| Many pharmacy technicians are trained on the job, | | | | completed all of the pharmacy technician requirements |
| however, most employers prefer to hire pharmacy | | | | of the program, they will be awarded with a certificate, |
| technicians that have had formal training or previous | | | | associate's degree, or diploma depending on the |
| work experience. Pharmacy technician requirements | | | | program. |
| include attention to detail, no prior history of drug | | | | Most states do not have pharmacy technician |
| related offenses, strong math and reading skills, no | | | | requirements in regard to certification, but employers |
| felony convictions within the past 5 years, and a high | | | | usually prefer those who have taken the certification |
| school diploma or GED. | | | | exams offered by the Pharmacy Technician |
| Pharmacy technician training programs are accredited | | | | Certification Board and the Institute for the Certification |
| by the American Society of Health-System | | | | of Pharmacy Technicians since they know if someone |
| Pharmacists (ASHP). You can find a program | | | | has earned this certification they have the necessary |
| directory of all of the accredited programs on their | | | | skills to be a pharmacy technician. |
| website. There are certified programs in 37 states, | | | | Becoming a certified pharmacy technician requires |
| including Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, | | | | passing one of the certification exams mentioned |
| Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, | | | | above, and completing 20 hours of continuing |
| Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, | | | | education every two years in order to keep your |
| Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North | | | | certification current. You can meet the certified |
| Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, | | | | pharmacy technician requirements without attending a |
| Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South | | | | formal program, however, it might be easier to learn |
| Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, | | | | the information necessary to pass the exams through |
| Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming. | | | | formal study. |
| These training programs are located mainly in technical | | | | In order to qualify for the certification you need a high |
| colleges, community colleges, and vocational schools, | | | | school diploma, no past drug convictions, and no felony |
| though there are also a few located in universities and | | | | convictions in the past five years, all of which are also |
| other locations. The programs teach all of the required | | | | requirements for those who are not certified. The main |
| skills for pharmacy technician, such as the names and | | | | thing that sets apart Certified Pharmacy Technicians is |
| dosages of different medications, pharmaceutical | | | | the fact that they have passed the certification exam |
| calculations, pharmaceutical law and ethics, | | | | and completed the continuing education requirements |
| pharmaceutical techniques, pharmaceutical terminology, | | | | to keep their certification current. |
| and pharmacy record keeping. Once a student has | | | | |