The Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there is no national standard for training to become a pharmacy technician. Having a high school diploma and receiving certification, though, may help your chances of getting a job. Nationally recognized certification can be obtained by passing an exam from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the Institute for Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT). You can prepare for these exams at home, too, either with exam-preparation books, independent study, or an online training course.
Test-preparation and exam-review books are available to prepare you for the ICPT and PTCB exams. These books cover topics such as medication information and dosing, pharmacy practices and procedures, ethical considerations and laws concerning pharmacy technicians and their scope of practice. They generally include review questions and exercises to help test your retention of the information. Books are available online and in some college and retail bookstores.
There are a variety of programs that provide at-home pharmacy technician training. Community colleges and vocational or technical schools offer online training programs. Schools that specialize in distance education offer independent study programs that can be completed at your own pace. The extra level of structure and support provided by these programs may be beneficial to some at-home students. Both types of programs will cover the same basic information as the test-prep books and will prepare you to sit for the ICPT or PTCB certification exams. Online programs and independent study programs can be located by conducting an Internet search for "pharmacy technician training."
Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhTs) must complete 20 hours of continuing education every two years to maintain national certification. Continuing education courses are available as online training modules, at colleges, and through special seminars and events. Depending on state law, a state pharmacy technician license may be required, as well as additional continuing education.