Pharmacy Technician Degree Types
Pharmacy Technician Associate Degree
A pharmacy technician associate degree is a great asset when entering the exciting field of pharmacy tech. As the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the demand for qualified pharmacy technicians to grow at least 31 percent by the year 2018, it’s certainly a field with tremendous potential.
You can earn your pharmacy technician associate degree at many trade schools, junior colleges and universities. The average pharmacy technician associate degree program takes about two years to complete. Pharmacy technician associate degrees can be earned in traditional classrooms or online. If you need a flexible course schedule, an online pharmacy technician program may be ideal for you. If you need a lot of interaction with professors and other students, you may be better off with a traditional classroom program.
When choosing a pharmacy technician school, it’s important to consider accreditation. Accredited pharmacy tech programs must meet the educational requirements set by organizations such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). When you choose an accredited pharmacy technician program, you can be confident that your pharmacy technician associate degree will be highly valued by prospective employers.
Typical pharmacy technician classes may include algebra, communication, pharmacology, medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, medical ethics and medical law. Successful pharmacy technicians must also possess superior attention to detail, a desire to interact with patients, and the ability to stand for long periods of time.
Earning a pharmacy technician associate degree is a great way to move up in the workforce for pharmacy techs who already have their diplomas or a few years of experience. A pharmacy technician associate degree is also a great vehicle for those employed in other careers to use to enter an exciting and rewarding new career as a pharmacy technician.
Pharmacy Technician Diploma
While degrees in pharmacy tech are available, there are many reasons why someone might choose to go for their pharmacy technician diploma instead. The biggest reason is probably that they don’t want to spend years in school. A pharmacy tech associate degree takes about two years to earn, and a bachelor degree even more. However, you can obtain your pharmacy technician diploma in as little as six months. Once you’ve entered the workforce as a pharmacy technician, you’ll receive further training while on the job.
Another reason why someone might choose a pharmacy technician diploma over an advanced degree is that they want to start working as soon as possible. A pharmacy technician diploma will help you get your foot in the door so you can begin earning a paycheck quickly or make a job change without years spent in school.
Students interested in pharmacy technology can obtain their pharmacy technician diploma from a community college, vocational school or trade school. Many programs are even available online, making studying for your pharmacy technician diploma very convenient.
If you think you want to become a pharmacy technician, and you don’t want to spend years in school, start your journey by selecting an accredited pharmacy technician diploma program. After graduation, you can obtain employment and begin to reap the rewards of an exciting career as a pharmacy technician.
Pharmacy Technician Certification
If you want to have the best job prospects and earn the highest wages as a pharmacy technician, becoming certified is absolutely essential. While only a few states actually require all their pharmacy technicians to be certified, those who are may earn higher wages and find it easier to get a job.
In order to take the test for pharmacy technician certification, a pharmacy technician must have at least a high school diploma or GED and a record free of felonies or drug-related convictions. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board is responsible for conducting and scoring the certification test.
The purpose of certification is to enable pharmacy technicians to work seamlessly with their pharmacists to provide the best patient care and service. The pharmacy technician certification exam consists of 90 multiple-choice questions designed to assess the knowledge and base skills of techs in the tasks they’re expected to perform as pharmacy technicians. Sixty-six percent of the exam pertains to assisting the pharmacist in serving patients. Twenty-two percent of the exam pertains to maintaining medication and inventory control systems. The remaining twelve percent pertains to the administration and management of a pharmacy. Exam candidates can obtain an outline and practice test on the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board website.
Once certified, a pharmacy technician must complete at least 20 hours of continuing education courses every two years to maintain certification. If you’ve obtained employment as a pharmacy tech before taking the test, your employer may pay the fees for your certification. Oftentimes employers will pay at a portion of your continuing education costs each year as well. It’s in their best interest to employ pharmacy technicians who are highly qualified and current on all that’s new in the pharmacy industry.
Pharmacy Technician Online Degree
Do you want to work for one of the fastest growing industries? Do you want to earn a great wage without spending years upon years in school? Do you want to leave your boring and unrewarding job and enter a career where you can really make a difference? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, you should consider a pharmacy technician online degree.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has forecast that the demand for pharmacy technicians will increase as much as 31 percent by the year 2018. That means many new jobs and an increased demand for qualified pharmacy technicians. Earn your pharmacy technician online degree and one of those jobs could be yours.
While you can earn a pharmacy technician degree from traditional campus universities, junior colleges and some trade schools, studying for your pharmacy technician degree online is much more convenient. Learn at your own pace. Go to class in your sweats or pajamas. Complete your coursework on the weekends, at night or on your lunch hour. A pharmacy technician online degree allows you to juggle your commitments (maybe caring for children, working another job, volunteer work) while studying to enter an exciting new career.
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and several other professional organizations have accredited many pharmacy technician online degree schools. Enroll in one of these accredited programs to ensure that the education you’re receiving is top-notch and will be respected by prospective employers.
