What is a certified pharmacist technician and how to become one

Key steps to become a certified pharmacist technician

1. Explore certified pharmacist technician education requirements

   Most common certified pharmacist technician degrees

   Bachelor's

   39.4 %

   Associate

   21.9 %

   High School Diploma

   14.3 %

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2. Start to develop specific certified pharmacist technician skills

   Skills	Percentages
   Patients	22.11%
   Direct Supervision	9.62%
   Math	7.67%
   Telephone Calls	7.06%
   Inventory Control	4.18%

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3. Complete relevant certified pharmacist technician training and internships

   Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New certified pharmacist technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a certified pharmacist technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real certified pharmacist technician resumes.

4. Obtain the necessary licensing

   Becoming a licensed certified pharmacist technician usually require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed certified pharmacist technician in most of states. 38 states require certified pharmacist technicians to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

   State	Education	Exam	License url
   Alabama	-	-	Licensed Pharmacist Technician
   Alaska	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Pharmacist
   Arkansas	Degree required	Both state and third-party exams required	Pharmacist
   California	Degree required	Both state and third-party exams required	Pharmacist, Registered
   Connecticut	Degree required	State exam required	Pharmacist

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5. Gain additional certified pharmacist technician certifications

   Certified pharmacist technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific certified pharmacist technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

   The most common certifications for certified pharmacist technicians include Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) and Board Certified Nuclear Pharmacist (BCNP).

   More About Certifications

6. Research certified pharmacist technician duties and responsibilities

   • Manage return authorizations of expire and damage drugs to send back to vendor or Walgreens distribution center.
   • Secure and manage PYXIS systems during facility emergencies.
   • Manage assigned pharmacy workstations and tasks while supporting team members in promptly, safely and accurately filling patient prescriptions.
   • Experience in patient intake, data entry, dosage calculations, Rx clarification, billing, adjudicate claims, and dispensing.

7. Prepare your certified pharmacist technician resume

   When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your certified pharmacist technician resume.

   You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a certified pharmacist technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

   Choose from 10+ customizable certified pharmacist technician resume templates

   Build a professional certified pharmacist technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your certified pharmacist technician resume.
   

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8. Apply for certified pharmacist technician jobs

   Now it's time to start searching for a certified pharmacist technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

   1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
   2. Consult your professional network
   3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
   4. Watch out for job scams