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How do I get a Pharmacy Technician Certificate?

Brendan McGuigan
Brendan McGuigan

Becoming a pharmacy technician can be an excellent career move for someone with an interest in a steady job with good benefits, and a good head for the kind of organizational preparedness and basic medical knowledge it takes. Although you don’t need a pharmacy technician certificate simply to work in a pharmacy, it will help get a much more steady job in the field. Luckily, getting a pharmacy technician certificate is not terribly difficult, and is an excellent investment for a mid- to long-term career.

A pharmacy technician is not the same as a pharmacist, but rather serves a role as a close assistant to the actual degreed pharmacist. Their responsibilities are partially administrative, answering phones, working the register, and stocking, and partially assistive, helping count out dosages, labeling canisters, and helping prepare prescriptions. They never deal directly with pharmaceutical matters, however, with the pharmacist dealing with patients regarding questions they might have about their prescriptions, or their overall health.

Certified pharmacy technicians must pass an exam that is administered by a recognized certifying agency.
Certified pharmacy technicians must pass an exam that is administered by a recognized certifying agency.

Opportunities for the pharmacy technician may also go beyond simply a job at a pharmacy, to live-in facilities like nursing homes or assisted-living centers, or in a hospital. In this capacity, the technician may not only help prepare dosages, but may also be required to read patient charts, and may be asked to administer dosages, after the amount has been checked by a supervising pharmacist. In some areas, a pharmacy technician may have a pharmacy aide working with them, who handles the more administrative tasks like answering phones or taking payments, in other areas the pharmacy technician may be required to fill both roles.

For safety reasons, pharmacy technicians must understand medical labeling and coding procedures.
For safety reasons, pharmacy technicians must understand medical labeling and coding procedures.

It does not actually take a pharmacy technician certificate to become a technician in many states, and in fact many technicians get their training on the job as a pharmacy aide. A certificate can, however, help a potential employer see immediately that the applicant has an understanding of the roles required of them, and a good understanding on the medical terminology they will need to know in their job. As the job market becomes more competitive, a pharmacy technician certificate is increasingly an edge in the application process.

A pharmacy technician is not a pharmacist, but serves as an assistant to the pharmacist.
A pharmacy technician is not a pharmacist, but serves as an assistant to the pharmacist.

There are two different bodies that one can get a pharmacy technician certificate from: the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians, and the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. To take the exam, the candidate needs to have no felony convictions within the past five years, have no drug-related felony convictions on record, and a high-school diploma or equivalent. Programs exist to help potential applicants study for either exam, and many people take the exam after having worked as a pharmacy aide for some years. Some pharmacies will also hire an applicant on a temporary basis, with the understanding that they will receive a pharmacy technician certificate within a certain time frame.

Pharmacist technicians may be tasked with stocking shelves.
Pharmacist technicians may be tasked with stocking shelves.

The certificate itself has to be renewed every two years, through whichever board originally granted it. Recertification requires twenty hours of continuing education within the two year period, with at least one hour devoted to the study of pharmacy law. Half of the total commitment can be received in on-the-job training, certified by a pharmacist. The other half can be received through a training program, a pharmacy association, or a college program.

Discussion Comments

anon973324

I'm not sure it seems like a good job, but how much does it cost to get your certificate?

pinkandred

I think that pharmacy techs should have more education. Personally, I do not like the fact that someone with very little education is handling my prescriptions. Pharmacists go to school for many years, so why do pharmacy techs get by with so little?

Pharmacy technician school should be at least 2 years, in addition to all their re-certifications. A lot of other fields have increased the education requirements, pharmacy tech needs to as well.

I think other people would feel safer too if they knew the pharmacy techs filling their prescriptions had more education under their belts. After all, they are filling and dealing with medicine that could possibly be a matter of life or death.

honeysuckle

My cousin is in a pharmacy technician certificate program. She is already working in a pharmacy, and after she gets her certificate she will be able to do more and get a raise. Getting your certificate really is the way to go. You can apply to more places like drugstores and discount stores.

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    • Certified pharmacy technicians must pass an exam that is administered by a recognized certifying agency.
      By: mangostock
      Certified pharmacy technicians must pass an exam that is administered by a recognized certifying agency.
    • For safety reasons, pharmacy technicians must understand medical labeling and coding procedures.
      By: Feng Yu
      For safety reasons, pharmacy technicians must understand medical labeling and coding procedures.
    • A pharmacy technician is not a pharmacist, but serves as an assistant to the pharmacist.
      By: Deklofenak
      A pharmacy technician is not a pharmacist, but serves as an assistant to the pharmacist.
    • Pharmacist technicians may be tasked with stocking shelves.
      By: mangostock
      Pharmacist technicians may be tasked with stocking shelves.