Pharmacy Technician Training Program

Pharmacy technicians are required to complete a pharmacy technician training program. Some states require a pharmacy technician to be certified while other states do not. 

The pharmacy technician is well advised to be certified even if the state they work has voluntary certification. Obtaining a certification demonstrates the national standards for pharmacy technician has been met.

There are two organizations that offer pharmacy technician certifications. They are the PTCB, Pharmacy Technician Certification Board and ICPT, The Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians. Both certifications are accepted by most pharmacy employers.

When the technician is certified by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, the pharmacy technician will have the official title of Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). 

The certification must be renewed every two years and requires attending 20 hours of continuing education.

When the technician is certified by the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians, the pharmacy technician will have the official title of Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). 

The certification must be renewed every two years and requires attending at least 20 hours of continuing education, with at least one hour in pharmacy law.

Skills

The pharmacy technician must have people relationship and communication skills, have the ability to be very accurate at all times and have an eye for detail. 

Pharmacy technicians who work in patient care facilities are also responsible for reading patient charts and then preparing the medication and delivering it to the patient. 

They also update patient files and change a patient’s medication when so directed by a doctor or other medical specialist or the licensed pharmacist.

Misconceptions about being a pharmacy technician

There are many rumors surrounding a pharmacy technician’s job. Here are several misconceptions that you may or may not have heard:

Misconception #1: A pharmacy technician’s days is filled with dull work

There are some people out there who think that being a pharmacy technician is dull work. Granted, it is not as glamorous as being an A-list film start or heiress-cum-socialite, but the pharmacy technician profession is seen as a noble one and is very much in demand with today’s booming health care sector.

Misconception #2: A pharmacy technician is a “slave”

A pharmacy technician is basically a licensed pharmacist’s helper or aide. Many think that this involves doing all the grunt work, which may be true at some point, but many pharmacy technicians have been known to rise up in ranks after displaying true professionalism in dealing with customers and completing tasks diligently.

Misconception #3: A pharmacy technician is paid poorly

This myth is untrue as most new pharmacy technicians have found rewarding jobs that pay $15 per hour. With the right certification and training, diligent pharmacy technicians can be paid more than $20 per hour with good career advancements.