Can You Become a Pharmacy Technician With a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry?

Pharmacy technicians assist licensed pharmacists in a number of ways, including providing customer service, receiving prescription information from physicians, preparing prescription labels, counting tablets and compounding some prescriptions under the direct supervision of the pharmacist. Pharmacy technicians may work in retail environments, in hospitals, in health clinics or in other health care settings. Some pharmacy technicians hold a bachelor's degree in chemistry, but such a degree is not a requirement for this position, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Training

There is no nationally prescribed course of training for pharmacy technicians. Most states require pharmacy technicians to be registered with the state, although requirements for registration vary from state to state, according to the BLS. Some states require pharmacy technician candidates to hold a high school diploma or educational equivalent such as a General Educational Development certificate. Candidates may obtain their training on the job, through the military or through a formal training program offered by a vocational/technical school, a community college or a traditional four-year college or university. Formal training programs may lead to a certificate, a diploma, an associate degree or a bachelor's degree.

Coursework

Coursework in formal training programs typically includes classroom studies and hands-on laboratory work in various aspects of pharmacology including record keeping, terminology, medical ethics, pharmaceutical law, pharmaceutical calculations and techniques. Formal training programs that lead to a bachelor's degree in chemistry will also include general educational studies in such fields as mathematics, history, English, the humanities and the sciences. Studies in the major field may include organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, calculus, physics, physical chemistry, instruments and analysis, and pharmaceutical chemistry. A degree in chemistry may help prepare the candidate to pursue a career as a pharmacist but is not necessary to work as a pharmacy technician.

Certification

Many employers prefer pharmacy technician candidates who are certified by an independent credentialing organization such as the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians. Both organizations offer testing to qualify candidates for the certified pharmacy technician (CPhT) credential. Certification is not required but provides an indication of the technician's professional knowledge, ability and ethics. Credentialing organizations typically require candidates to have a high school diploma or educational equivalent, but no degree is required to sit for the credentialing examination.

Considerations

The BLS anticipates strong growth in job opportunities for pharmacy technicians through 2018. Candidates with formal training and certification should have the best chances for employment. Annual wages for pharmacy technicians ranged from less than $19,480 to more than $40,160 as of May 2009, according to the BLS. The median annual wage for pharmacy techs was $28,070. Retail pharmacies offered the greatest number of jobs for pharmacy technicians, but those employed by less traditional organizations such as the federal executive branch, insurance carriers and specialty hospitals earned a higher mean wage.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Pharmacy Technicians and Aides
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2009 - Pharmacy Technicians
• All Allied Health Schools: Pharmacy Technician Career Center
• Delaware State University: Curriculum for a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry/Pre-Professional

Resources

• Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
• Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians