How Long Does It Take to Become a Pharmacy Tech?
There are several pathways to becoming a pharmacy technician. How long it takes depends on your own initiative, as well as which route you choose and, possibly, the employer who hires you. Pharmacy technicians work under the tutelage of a licensed pharmacist who is either a registered pharmacist (RPh) or a doctor of pharmacy (PharmD). Aside from dispensing and possibly compounding medications, a pharmacy tech deals with physicians and physicians' offices to verify prescription information. A pharmacy tech also will have to handle insurance issues, input data into a computer and deal with patients.
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Diploma/Certification Programs
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High school graduates can enroll in pharmacy technician training programs at community colleges, vocational schools, technical institutes and through hospital-sponsored training programs. These programs typically take a year or less to complete. Programs normally combine classroom instruction and hands-on training. Course work includes biology, chemistry and anatomy classes, as well as medical terminology classes and pharmaceutical calculations.
Some pharmacy techs who didn't receive formal training---usually older techs who have been in the business for a long time---studied pharmaceutical calculations independent of formal education, and it's not a bad idea to get a head start on the subject. Pharmacy tech programs also include teaching clinical skills, such as medication and compounding procedures and how to use pharmacy equipment. Completion of diploma and certificate programs prepares students to successfully complete their certification exams and positions them for employment, which could require more hands-on training before being authorized by an employer as a pharmacy tech.
College Degrees
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Associate degrees for pharmacy technicians are gaining popularity as competition increases for pharmacy tech slots. Associate degrees can be specific to pharmacy technician studies or may be earned in a general science, medical technology or related field. Usually a two-year program, completion of an associate degree is a good indicator to potential employers of an applicant's seriousness and dedication to his pursuit of a career in pharmacy. Aside from technical and science classes that focus on pharmacy, science and math, associate-degree programs provide a more well-rounded liberal arts education. Classroom studies are combined with hands-on training, sometimes in the form of an internship, which can lead to job-related contacts that serve students well in future job searches.
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Certification
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Whether you receive an associate degree, a diploma or certificate, or have no formal training at all, certification from a national organization is mandatory in most cases for pharmacy technician positions. The two most recognized certification organizations in the United States are the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT). Each organization offers certification exams that result in a CPhT designation (certified pharmacy technician). Although not all states require certification, most employers insist on it.
Both the PTCB and the ICPT require you to schedule an appointment to take an exam, and there sometimes are waiting lists to take the tests. Employers often hire applicants who hold a degree, diploma or other formal training certificate previous to them having passed their certification exams, with the understanding that the new employee will sit for and pass his exam within a set period of time. Such candidates usually work as pharmacy aides while awaiting certification.
Outlook
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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is bullish on the outlook for pharmacy technicians, forecasting a 31 percent growth in jobs through 2018, which is significantly higher than the national average for all jobs. The BLS also takes pains to point out that job candidates who hold college degrees or diplomas, and have been certified, enjoy especially bright prospects of securing employment. The median hourly wage for pharmacy techs in 2008 was $13.32, with the top 10 percent of techs making nearly $19 an hour.
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References
- U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School, Fort Sam Houston, Texas: Pharmaceutical Calculations
- CTI Career Search: How to Become a Pharmacy Technician
- Associates Degree: Pharmacy Technician
- Pharmacy Technician Schools: Pharmacy Technician Certification
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; Pharmacy Technicians and Aides; December 2009
