How Much Schooling Is Needed to Become a Pharmacy Technician?
Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists to process and complete prescriptions and accurately label prescriptions. Though there is not a standard education requirement for a pharmacy technician, most pharmacies prefer that technicians have some schooling before applying for the job. Pharmacy technicians receive a significant amount of training on the job, but a strong educational foundation in the field makes this training more effective.
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High School Diploma
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Most states require pharmacy technicians to hold a high school diploma, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The high school diploma is the lowest-level educational requirement to become a pharmacy tech. Aspiring pharmacy technicians should take a wide range of high school courses and earn a strong grade point average over the course of four years.
Pharmacy Technician Training Program
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Many pharmacy technicians acquire training in the field before applying for jobs. These training programs take anywhere from six months to two years to complete. In today's technological age, many aspiring pharmacy technicians choose to take these training programs online. In addition, hospitals and vocational schools also offer these programs. These training programs include courses in pharmacology, chemistry, pharmacy record keeping, interpreting prescriptions and drug preparation.
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Supplementary Courses
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Pharmacy technicians can engage in ongoing professional development by taking supplementary courses in the field as they work or before they apply for jobs. The National Pharmacy Technician Association offers courses on a range of pharmacy-related topics to enrich pharmacists' careers and improve their knowledge in the field. Members of NPTA can take these courses for free. Sample courses include Reducing Medication Errors in the Pharmacy, Pharmacy Technicians and Legal Liability and Understanding Anxiety, Mood Disorders and Their Medications.
Hands-On Training
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The final component of any pharmacy technician education program is hands-on training. All pharmacy technicians will gain this real-world experience during their careers. Some students in pharmacy technician training programs sign up for internships or part-time jobs as pharmacy techs so they can see what it is like to work in a pharmacy and apply the skills they've learned in class. Other pharmacy technicians might forgo the training program and jump into their career out of high school, where they will receive plenty of on-the-job training to begin their careers.
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