Becoming a Pharmacy Technician

Technical schools, vocational schools and community colleges are the three main pharmacy technician schools in Arizona. These institutions provide a certificate to students who successfully complete two semesters of school and training. While at school, students will learn how to properly calculate and measure medication dosages. They will also become well-versed in medical terminology and pharmaceutical abbreviations. The coursework students complete will help them prepare for the CTB, or Pharmacy Technician Certification Board exam.

Pharmacy Technician Schools in Arizona Salary and Outlook

The positions for pharmacy technicians are expected to increase almost 30.6 percent from the year 2008 to the year 2018. As of 2008, pharm techs’ mean wage was $28,500. These statistics were gathered by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS.

Certificate Exams

In order to get a pharmacy technician certificate in Arizona, students must enroll in 352-hour program, which usually lasts 26 weeks. All coursework is established by the PTCB, or Pharmacy Technician Coordinating Board. After the coursework is finished, students should have the appropriate knowledge to take and pass the National Certification Exam. However, prospective technicians must meet pharmacy technician schools in Arizona’s examination guidelines before being allowed to take the exam.

Many pharmacy technician schools in Arizona offer qualified students financial aid. Before beginning, the college or school may require students to take math and reading placement tests. A criminal background check and drug screen are two more common requirements.

The pharmacy technician schools in Arizona are mainly centered around science and mathematics. While each school may slightly vary in its coursework, most pharm tech students will take classes like the computerized medication delivery system, pharmacy math, drug classifications, pharmacy law and disease and pharmacotherapy process.

Certificate Coursework

Lectures and clinical work are also a big part of this program. Topics of discussion and practice may include processing prescriptions, preparing medications, pharmacy law and ethics, insurance and payment, ordering medications and calculating doses.

Pharmacy Technician Schools in Arizona Associate’s Degree Coursework

For some positions, pharmacy technician schools in Arizona may need more than a certificate. Therefore, an associate’s degree can be pursued. The coursework for an associate’s degree lasts two years and builds

upon the fundamentals taught in the certificate program. Associate’s program students are taught how to utilize field-related technology and software. They also study more in-depth about anatomy, pharmacology and physiology.

Once the degree program is complete, students will be able to take related exams, educate patients and fill prescriptions. Students going after an associate’s degree will have to take a psychology course. Other classes that may be required include pharmacy customer service, pharmacy insurance and administration, medical terminology, dispensing prescriptions, clinical practice and business applications.

Pharmacy technicians who graduate from college have a host of career options available besides being a pharmacy technician. Two of those options are registered pharmacist assistant and pharmacy manager. Work is available in hospitals, drugstores, grocery stores, department stores and nursing homes.

After completing one of the pharmacy technician schools in Arizona, and passing all required exams, the tech will have a lot of challenging job responsibilities. While working alongside a licensed pharmacist, the technician can give healthcare products and medication to customers. Other duties will vary according the the pharmacy technician’s employer.

The state of Florida ranks in third for hiring the most amount of pharmacy technicians. In May of 2010 there were over twenty thousand working technicians. As a pharmacy technician certification Florida you will have to perform some routine tasks under the close eye of the pharmacist like compounding medicinal drugs, preparing and labeling medicines, filling up bottles with the correct amount of medicine, giving the customer their order, and maintaining inventory. Being a pharmacy technician is a rewarding job because you’re effectively helping people get their medication, and at the same time is a great high paying job that has many rewards. In order to get your pharmacy technician certification Florida you need to meet some requirements.

The Process for Pharmacy Technician Certification Florida

The process of applying to become a pharmacy technician in Florida can seem like a daunting task when you take a quick look at all the steps, but really once you have all of the requirements it isn’t that hard to accomplish. Some chain pharmacies like Walgreen’s don’t necessarily require you to have any certification, but in the state of Florida to becoming a pharmacy technician you need to be registered with the Board of Pharmacy.

Pharmacy technician certification Florida requires that you be registered at the Florida Board of Pharmacy. You also need to have the proper training and schooling under your belt. Training to be a pharmacy technician certification Florida includes graduating from a pharmacy technician training program at a post secondary level. Many hospitals will only hire a technician if he or she is state certified and has received great marks in their studies.

In Florida the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board has an exam that can be done online for a fee of $129. After you get the proper authorization to take the test, you need to make an appointment through Pearson VUE online. After you take the test, and hopefully pass, you need to register with the Health Board’s Board of Pharmacy. For this you need to pay a fee of $105 to register. The costs can start to add up pretty quickly, but most of these charges are just one time fees that you need to pay. The fees go towards maintaining the system, administration fees, and research and development for pharmacy technician certification Florida.

Most states in the United States require people to have a GED or high school diploma as part of their pharmacy training and education. While the majority of employers prefer technicians to obtain formal training and a certificate, some employers will provide training on the job. It generally takes from 3-12 months to complete in-house training.

The military, public hospitals, vocational schools and community colleges throughout the nation provide formal education programs for aspiring pharmacy technicians. Formal education, consisting of laboratory and classroom work, can last from 6-24 months. During training, students will learn a variety of subjects and skills such as:

•  Pharmaceutical and medical terminology,
•  Pharmacy ethics and law,
•  Pharmacy record keeping and calculations.

While at school, students will also learn the inner workings of the medication they are expected to handle. It is not uncommon for a training program to include an internship, allowing students to get real-job experience in a pharmacy. Upon graduation, students will be awarded an associate’s degree, certificate or diploma; it depends on the particular program.

Not all states require certification. Technicians who decide to become certified can take a certification exam from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Florida Board, or PTCB. Some states will also allow certification from the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians, or ICPT. In order to be eligible for both exams, prospective takers must hold a diploma or GED. In addition, they must not have any felony convictions on their record or drug-related charges of either felony or misdemeanor status. Technicians who are already employed in their chosen field may be able to seek exam reimbursement from their employer.

Once certification is obtained, pharmacy training and education in most states must get recertified every two years. The recertification process includes 20 hours post-employment education. There are several ways a technician can obtain their recertification: pharm tech training programs, pharmacy associations and colleges. No more than ten hours of recertification can be spent under the supervision of a pharmacist at the tech’s place of employment.

Besides pharmacy training and education, many states also require technicians to register with the particular state’s pharmacy board. The eligibility requirements for registration vary according to each state. However, all applicants will have to hold the proper education, usually a GED or diploma, and they must pay a registration fee.

Today’s pharmacy technicians need to have a bevy of skills, such as clear communication and excellent customer service, because they must interact with coworkers, other healthcare professionals and patients. Spelling, reading and basic mathematical skills are essential for technicians. They needs these skills in order to verify drug doses and interpret prescription orders. And of course, preciseness is a must-have skill.

The opportunities for advancement are limited in this field. Sometimes, technicians with a great deal of experience and training can be offered supervisory positions. There are also opportunities for pharmacy technicians to become specialized in positions like nuclear pharmacy technicians and chemotherapy techs. Other pharm techs become salespeople. Those who have extensive pharmacy training and education can even become licensed pharmacists.

Because of the current demand, there is a lot of pharmacy technician information for prospective techs. If you are interested in becoming a registered pharmacy tech, you need to know all of the related job duties and the way pharmacies operate. Although not necessary in every state, it is a wise career move to obtain a technician certificate. With this certificate, you will be afforded more job opportunities, a greater amount of career challenges and a higher annual salary.

There are many pharmacy technician positions that give employees training on the job instead of requiring them to have prior education in the field. Those who are trained on the job are considered to be assistant pharmacy technicians. If you want to go to school to become registered and certified, many technical colleges, vocational schools and military programs offer the necessary coursework to get your pharmacy technician certification florida.

Once you become an actual registered pharm tech, you will be able to enjoy a wider range of job responsibilities. Under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist, you can handle prescription medication and maintain inventory. However, only a pharmacist may consult with patients regarding the side effects and inherit risks of any particular medication. In some places of employment, a technician will be permitted to give patients drug-information pamphlets. After you are completely trained, you will be allowed to dispense medication, perform cash register transactions and clarify discrepancies with doctors’ offices and insurance companies.

There are a lot of general skills you must hone to be successful as a pharmacy technician. It is imperative to have exact attention to detail. You will be expected to make sure each patient receives the right medication in the correct dosage. It is also important to develop stress-management techniques; they will come in handy when relating to patients. Management skills are also helpful to have because even though you work under a pharmacist, you may be required to instruct pharm assistants.

There is a wide range of employment options for you when you become a pharmacy technician. Chain and independent pharmacies are two such places. Those with 1-2 pharmacists on duty create a “friendly” atmosphere where you will interact with many regular customers. Hospitals are another option. At a hospital, there will be a few more pharmacists on duty; customer interaction is almost nil.

Military units and grocery store pharmacies are also in need of pharmacy techs. Health care stores, such as pharmacies, employ the highest number of pharm technicians. According to United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), approximately 18.39 percent of 333,500 techs work in health care stores.

In terms of a mid-level career position in the pharmaceutical field, becoming a pharmacy technician is an excellent choice. The annual wages earned by a pharm tech range from $19,840-$40,710. The average hourly rate is approximated by the the BLS to be at $13.65. In the United States, more technicians are employed in the southeast region than any other part of the country. However, BLS pharmacy technician information shows that techs who work on the west coast tend to earn more than their east-coast counterparts.