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This question is about what a pharmacist technician does.
What degree do you need to be a pharmacy technician?
A degree is not required to be a pharmacy technician. All pharmacy techs must have at least a high school diploma or GED. High school students who are interested in becoming pharmacy technicians may wish to take additional courses in areas like chemistry, anatomy, or biology.
Most pharmacy techs pursue certification programs. Most programs are shorter in length than an associate's degree program and can be completed in as little as nine months. There are online and in-person formats available. Some certificate programs will offer hands-on learning experiences and actual work in the pharmacy setting.
Diploma programs will take slightly longer (12 months) and will include coursework in areas such as:
Pharmacology
Pharmacy billing
Pharmacy law
Pharmacy practice
All pharmacy techs will be required to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE). Certification and diploma programs will help to prepare students for this exam. The exam is 90 multiple-choice questions that are divided into 4 knowledge domains. You are given a total of 2 hours to answer the questions.
In most states, continuing education and background checks are also required. While not necessary, some students may choose to pursue an associate's degree in pharmacy technician. These degree programs usually require about 90 credits and take approximately 2 years to complete.
These programs often include internship or externship experiences for hands-on training. Some pharmacy tech associate's programs may be available in partially online formats. Common course topics for an associate's program include:
Medical terminology
Pharmaceutical calculations
Pharmacology
Medication safety
Institutional and community pharmacy
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