Pharmacy Technician Certification in Pennsylvania
Pharmacy technicians are healthcare techs who assist licensed pharmacists with various duties, which may range from taking prescription requests from doctors' offices and helping to prepare prescription medications, to stocking shelves, running a cash register and assisting customers. There is no national training standard for pharmacy technicians, and each state is responsible for setting its own. These standards may include age, education, training, registration or certification requirements. Pennsylvania is one of seven states along with the District of Columbia that do not require pharmacy technicians to be licensed, registered or certified, according to the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.
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Training
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Pennsylvania does not require pharmacy technicians to be certified. There is no prescribed course of instruction an individual must complete to become a pharmacy technician in Pennsylvania. Many employers prefer to hire candidates who have formal training or previous experience, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). It is acceptable for pharmacy technicians in Pennsylvania to gain experience through on-the-job training, which typically lasts from three months to one year. Candidates who wish to pursue formal training can obtain a certificate, diploma or associate degree from vocational schools, technical institutions or local community colleges. Formal training programs may last from six months to two years.
Certification
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Certification is voluntary for pharmacy technicians in the state of Pennsylvania, according to the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. Although certification is not mandatory, many employers prefer to hire candidates who have been certified by an independent, nongovernmental credentialing organization such as the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or the National Healthcareer Association's Pharmacy Technician Certification Program.
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Eligibility for Certification
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The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board requires candidates for the Certified Pharmacy Technician, or CPhT, credential to hold at least a high school diploma or educational equivalent, such as a General Educational Development certificate. Candidates for the CPhT credential cannot have been convicted of any felony or drug or pharmacy related crime, including misdemeanors. Pharmacy technicians who have previously had their license or registration denied, revoked, suspended or restricted by any state board of pharmacy are not eligible to sit for the certifying examination. Certification for pharmacy technicians in voluntary in Pennsylvania.
Considerations
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Pharmacy technicians who are certified report earning higher wages than those who are not certified, according to the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. Pharmacy techs who worked in Pennsylvania earned lower rates of pay than the national averages. Pharmacy technicians from across the United States earned a mean hourly wage of $13.92, while those who worked in Pennsylvania earned a mean hourly wage of 13.05 as of May 2009, according to BLS. The median annual income for U.S.-based pharmacy technicians was $28,070, while the median annual income for pharmacy technicians who worked in Pennsylvania was $25,620.
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References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2009 29-2052 Pharmacy Technicians
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Pharmacy Technicians and Aides
- Pharmacy Technician Certification Board: Why Should I Become Certified?
- Pharmacy Technician Certification Board: Pharmacy Technician State Regulations
- National Healthcareer Association: Pharmacy Technician Certification (CPhT)
Resources
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