How to get your certification as a pharmacy technician Pharmacy technicians can get their certification through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or the National Healthcareer Association. Both of these organizations provide the certification.
- Get your high school diploma or your general education diploma (GED). The requirement that participants in certification programs have a minimum academic level equivalent to that of a high school graduate.
- Complete a training program in pharmacy technology and graduate. The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education or the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists ought to validate this program before it can be considered legitimate. Community colleges and vocational institutions often provide these types of training programs, and the duration of time needed to finish them is often little more than a year. Students in programs that prepare them to work as pharmacy technicians learn topics such as recordkeeping, the elementary mathematics required for pharmacy calculations, the process of dispensing pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical regulations and ethics, as well as medical terminology and insurance. Additionally, they may give students hands-on experience working in a real-life pharmacy environment. If you already have at least 500 hours of experience working as a pharmacy technician, you may be eligible to satisfy the requirements for qualifying.
- Prepare yourself to take the exam to become a certified pharmacy technician. You can better prepare for the exam by using the study materials and practice tests that are provided to you by the PTCB. Additionally, candidates can choose to get free exam preparation materials from the NHA, or they can pay a fee to receive more in-depth study programs.
- Put in an application to take the exam to become a certified pharmacy technician. The PTCB examination application and participation cost is $129 per candidate. The NHA charges a total of $117 for the application cost as well as the exam fee. However, there are certain pharmacies that could foot the bill for their employees to take the test. If you already have a job in a pharmacy, you should inquire with your employer about whether or not they provide that choice.
- Participate in the Certification Exam for Pharmacy Technicians. The test is administered on a computer, but you have to take it in person at a testing facility in your area. The PTCB examination consists of 90 questions and must be finished in around two hours. The NHA examination consists of one hundred questions and must be finished in a little more than two hours. The CPhT test covers topics including as pharmacology, pharmaceutical safety, quality assurance, patient services, inventory management, pharmacy regulations, billing, information systems, and compounding, regardless of the style of certification that you select.
- Obtain a score that is acceptable. You will receive an initial score almost immediately after finishing the test, which will provide you with an indication of how well you performed on the test overall. In about two to three weeks, you will be given your final grade. If you are successful in passing the examination, you will be awarded both a real certificate and a digital badge that you will be able to showcase in many places, including your email signature, bio, and résumé. If you do not pass the test the first time, you have the opportunity to retake it up to three more times. However, you will be required to pay a fee each time that you sit for the examination.
- Obtain your state license. After you have received your certification as a pharmacy technician, you may also be required to submit an application for a state license depending on where you plan to work and live. Contacting the Board of Pharmacy in your state can provide you all the information you need on the prerequisites for obtaining a license.
- Meet continuous education requirements. You are required to complete a minimum of 20 hours of continuing education every two years in addition to paying the certification renewal fee in order to keep your certification as a pharmacy technician. Courses for continuing education can be taken in-person or online, but they are required to include pharmacy law for at least one hour and patient safety for at least one hour. There are several professional organizations, such as the PTCB, NHA, and the National Pharmacy Technician Association, that offer chances for continuing education for its members.
Related: how to keep your resume current: a guide
How much is a pharmacy license in California?
How to get your Pharmacy Technician Trainee License! No School Required!
Fee Schedule
| Original Application Type Fee | Effective 4/1/2020 | Effective 7/1/2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacist Licensure Exam | $285.00 | $285.00 |
| Advanced Practice Pharmacist | $300.00 | $300.00 |
| Pharmacy | $570.00 | $570.00 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $195.00 | $195.00 |