How to Become a Pharmacy Technician With a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry
Pharmacy technicians assist licensed pharmacists with a variety of tasks, ranging from administrative and clerical to certain clinical responsibilities. They may update and maintain patient records, receive prescription requests, help fill prescription orders by counting pills or measuring solutions, and in some cases they may be permitted to mix medications. There is no national training standard for pharmacy technicians, although some states may have age and educational requirements. Candidates who hold a chemistry degree may have an advantage over less qualified pharmacy technician candidates at hiring time.
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Instructions
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Graduate from high school. There is no national standard of education required for pharmacy technicians, but some states require pharmacy techs to hold a high school diploma or educational equivalent. Candidates who wish to earn a bachelor's degree in chemistry should pursue a college prep course of study while in high school, which includes classroom instruction and laboratory work in the sciences, including physical science, biology and chemistry. High school studies should include classes in English, mathematics, history, communications and the humanities.
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Earn a bachelor's degree in chemistry. There is no national educational requirement for pharmacy technicians, but employers may prefer to hire those who hold a related degree from an accredited college or university. Degree requirements vary from college to college, but most bachelor of science in chemistry is a four-year degree which requires two years of general educational studies in such subjects as English, math, history, the humanities and communications in addition to a major course of study in chemistry and science related courses. Classroom and laboratory studies may include basic and advanced chemistry, biology, computer science, organic chemistry, physics, bio-chemistry, physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, ethics, and analytical chemistry.
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Earn the Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) credential. Some states require pharmacy technicians to be certified, but most do not, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Although certification may be voluntary, many employers prefer to hire candidates who hold the CPhT credential. Certification is offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or the National Healthcareer Association to candidates who successfully pass a National Commission for Certifying Agencies-approved certification examination.
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Apply for a job in a local pharmacy. Candidates who hold the CPhT credential and who have a college degree in chemistry may have an advantage over applicants with fewer qualifications. Many pharmacy technicians learn their trade through on the job training under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist. An individual who wishes to become a licensed pharmacist can gain valuable training and experience working as a pharmacy technician while pursuing her college education in chemistry as a pre-pharmacy course of study.
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