What steps do I need to do in order to get my license? – You must be at least 16 years old to participate. possess a high school diploma, GED, or the equivalent, or be working toward obtaining one of these credentials. Send the Illinois State Board of Pharmacy a completed application for pharmacy technician registration along with a request to get registered as a pharmacy technician (view the application here ).
Don’t forget to include the $40 application fee, which is nonrefundable. If you are already certified, you can apply to become a certified pharmacy technician by submitting proof that you graduated from a pharmacy technician training program or documentation by the Illinois-licensed pharmacist-in-charge under whom you have been trained, in addition to proof that you passed one of the nationally recognized certification exams.
If you are already certified, you can apply to become a certified pharmacy technician. If you are already certified, you can apply to become a certified pharmacy technician (PTCE or ExCPT). Check out the application for certification right here.
How do I get my pharmacy technician license in Illinois?
There are more than 356,000 people working as pharmacy technicians across the US, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These people are employed in hospitals and independent retail chains. Pharmacy technicians can also be found working in long-term care homes, insurance firms, government agencies, and pharmaceutical corporations in addition to regular pharmacies.
- There is a strong need for pharmacy technicians, and it is anticipated that this demand will rise by 20% by the year 2018.
- The introduction of novel medication therapies, an increasing elderly population, and the availability of low-cost medical care that is covered by insurance all contribute to the expansion of this specific industry.
As of the year 2012, the median pay rate for pharmacy technicians was $29,320 annually, which is equivalent to a rate of $14.10 per hour. This makes the career appealing to a large number of people. In Illinois, the profession of pharmacy technician is governed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), which is responsible for professional licensing and oversight.
- It is a requirement of the Department that technicians finish training that has been accredited, pass an examination that is recognized, and register with the state.
- It is important for pharmacy technicians to have strong communication skills as well as a sympathetic temperament so that they can assist patients who may not be in the greatest of health.
Schools for Pharmacy Technicians in the State of Illinois: Rolling Meadows, Illinois Pharmacy Technician Training Programs Programs for Pharmacy Technicians in River Grove, Illinois Programs for Pharmacy Technicians in Park Ridge, Illinois Pharmacy Technician Programs City of Chicago Heights, Illinois Des Plaines, Illinois Pharmacy Technician Training Programs Training Courses for Pharmacy Technicians in South Holland, Illinois Naperville, Illinois’s Pharmacy Technician Training Programs Pharmacy Technician Schools and Training in Palatine, Illinois Pharmacy Technician Training Programs in the Aurora, Illinois Area Programs for Pharmacy Technicians in Springfield, Illinois Chicago, Illinois’s Pharmacy Technician Training Programs Illinois Pharmacy Technician Requirements License Requirement Before beginning their employment in an Illinois pharmacy, pharmacy technicians are required to submit an application for registration with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
- The Pharmacy Practice Act defines a pharmacy technician as any individual who is employed by a pharmacy and who performs non-discretionary duties related with the practice of pharmacy.
- This definition applies to anybody who is considered a pharmacy assistant.
- Additionally, the pharmacy technician is responsible for doing various tasks while operating under the direction of a certified pharmacist and according to the regulations outlined in the IDFPR.
After a technician has completed the registration process, the IDFPR will issue a registration certificate. This certificate must be prominently displayed at the technician’s place of employment, where it is accessible to the general public. Those who wish to get registered must submit to the Department an application that has been completely filled out, evidence that they have graduated from high school or an equivalent, and the appropriate cost.
- Applicants for registration are permitted by the Pharmacy Act to work under the supervision of a registered pharmacist for a period of sixty days following the submission of their application for registration.
- In addition, applicants for the reinstatement of a license are permitted to work for a period of sixty days, provided that there have been no instances of the applicant being subjected to disciplinary proceedings.
Applicants are required to keep a copy of their application at the location where they will be working for the duration of the grace period of sixty days, and they must make themselves easily accessible to the Drug Compliance Investigator. Pharmacists whose licenses have been revoked, refused, limited, or suspended are not eligible for registration as pharmacy technicians in the state of Florida.
Age Requirement To be eligible for registration as a pharmacy technician in the state of Illinois, applicants must be at least 16 years old. It is required that pharmacy technicians be at least 18 years old in order to register for the Certified certification. Education Requirement Proof that they are currently enrolled in high school must be provided by applicants who are requesting for registration.
Evidence of a high school diploma or completion of a general equivalency diploma (GED) is required from all other candidates. Documentation can be in the form of The Department will accept proof that A diploma from high school. Transcript from high school, GED certificate, or both A statement issued by the institution, printed on the letterhead of the official institution.
Additional Prerequisites The Department will evaluate your answers to the “Personal History” portion of the application form to assess whether or not you have a decent moral character, which is one of the requirements for all candidates. Applicants for the Certified certification are required to produce evidence that they have successfully completed a pharmacy technician training program offered by an institution that has been granted accreditation.
The Department will also accept training that was offered by an employer and was overseen by a pharmacist who was in control. Any claims made about training provided by an employer need to be backed up by associated proof. In order to get registered as Certified Pharmacy Technicians, pharmacy technicians are required to demonstrate that they have achieved satisfactory results on an approved examination.
- The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board and the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians are the only organizations that are allowed to give tests that are then authorized by the department.
- Following registration, pharmacy technicians have up to two years to successfully complete the exam and bring their license up to date.
The Material Covered in the Pharmacy Technician Program Students can acquire both the theoretical knowledge and the hands-on skills necessary to enter the workforce as entry-level employees by participating in the extensive pharmacy technician training programs offered at the approved schools in Illinois.
Students develop their skills in all aspects of pharmacy practice through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on externship. These aspects include pharmaceutical calculations, computer entry, compounding aseptic and extemporaneous products, communicating with customers, and presenting a professional manner at all times.
Drug class differentiation, drug interactions, pharmacy law and ethics, fundamental anatomy and physiology, and pharmacokinetics are some of the other subjects covered in this course. In addition to the classroom instruction, students participate in a clinical externship in order to get practical experience.
- Students at some educational institutions are required to complete the same amount of hours of work in both community and hospital pharmacies.
- Before beginning employment, pharmacy technicians in the state of Illinois are required to get a license.
- As a result, prior to beginning the externship, students will be required to submit an application for a license, as well as complete a criminal background check, a drug screen, and acquire any necessary vaccinations.
Accredited programs are those that have demonstrated that they can successfully satisfy the standards of the IDFPR and have prepared their students to do well on the PTCB or ExCPT tests. Time and money invested In Illinois, the cost of training to become a pharmacy technician is typically around $1,250.
By a significant margin, the most common types of conventional training providers nowadays are colleges and technical institutes. Nevertheless, there is a large number of employer-based programs that are made available by the approved pharmacies in the state. Students who choose to complete their training in their current place of employment are required to submit an application for a license and are granted permission to work for a total of sixty hours while the Department reviews their paperwork.
Employer-based programs provide students with not only the benefit of free training, but also the opportunity to study directly from a licensed pharmacist in a situation that is representative of the real world. Colleges and vocational institutions often make it possible for students to receive financial aid to assist with covering the cost of tuition.
Keep in mind that the fees that are mentioned may not cover all of the necessary expenditures, such as textbooks, workbooks, pharmacy technician certification or other assessment examinations, immunization, background check, uniforms, and other charges. The typical curriculum consists of 120 hours of instruction, which may be finished by students in anywhere from three to eight weeks.
The National Examinations Pharmacy technicians in Illinois are one of the lucky few that get a choice of certification examinations, since Illinois is one of only a handful of states that do so. In order to fulfill the applicants’ demand for certification, the IDFPR recognizes and accepts two major tests.
- Exams designed by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) are both available to pharmacy technicians in the state of Illinois (ICPT).
- The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is the more established of the two exams intended exclusively for pharmacy technologists.
PTCB certification is virtually always expected from pharmacy employers of pharmacy technicians because PTCB certification is required by more than 26 states and more than half of the states need certification for pharmacy technicians. The test can be taken at any one of the more than 350 Pearson Vue testing facilities located around the country.
The application for the PTCB may be found on the website. In order to qualify, applicants are required to present evidence that they have graduated from high school and to pass a background check. The registration price is $129 per application. Candidates are required to schedule a test date at the center of their choosing within ninety days of receiving approval from the PTCB for their request.
Students have two hours to answer all 90 questions on the computer-based test, which comprises the questions in random order. The ExCPT provides candidates with many opportunities to take the exam throughout the year at more than 1,000 computerized testing facilities located all throughout the country.
Within forty-eight hours of registering for the exam, applicants will be able to schedule a time for the exam. To be eligible for registration, applicants need to have either a high school diploma or the equivalent of a GED, in addition to paying the $105 examination cost. The test lasts for two hours and consists entirely of multiple-choice questions.
How to Obtain an Application for Your State License Following the steps outlined in the following paragraphs will allow pharmacy technicians (or students) to submit an application for registration with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
- Along with the application or renewal form, each and every registered pharmacy technician is required to submit a request to be designated as either a Student or Certified pharmacy technician.
- The following is a rundown of the various requirements: Please ensure that all of the information you supply on the registration form is correct before submitting it.
Please provide a copy of both your identification and your social security card. Please include a copy of your high school transcript, diploma, official school statement, or GED certificate. Please enclose a check or money order in the amount of $40 made payable to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation along with your completed application.
If applicable, include evidence that your legal name has been changed. Applicants for the Certified Pharmacy Technician designation will be required to provide evidence that they have graduated from a pharmacy technician training school that has been approved as well as evidence that they have certification from either the ICPT or the PTCB.
It is required that student pharmacy technicians provide evidence that they are enrolled in an approved school of pharmacy. If you responded “yes” to any of the questions about your personal history, you are required to present supporting court records.
- Complete the application by signing it, dating it, and sending it to the address shown below.
- Renewal Pharmacy technicians are required to re-register with the Department of Health and Human Services every year.
- The registration is good until the 31st of March of each year.
- By the time of the second renewal, every license must have either the Student or Certified designation.
Within thirty days after making a change in either their name or residence, it is the obligation of the pharmacy technician to notify the Department of these changes.30-45 days before the license expires, the Department will send the renewal application to the applicant’s mailing address.
- If you alter either your name or address, you are required to provide supporting documentation by mail.
- If you do not need to make any changes to your application, you may renew it online using a Visa, MasterCard, or Discover card if you do not have to make any changes.
- If you do not get a renewal application in the mail, you can go online and print one for yourself by entering your driver’s license number and social security number.
If you need to add your Student or Certified certification along with the renewal, you must supply the papers that are indicated in the requirements form for the renewal. Transfer Prior to beginning employment in the state’s pharmacies, pharmacy technicians who are already registered in another state are required to submit an application for registration with the Department.
How many questions can you miss on the PTCB exam?
You need to get at least 650 out of a possible 900, which indicates that you must get 65 of the questions correct, while the remaining 25 can be left to chance.
What percentage do you need to pass the PTCB exam?
Your thoughts on the PTCB scoring system are welcome below. – To add your thoughts, please click here.
| You only got 54% by: Jerry The passing scaled score for the current PTCB exam is 1400. The possible score range is 1000 to 1600. And so, if you crunch those numbers, you got 54%, and have no valid argument. But, it’s even a bit more complex than that. The key to all of this is “Scaled Score”. Because some questions are harder than others, they have different values. And then, every test taker gets a different set of questions. One person might get more math, while another gets more drug names. Even if you got just one question wrong, you’d score over 1000. So, the true range is really just from 1000 – 1600 = which is 600 points. Using your method to calculate the score, you got 325 out of 600. If you go to the PTCB website and look under Exam > Scoring it explains it more in detail. |