First Steps on the Path to Becoming a Pharmacy Technician Obtain a degree from an institution of higher learning (Optional) Accreditation of pharmacy technician programs is handled by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), which is a national organization.
There are several community colleges and vocational institutions that offer programs that have been certified by the ASHP. The majority of certificate programs may be finished in one year or less, but the majority of associate degree programs require two years to finish. Training in the following areas, both technically and practically, is covered by the coursework: Pharmacy law Pharmacology Anatomy and the ethics of pharmacy Healthcare infrastructures Physiology Medical terminology Pharmaceutical computations Step 2: Complete your on-the-job training to become a pharmacy technician.
The majority of training programs provide students the opportunity to obtain clinical experience during their education. Students also have the option, which varies depending on state legislation, of gaining training on the job rather than enrolling in a higher education program in order to further their education.
- The clinical experience could be in the form of a regimented education course carried out in a retail pharmacy that is in collaboration with the educational institution.
- An other choice is to participate in a practical training program in a medical facility or pharmacy that has been pre-approved.
- Step 3 Obtain your certification as a pharmacy technician.
Step 4 Become a certified specialist in the field of pharmacy technology. Some pharmacy technicians prefer to work exclusively for a retail drugstore chain and will finish specific training in order to serve as a general pharmacy technician, community pharmacy technician, or central pharmacy operations technician, or in a function that is very similar to these positions.
Step 5 Continue to maintain your qualification as a pharmacy technician. Every two years, pharmacy technicians are required to demonstrate that they have maintained their knowledge and skills by passing a recertification test that is given by either the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the National Healthcare Association (NHA).
What Classes are Required for a Pharmacy Technician?
Before you may take the test, you are required to have completed a minimum of twenty hours of continuing education. Activities such as attending seminars, workshops, conferences, college classes, and even providing assistance to credentialing bodies might count as approved forms of continuing education.
What classes do I need to take to become a pharmacist?
What Does It Involve to Take a Course in Pharmacy Technology? Taking a class in pharmacy technology will prepare you for a career as a pharmacy technician in a variety of settings, including retail, hospital, or mail-order pharmacies. You will develop a style of thinking that will assist you in meeting the requirements of the pharmacists and patients with whom you deal as a result of this training.
- You will have the opportunity to take a variety of classes that at first glance may appear unrelated to working in a pharmacy but ultimately may prove useful to you as you advance in your chosen profession.
- You might be able to choose from the following classes, depending on the school that you attend: Ethics in Pharmacy Law in the Pharmacy Various Methods of Medical Care Medical Terminology Pharmacology Anatomy Physiology Pharmaceutical Calculations Following the completion of your academic requirements, you will go on to an internship or externship.
This is often a full-time career at a retail or hospital pharmacy; however, you might potentially find employment in a long-term care institution or another medical business if you are qualified. In many cases, schools will collaborate with the site coordinators to ensure that your experience is designed in such a way that you are adequately exposed to all of the important parts of the career of pharmacy technician.
While you are still under the supervision of an educational organization throughout this experiential component of your course, you will have the opportunity to apply what you have learned in the classroom out in the real world. You should also be prepared to take a certification exam and then move on to earn a license given by the state after you complete the pharmacy technician course.
That is to say, taking a course in pharmacy technology positions you favorably for achievement in your subsequent professional endeavors.