledgeable as licensed pharmacists, their knowledge still plays a vital role in human association.

Everything about these professionals continually speaks of excellence and skills. Their very subtle approach to customer complaints is astounding and applauding.

Honestly, this career is fulfilling, and after reading this article, you’ll know what to do.

References

Author’s Recommendations

— Previous article

How Can I Enroll in Tarleton State University's Online MBA? Program Fees

Next article —

10 Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the World

You May Also Like