Q: How hard is it to become a pharmacy tech?

It is not very hard to become a pharmacy tech. You simply need to meet the requirements for your specific state and then find a position that works for you. Not all states require certification to begin working as a pharmacy technician, but in any case, it makes you a much more desirable candidate.

Question 1

Can I become a pharmacy technician with a criminal record?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can become a pharmacy technician with a criminal record; however, having a criminal record can make it more difficult to become a pharmacy technician.

The specific requirements for becoming a pharmacy technician vary depending on what state you are in, and some employers might request a background check as a part of their hiring process.

Question 2

How hard is it to become a pharmacy tech?

Accepted Answer

It is not very hard to become a pharmacy tech. You simply need to meet the requirements for your specific state and then find a position that works for you. Not all states require certification to begin working as a pharmacy technician, but in any case, it makes you a much more desirable candidate.

Question 3

How long do you have to go to school to become a pharmacy tech?

Accepted Answer

A pharmacy technician certificate/diploma program takes anywhere from 9 to 12 months to complete. To become certified, you must apply for certification to either the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, which administers the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam, or the National Healthcare Association.

Question 4

How long does it take to become a pharmacy tech?

Accepted Answer

It typically takes two years or less to become a pharmacy tech. Traditional schooling generally takes about two years to complete. However, in states that don't require formal training, it's possible to become a pharmacy technician through on-the-job training.

Question 5

On-the-job pharmacy technician training

Accepted Answer

On-the-job pharmacy technician training consists of a wide range of pharmacy-related tasks. In broad terms, you shadow a professional pharmacist to gain knowledge, skills, and professional experience.

Question 6

What are the careers of pharmacy technicians?

Accepted Answer

Pharmacy technician, pharmacist, and pharmaceutical scientist are careers in pharmacy technician. Here are some details on each of these careers in pharmacy technician:

Pharmacy technician

Question 7

What are the pros and cons of being a pharmacy technician?

Accepted Answer

The pros of being a pharmacy technician relate to minimal education requirements, the potential to continue education to become a pharmacist, while the cons include low average compensation. Here are the top pros and cons of being a pharmacy technician:

Question 8

What is the career path for a pharmacy technician?

Accepted Answer

The career path for a pharmacy technician involves jobs as a pharmacy technician, a pharmacist, and a lead pharmacist. However, pharmacy technicians that are seeking to become pharmacists must go back to school to achieve this.

Question 9

What should I study to become a pharmacy technician?

Accepted Answer

To become a pharmacy technician, you should study courses like medications, pharmacy procedures, and pharmaceutical terminology.

You don't need an advanced degree to be a pharmacy technician but to gain an advantage over other job seekers, you might want to consider formal qualifications like a certificate or associate's degree.

Question 10

Pharmacist vs. Pharmacy Technician

Accepted Answer

A pharmacist is trained to fill prescriptions, administer vaccines, and instruct patients on how/when to take their medications, while a pharmacy technician assists the pharmacist through packaging and labeling, organizing inventory, and providing customer service.

Question 11

Pharmacy Technician License vs. Certification

Accepted Answer

A certified pharmacy technician has passed a proficiency-type exam, while a licensed pharmacy technician means that the state has authorized you to perform pharmacy tech duties.

A licensed pharmacy technician is someone who is registered to fill the role within the state in which they work. Licensing requirements vary by state but in general, you must have a high school diploma and a pharmacy tech certification when you apply. A background check may also be required.

Question 12

What is a good starting salary for a Pharmacist Technician?

Accepted Answer

A good starting salary for a pharmacist technician is $27,000 in the United States. That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for a pharmacist technician in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. The average salary for pharmacist technicians is $35,821, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. Furthermore, a good starting salary for a pharmacist technician can vary by state.

Question 13

Do pharmacy technicians get health benefits?

Accepted Answer

Yes, pharmacy technicians get health benefits. Pharmacy technicians typically receive a variety of benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, disability insurance, and many other benefits.These types of benefits are typically reserved for pharmacy technicians that work full-time for a specific pharmacy.

Question 14

How much do pharmacy techs make an hour?

Accepted Answer

On average, pharmacy technicians receive an hourly rate of $16.87 and an annual salary of $35,100, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

The BLS reports that the bottom 10% of earners in this field - many of whom are entry-level and newly graduated employees - make an average of $25,400 per year or $12.21 per hour. The top 10% of earners in this field make an annual salary of $50430, or $24.25 hourly.

Question 15

Can a pharmacist technician make 100k?

Accepted Answer

No, you cannot make $100,000 per year as a pharmacist technician. It is highly unlikely to earn over $100k because the average annual salary for a pharmacist technician is $35,821. Even pharmacist technicians in higher-paid positions do not typically earn more than $46,000 per year.

Question 16

Do pharmacy techs get paid well?

Accepted Answer

Yes, pharmacy techs get paid well. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national average annual wage of a pharmacy technician is $35,100. But the average pharmacy technician salary can vary significantly depending on the state, company, or experience level.

Question 17

Is pharmacy tech a good career?

Accepted Answer

Yes, pharmacy tech is a good career. A career in pharmacy tech is a stable one with several employment opportunities and chances to advance.

Working as a pharmacy tech is great for someone who wants to progress in the medical field. It's not unusual for pharmacy techs to grow into pharmacy management positions, pharmaceutical sales, or even nurses. Working as a pharmacy tech gives you a chance to gain hands-on experience while completing a college degree program.

Question 18

What is the highest paying pharmacy technician job?

Accepted Answer

The highest paying pharmacy technician job is a hospital pharmacy tech. Hospitals typically offer the highest-paid pharmacy tech jobs in the industry.

A hospital pharmacy tech will typically earn about 20% higher than a retail pharmacy tech, but the average pharmacy technician salary can vary significantly depending on the state, company, or experience level.

Question 19

How to get a certification to be a pharmacy technician?

Accepted Answer

To get certification to be a pharmacy technician, you must hold a high school diploma and successfully complete all course work and pass an exam. Not all states require certification to begin working as a pharmacy technician, but in any case, it will make you a much more desirable candidate.

There are two main certification associations in the United States. They are Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the National Healthcare Association (NHA). All 50 states accept PTCB and the NHA certification is acknowledged across the nation. Both of these require renewal every two years and continued education to do so.

PTCB certification requires you to have completed a PTCB-recognized program or alternatively to have a minimum of 500 hours of working experience. The cost to apply and take the exam is $129. NHA certification also requires you to complete either a recognized program or have equivalent work experience. The cost of the exam is $155.

Question 20

How to get a pharmacy tech license

Accepted Answer

To get certified as a pharmacy technician, you must hold a high school diploma and complete all coursework and pass an exam. Not all states require certification to begin working as a pharmacy technician, but it makes you a much more desirable candidate.

Question 21

What percentage of Pharmacist Technicians are female?

Accepted Answer

74.4% of pharmacist technicians are female in the United States. This is -3.6 percentage points lower than last year. Additionally, the percentage of female pharmacist technicians has decreased by -2.3 percentage points since 2010. That means there are a total of 334,108 female pharmacist technicians in the U.S. and 114,962 male pharmacist technicians in the United States. Note that Zippia's estimate accounts only for the 449,070 people with the specific job title of pharmacist technician and doesn't include grouping similar job titles, or people with potentially similar credentialing.

Question 22

What are five job responsibilities a pharmacy technician has?

Accepted Answer

Five job responsibilities a pharmacy technician has are:

Filling prescriptions
Customer service
Inventory management
Receiving and filling prescriptions
Processing payments

Question 23

What should a pharmacy technician put on a resume?

Accepted Answer

Pharmacy technicians should put their education, work history, and additional certifications on a resume. The keywords employers search for on a resume for pharmacy technicians are:

Customer service experience
Inventory Audit
Computer and Math proficiency
Filling prescriptions
Knowledge of proper drug handling

Question 24

What is the demand for pharmacy technicians?

Accepted Answer

The demand for pharmacy technicians is projected to grow by 4% from 2021 to 2023. Compared to all other occupations, the future job growth for pharmacy technicians is expected to be slightly below average. This growth is attributed to the aging population, which is expected to lead to an increased demand for prescription medications, as well as the growing number of retail clinics and pharmacies.

Question 25

What degree do you need to be a pharmacy technician?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 26

Where do pharmacy technicians work?

Accepted Answer

Pharmacy technicians work anywhere that prescription medication is dispersed from drug stores to hospitals. There are a variety of settings where pharmacy technicians are employed.

A large majority of pharmacy technicians work for retail or chain drug stores. Nearly 70% of technicians work for large retailers such as Walgreens, Walmart, and CVS. The responsibilities of these technicians in large retail pharmacies are similar to other environments as they help fill prescriptions and answer customer questions.

Pharmacy technicians may also work in hospitals, community-operated pharmacies, or nursing homes. Regardless of where technicians work, their duties and responsibilities are very similar. From entering patient data to processing insurance claims and filling prescriptions, the role of a pharmacy technician remains consistent regardless of where they work.

Frequently asked questions about pharmacist technicians

Questions about becoming a pharmacist technician