Pharmacy Technician Training
Pursuing pharmacy technician training can prepare you for the best of both worlds: working with people and also working in a science-oriented field, the field of pharmaceuticals.
Pharmacy Technician Training: Preparation for a Rewarding Career
Pharmacy technicians play a crucial role in our health care system, helping to dispense medications. To become a pharmacy technician, you should have a high school diploma or GED. While it is possible to get on-the-job training, employers generally prefer people with pharmacy technician training.
Training can come from several sources. To find a pharmacy technician school in your state, look for:- Community colleges
- Vocational schools
- Hospitals
The military also offers pharmacy technician training.
Down to Basics: Pharmacy Technician Training
Some programs are as short as six months, others as long as 24. Regardless of length, pharmacy technician training should include both classroom teaching and hands-on internships.
Pharmacy technicians learn:- Medical and pharmaceutical terminology
- Pharmaceutical calculations
- Recordkeeping
- Law and ethics
- Medication names and usage
- Doses
What to Do with Your Pharmacy Technician Training
Pharmacy technician training provides you with the skills to work alongside a pharmacist, but where you choose to work can vary. Some pharmacy technicians work with the public in a drugstore, while others work in a hospital or clinic.
Most states require that pharmacy technicians be registered with the State board of pharmacy so you need to contact your state's licensing board to know more. If your state doesn't require certification, you may still choose to do so on your own through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT). |