Pharmacy technician training programs are rigorous, last from six months to two years and encompass a wide-ranging curriculum that is designed to prepare students for the heavy demands of working in a pharmacy.
Pharmacy tech training schools teach a vast curriculum. Medical and pharmaceutical terminology, pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacy record keeping, pharmaceutical techniques and pharmacy law and ethics are some of the subjects that students learn in school.
Students also work in the classroom and in the lab.
The training is geared towards preparing students to fulfill their eventual roles as pharmacy technicians. Their responsibilities including everything from mixing, measuring, counting, labeling and recording amounts and dosages of medications under the direction of a pharmacist to working with insurance companies and dealing with patients.
Pharmacy technicians must know clinical terms as well as the names, actions, purposes and doses of medications. Students receive a diploma, certificate or an associate's degree upon completion of training.
Before enrolling, make sure the school you attend is accredited. There are a number of training programs offered, including at online universities, but not all are accredited.
Make sure the program is accredited by an organization such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, which evaluates pharmacy technician training programs. Schools can also a receive institutional accreditation from a number of regional accreditation agencies.
Most states do not require pharmacy technicians to become certified; however, voluntary certifications through trade organizations such as the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (CPT) are available.
These organizations offer national training exams. The PTCB and CPT require re-certification every two years, which improves job seekers' employment prospects. Overall, training and certification give students a key competitive advantage over job seekers without advanced training.