Pharmacy Technician Schools: An Overview

There are many different jobs within the healthcare industry. One such job is a pharmacy technician. While very few states require a pharmacy technician to be certified or trained in any way, there are still schools that do train pharmacy technicians.

These schools train the technicians in a way that will prepare them to perform all the tasks that will need to be performed by a pharmacy technician.

There are very few state laws and no federal laws that dictate any type of training or education for pharmacy technicians. Therefore, a pharmacy technician doesn’t even have to be certified. However, often pharmacies prefer to hire certified pharmacy technicians.

This saves the pharmacy from having to take the time to train the pharmacy technician and it also provides more protection for the customers of the pharmacy and the pharmacy itself. After all, a mistake made by the pharmacy technician could be very costly to a customer and then to the pharmacy.

While pharmacy technicians don’t have a lot of responsibility within a pharmacy they do count pills and place stickers on pill bottles (to name just a couple tasks).

If done incorrectly, these seemingly menial tasks could cost someone their life. And outside a pharmacy the pharmacy technicians often have more responsibilities. In nursing homes and similar care facilities, pharmacy technicians often have to hand out medicine for patients. Obviously this is a very important job and must be done correctly.

So the pharmacy technician schools train the pharmacy technicians so that they can perform every task flawlessly. The training and education is usually pretty quick. It is usually just a training program and not an actual two year degree. Once the training and education is over, the pharmacy technician is required to take a test in order to become certified.

The National Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam has to be passed by anyone hoping to be a certified pharmacy technician. Once this exam is passed then the person is certified and free to seek employment as such.

A certified pharmacy technician has to recertify every two years. In order to be recertified a specific number of training hours has to be completed. Once that is done a pharmacy technician will be recertified.

A certified pharmacy technician just starting out can expect to make somewhere in the neighborhood of $20,000 – $25,000. The actual amount varies depending on the state where the person lives and the pharmacy that the technician works in. While it isn’t a lot of money it does pay pretty well considering the training and education isn’t overly involved.

It is possible for a pharmacy to train a person to be a pharmacy technician. However, the way to become certified is to attend a pharmacy technician school. There are many of these schools in every state in the United States. Eventually they may be expected to follow a certain curriculum but right now there is no such curriculum in existence. So the pharmacy technician schools educate students the way they feel is best for becoming certified as a pharmacy technician.

How to Choose the Best Pharmacy Technician School

If you are looking for a job that is in demand and you don’t want to spend a lot of time or money going to college for a degree, you may want to consider becoming a pharmacy technician. The demand for pharmacy technicians is expected to grow by at least 36% through the year 2010. As the baby boomers grow older, the need for more healthcare workers, pharmacy personnel included, will increase. There is no better time to become a pharmacy technician. So how do you choose the best pharmacy technician school?

Before you begin your search for a pharmacy technician school, you must first learn the difference between accreditation and certification. A simplified definition is that an accreditation applies to a specific program or institution. A certification applies to the individual.

A more formal definition of accreditation is a process that a specific organization or association uses to review specific programs. These programs must meet established criteria to be awarded accreditation.

The definition for certification is a voluntary process in which an individual gains recognition from a non-governmental agency for meeting qualifications set by that agency.

This type of recognition is to let the public know that this individual has gained the requisite level of knowledge and skills needed to function competently in a specified area of work. A certification will require periodic reassessment of the individual’s skills and knowledge.

If you are thinking of advancing your career beyond a pharmacy technician, it would probably be a good idea to look for a pharmacy technician school that is accredited. Most credits earned at an accredited school will easily transfer to a college or institution where you can obtain a higher degree.

When looking for a pharmacy technician school, you also want to take location into consideration. Finding a good school that is close to home is always a plus. This will save you considerable money on commuting expenses. Community colleges are great places to get your pharmacy technician certification. They are usually close to home and the tuition may be cheaper.

So what does it cost to attend a pharmacy technician school? That is a hard question to answer. There are many variables that come into play. For example, the size of the school, your location and other factors will determine how much you will pay. Colleges will usually charge by the credits. You can expect a pharmacy technician program to be thirty six credits or more. When considering schools, you should talk to the financial advisers to help you determine how much it will cost you.

The length of time it takes to complete a pharmacy technician school is what makes it so attractive to many people. You can complete your classes in a period of twelve months, sometimes less. This will, of course, depend on if you attend school full time or part time.

One of the great things about becoming a pharmacy technician is that you can get on the job training also. Many pharmacy technicians will work in a pharmacy while they are attending school. This will definitely help you in your course work, as hands on experience is the best teacher.

Don’t forget that you can take advantage of online pharmacy technician schools. These are great for those that do not live near a college. Working parents find online schools convenient also because it allows them to attend classes on their schedule. Online classes may be a little cheaper than traditional college classes. Most of the online schools are accredited but you should always check to be sure.

Becoming a pharmacy technician can be a great career move. This type of job promises to be in high demand and you can choose to work in a hospital setting or in retail. Check into several pharmacy technician schools before you make a decision. You want to attend the best school in your area that is affordable for you.

Typical Courses You Can Expect in a Pharmacy Technician Program

If you have decided that you want to go back to school to become a pharmacy technician then you have made a wise choice. Pharmacy tech jobs are in high demand right now with the outlook getting even better as the years go by. But returning to school after being out for a while can be scary. Don’t let the fear of the unknown stop you from getting an education. Keep reading for an overview of the types of courses you can expect to take when you sign up for a pharmacy technician program.

You must keep in mind that courses will vary from school to school. Therefore it is impossible to list all of the courses that you will find in a pharmacy technician program in this article. But we will cover the basics.

The first course you can expect to take is obvious. It is pharmacology. This course is designed to teach you about the different classifications of drugs. You will learn what the drugs are used for and how they should be administered. Pharmacology will also teach you all about generic and brand names drugs.

Another course that you will take in a pharmacy tech program is a math course. You will learn the basic algebraic equations that are used frequently in the medical world.

This course will show you how to figure out the correct doses of medications from various concentrations of the drug. You will also become very familiar with the differences between a milligram and a microgram.

Medical terminology classes are common in pharmacy technician programs. Learning medical terminology is critical when it comes to interpreting doctor’s orders or prescriptions. The same goes for the anatomy and physiology courses that you will take in pharmacy technician school. When you know the basic workings of the human body and the medical terms to go along with it, you will be able to understand why certain medications are being ordered for specific diseases.

Knowing these basics is an important safeguard against medication errors also. For example, let’s say someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and you receive a prescription that is hard to read. It looks like it reads Amaryl or Reminyl. Given the patient’s history of Alzheimer’s, the drug is most likely Reminyl. But if the pharmacist mistakenly fills it for Amaryl, which is a diabetic medication, the patient may suffer adverse effects. The pharmacy technician can help prevent medication errors by letting the pharmacist know that the patient has a history of Alzheimer’s and the medication should be clarified by the doctor. It always helps to have more than one person check over medication orders and prescriptions to prevent errors.

A lot of pharmacy technician programs will have courses dedicated to reading prescriptions and labels. Doctors are notorious for their awful handwriting. It takes training and a lot of practice to learn how to read prescriptions and doctor’s orders.

Ethics and law is another course that you will take in pharmacology technician school. This course will teach you the laws that pertain to healthcare and patient privacy. It will also teach you what your responsibilities are as a pharmacy technician. There is a entire code of ethics that pharmacy technicians must abide by if they want to keep their certification.

Depending on the program you choose, you may have additional courses in computers and technical skills, good communication skills and professionalism in the workplace. A lot of the pharmacy technician schools will have a class in over the counter medications. This is a great idea since a lot of over the counter medications can interact with prescription medications.

As stated before, the courses differ from program to program. Try to choose a program that is going to give you the best information for your money. It is always great to be able to choose a program that has classes that interest you. If you are already employed in a pharmacy or hospital, you may want to check with your employer to see if they have any specific requirements. But it is critical that you make sure any program you choose will fully prepare you for the certification exam.

The Importance of Finding an Accredited Pharmacy Tech School

If you’ve decided to train for a career as a pharmacy technician, you’ve chosen a field with tremendous growth potential. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of pharmacy technicians is forecasted to increase 31 percent by the year 2018. Employment opportunities will be greatest for individuals with formal training and certification. Enrolling in an accredited pharmacy tech school is the best way to ensure you are considered for the most lucrative opportunities.

But first you need to find an accredited school. Whether you choose a traditional brick and mortar classroom or one of the online pharmacy tech schools, accreditation is important. Accredited pharmacy tech schools must meet the rigorous educational requirements of organizations such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).

The ASHP, a professional membership organization with over 35,000 members, developed its accreditation program when ASHP member pharmacists, pharmacy techs and students noticed an increased need for standardization and quality assurance in pharmacy technician training programs.

ASHP accredited pharmacy technician schools are required to offer training programs of at least 600 hours of training time spread out over at least 15 weeks. Training time must include didactic, laboratory, and experiential training. Hands-on laboratory exercises and training in computer record keeping are essential. Experiential training should be conducted in at least two different practice settings. Accredited training programs must prove that they satisfy 35 educational goals as set forth by the ASHP.

Other organizations accrediting pharmacy technician training programs include: the Accrediting Commision of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSCT), the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET), and the Council on Occupational Education (COE). The accreditation requirements for each organization can be found at their websites.

When you enroll in an accredited pharmacy tech school, you are virtually guaranteed the best education available in the field. While training at accredited pharmacy tech schools is not required for certification or licensing by most states, employers often see graduates of accredited programs as more desirable. Accredited training program graduates generally have more in-depth knowledge to draw from as well as hands-on experience – making them easier to train and requiring less supervision. These characteristics translate to greater employment opportunities and possibly even higher starting salaries.

If you were wondering how to become a pharmacy tech, you now know that finding an accredited program, whether one of the online pharmacy tech schools or a traditional brick and mortar classroom, is your first step. To learn more about what to expect in a career as a pharmacy technician, including how to get the highest wages and options for paying for your education, please peruse our other articles.

How to Pay for Pharmacy Tech School

Did you know more than a third of all college students are over the age of 25? It’s true, according to today.msnbc.msn.com. Adults go back to school for many reasons including meeting career goals, switching careers and an enjoyment of learning. Whatever your reasons for enrolling in pharmacy technician school, you’ll need to come up with a plan to pay for it.

Average Costs

Pharmacy technician training can be obtained from a variety of organizations including community colleges, vocational schools and online colleges. The training programs at most pharmacy technician schools range from six months to two years in length. A shorter program will generally cost less, though it may also be viewed as less valuable in the eyes of potential employers. A longer, more in-depth program could yield greater earning potential and essentially pay for itself over time.

Online pharmacy tech schools may also cost less than a traditional brick and mortar classroom education as there is less overhead for the school to cover. There are many reputable online pharmacy technician schools to choose from, should you choose that option.

Whatever type of pharmacy tech school you chose, your costs will include tuition and fees and may include books, supplies and scrubs as well. Tuition and fees vary greatly by school and program chosen, so it’s best to consult with the enrollment professionals at the schools you are considering to ensure you have accurate information on total costs before you enroll.

If you’re planning to attend school online, you’ll need to include the cost of a reliable computer and Internet connection in your figures. Once you’ve obtained your pharmacy technician certificate or degree, you may want to take the certification test through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, so you should figure in test costs as well.

Payment Options

Government student loans are always a popular payment option. With subsidized loans, the government pays the interest while you are in school and for a short grace period after you graduate. Repayment does not begin until you’ve completed your training program.

If you do not qualify for a subsidized student loan, you could check out educational loan options at your bank or credit union. If you own a home with substantial equity, a cash-out refinance could allow you to access the equity in your home to pay for your educational expenses.

Don’t assume you make too much money in your current job to qualify for financial assistance. There are many scholarships and grants available to continuing education students as well as those who have just graduated high school. You can research scholarships and grants – which never have to be repaid – through sites such as www.fastweb.com and www.finaid.org.

If you choose a pharmacy technician school with a flexible schedule, you may be able to continue working in your current job while you complete your education. Evening and weekend classes fit well with typical 8 to 5 jobs. Online schools offer even greater flexibility. Many allow you to log in and learn whenever it is convenient for you. Maintaining employment while in school will allow for easier repayment.

However you choose to pay for pharmacy tech school, know that you have made an excellent career choice. It’s a field with amazing growth potential, employment stability, clean and safe working environments and the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives.