Pharmacy Technician Certification

Earning a pharmacy technician certification is a good way to land jobs with security and income growth potential. Industry statistics show that there are a lot of opportunities for pharmacy technicians today and the same outlook remains as more and more retail pharmaceutical companies expand their operations and distribution networks. Being qualified to grab these employment opportunities, however, require some investment in terms of time, money, and effort on the part of the pharmacy technician. This investment in getting a pharmacy technician certification is expected to pay off in the long run as the pharmacy technician moves ahead in his career. Studying to earn a pharmacy technician certification and gaining experience in the trade would get anyone started towards a long-term career in the medical and healthcare industry.

A person who wants to learn how to become a pharmacy technician and wishes to earn a pharmacy technician certification and prosper in the career should be one who possesses a strong attention to detail, good interpersonal and customer skills, and a penchant for helping people in their health concerns. These, of course, should come with the basic conceptual skills in math and algebra, chemistry, biology, pathology, psychology and other related sciences. More technical and practical skills are learned in pharmacy technician certification courses as well as in internships and on-the-job training which help you gain your pharmacy technician certification. Not all companies require a pharmacy technician certification but having one certainly puts one in a better light as it demonstrates the pharmacy technician’s dedication and commitment to furthering his knowledge and skills as related to his trade.

How to Get a Pharmacy Technician Certification

It is not difficult to earn a pharmacy technician certification. The basic requirement to take a pharmacy technician certification course from any learning institution or accredited organization is a high school diploma or its equivalent. After completion of the pharmacy technician certification< course, a student may already get himself board certified by taking the certification exam to secure a pharmacy technician certification from either the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT). The length of study required in these pharmacy technician certification courses vary depending on the specific program offered, ranging from six months to two years – online pharmacy technician certification courses are also available and could be completed within a shorter period of time although these courses obviously lack the hands-on training offered by in-campus or classroom courses. A pharmacy technician certification is valid for two years and a pharmacy technician should apply for recertification by earning at least 20 hours of continuing education credits during his certification period, ten hours of which could be earned through pharmacist-supervised on-the-job training.

Various learning institutions and organizations as well as online resources offer pharmacy technician certification courses. Picking the right pharmacy technician certification course would largely depend on each student’s particular circumstances – experience, funds, study habits, and available time among others. More weight, of course, is given by employers to formal education credits earned from educational institutions as compared to online pharmacy technician certification courses even as both might result in the same board certification exam performance. Those who have less time and resources on their hands and those who have gained experience as a pharmacy aid could go for online pharmacy technician certification courses that they can complete in a shorter period of time and in a less expensive way. Whether in-classroom or online, it is important to choose a facility that has the proper accreditation from industry experts and regulators and a course that adequately prepares a student not only for the pharmacy technician certification exam but for the important role he is to play in his workplace.

What To Do After Earning A Pharmacy Technician Certification

Labor industry statistics show that most pharmacy technicians work in retail pharmacies with 75% of pharmacy technicians finding employment in independently-owned pharmacies, drugstore pharmacies, and mass retailer pharmacies. Only 16% of pharmacy technicians are employed in hospitals and healthcare facilities while the rest of the pie is accounted for by those who work for mail-order online pharmacies, pharmaceutical wholesalers, and government agencies. Looking of openings for pharmacy technician jobs in these places will yield a list of employment options for anyone with a pharmacy technician certification. Along with the salary scale, an applicant with a pharmacy technician certification should be able to evaluate how each work environment matches his personal and career growth in terms of prospects for pay increase and job advancement, additional employee benefits, and overall scope of responsibilities.

An employee who has a pharmacy technician certification basically works in tandem with a licensed pharmacist in the preparation and dispensation of prescriptions. Some jobs anyone with a pharmacy technician certification would have to perform usually include administrative duties such as answering phones, managing the inventory, doing paperwork on billing and insurance matters, and manning the counter as well – some companies hire pharmacy aides to take these tasks off the pharmacy technician’s job description. In most pharmacy environments, a pharmacy technician certification holder’s job involves counting pills and measuring medications as prescribed, labeling products, contacting doctors to verify prescriptions, updating and maintaining patient records, and helping with insurance concerns. Those who work in online pharmacies do not have to bother with face-to-face interaction with customers as their jobs are mainly done behind-the-scenes. Technicians employed in pharmacies and healthcare institutions, however, also have to deal with the customer service end of the transaction as well as patient care duties as in the case of hospital-based pharmacy technicians.

Moving Ahead With a Pharmacy Technician Certification

Although most states do not yet require a pharmacy technician certification for employment, it is fast becoming an industry standard as companies and institutions employing pharmacy technicians increasingly give preference to board certified candidates in terms of hiring and promotion. There are about half a million pharmacy technicians employed across the country today with a growth expectation of about 31% within the decade. This growth brings forth a more competitive employment environment in which those who have taken the time to put in the necessary investment required in earning a pharmacy technician certification would definitely take the upper hand. Larger pharmacies, healthcare facilities and institutions, and pharmaceutical warehouses provide opportunities for pharmacy technicians to advance to higher paying positions and supervisory levels. Those who have earned their pharmacy technician certification and maintained their certification throughout their career also find it easier to cross over to other specialized technician careers and even to a licensed pharmacist career.

Pharmacy technician certification

Studying to earn a pharmacy technician certification can pay off over the long term as employment opportunities and career advancement prospects are expected to surge in the coming years. A pharmacy technician certification is earned by going through certification instruction and passing the pharmacy technician certification adds value to a pharmacy technician’s curriculum vitae and helps towards gaining a more favorable employment decision. Anyone who wishes to further his career as a pharmacy technician and hopefully move on to other more lucrative positions later on would do well to consider taking a pharmacy technician certification course to pass the board certification. Both the right educational instruction and extensive on-the-job training count towards a CPhT designation.

There are a great number of learning institutions including colleges, community colleges, vocational schools, and specialized organizations that are accredited to offer pharmacy technician certification courses. As of yet, there are no specific standards set in terms of educational requirements for a CPhT designation and the scope of each program could vary from one institution to another usually depending on state laws and local industry regulations. More than the pharmacy technician certificationcourse, the conferment of the CPhT designation is dependent on passing the board certification exam offered by any one of the two certifying bodies namely the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT). The pharmacy technician certification is issued for a validity period of two years after which it has to be renewed with at least 20 hours of continuing education credits during the two-year period – this could include a maximum of 10 hours of relevant pharmacy service rendered under the supervision and instruction of a licensed pharmacist.

People with good interpersonal communication skills, customer service acumen, and excellent math and science skill could benefit from gaining a pharmacy technician certification and enjoy a range of benefits that other jobs and professions might not be able to offer. The three main benefits that an applicant with a pharmacy technician certification could take advantage of include: vast employment opportunities, job security and potential for income growth, and great possibility of career advancement. It is because of these benefits that pharmacy technician jobs are among the most preferred employment opportunities in the medical and healthcare industry – these jobs are also considered to be among the fastest growing job categories in the past years. With the demand for pharmaceutical services continuously increasing, having a pharmacy technician certification will help a pharmacy technician candidate maintain his competitive advantage over other non-licensed job applicants.

Employment Opportunities for Pharmacy Technician Certification Holders

More and more institutions are listing pharmacy technician certification as one of their requirements in hiring a pharmacy technician – those who do not have the necessary board certification are usually considered as pharmacy aides and are hired at lower pay scales. Those who do have a pharmacy technician certification can choose from a vast array of pharmacy technician jobs among the various companies in the medical and healthcare industry. Most of those who have a pharmacy technician certification end up holding jobs in retail pharmacies where their job responsibilities include helping a licensed pharmacist prepare medications as indicated in patients’ prescriptions along with performing some administrative duties as required by the company. These tasks definitely require that any candidate have great attention to detail and are accurate and precise so as to follow prescriptions correctly all the time.

Apart from pharmacies, job seekers with a pharmacy technician certification can look at opportunities in hospitals and nursing facilities. In these jobs, pharmacy technicians are tasked with filling prescriptions and delivering them to patients during their shift, rendering administrative duties, and performing patient care services. This is the best choice for those who have a more nurturing nature and are comfortable dealing with patients on a more personal basis. On the other hand, those who would rather have limited interaction with patients would do well in job opportunities in mail-order or online pharmacies where the responsibilities are similar to those of in-store pharmacy technicians but without the heavy customer interaction. In all these pharmacy technician jobs, having a pharmacy technician certification is given great consideration in the deliberation and evaluation of prospects for hiring or promotion.

Job Security and Income Growth Prospects for Pharmacy Technician Certificate Holders

Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of holding a job requiring a pharmacy technician certification is the job security it offers. Most of the medical institutions and retail pharmacies offer permanent employment opportunities with room for income growth and career advancement for those who exceed performance standards. Pharmacy technicians usually enjoy various employment benefits as 401k retirement plan and health insurance coverage. Although retail pharmacies employ more pharmacy technicians with a pharmacy technician certification, pharmacy technician jobs in federal government agencies, scientific research companies, and insurance carriers offer the highest salaries at an average of $38,000. Pharmacy technicians with a pharmacy technician certification can expect to start at about $19,000 in entry level positions and move higher up in the salary scale as they gain more experience and develop expertise.

Career Advancement for Pharmacy Technician Certificate Holders

A pharmacy technician certification is a good foundation for advancement in the pharmacy technician career, allowing technicians to easily add to their credentials to make them eligible for higher positions in the career or to move on to more specialized technician positions as in the case of hospital-based pharmacy technicians. Especially in larger pharmacies and health institutions, opportunities for employees with a pharmacy technician certification to climb to higher supervisory positions abound as older and more seasoned technicians move on to better positions themselves. More pharmacy technician jobs are also projected to become available as companies, particularly insurance carriers, start to utilize pharmacies as patient care centers. The demand for pharmacy technician certification holders are also spurred by the technological advancements in the medical field that allow for newer treatments and medications to increase longevity.

Pharmacy technician certification

The logical upward movement for technicians with a pharmacy technician certification is to become a licensed pharmacist himself. With a pharmacy technician certification, fulfilling the necessary educational and on-the-job training requirements to move up to a licensed pharmacist designation is made easier. It is also possible for people with a pharmacy technician certification to branch out to allied technician positions within health care facilities as that of radiology technicians and chemotherapy technicians.