CareerExplorer’s step-by-step guide on how to become a pharmacy technician.
Is becoming a pharmacy technician right for me?
The first step to choosing a career is to make sure you are actually willing to commit to pursuing the career. You don’t want to waste your time doing something you don’t want to do. If you’re new here, you should read about:
Still unsure if becoming a pharmacy technician is the right career path? Take the free CareerExplorer career test to find out if this career is right for you. Perhaps you are well-suited to become a pharmacy technician or another similar career!
Described by our users as being “shockingly accurate”, you might discover careers you haven’t thought of before.
High School
Attain a high school diploma or equivalent, with a strong background in mathematics, chemistry, biology, and physiology.
While in high school, consider volunteering at a hospital or in another healthcare setting to gain exposure to the field.
Formal Training
Pharmacy technician training programs are generally offered by vocational and community colleges, typically at the certificate/diploma or Associate’s Degree level. Students should seek out programs which incorporate hands-on training via an externship placement.
Effective 2020, the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board will require certification candidates to have successfully completed an education program accredited by the Pharmacy Technician Accreditation Commission (PTAC), in collaboration with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). A list of PTAC-accredited programs is provided here.
One-year Certificate/Diploma Programs
Certificate/diploma programs provide the basic education and training needed to sit for Certified Pharmacy Technician exam and apply for entry-level positions. The following are examples of courses included in their curricula:
Introduction to Pharmacy
Focus
Introduction to pharmacy practices and terminology
Target Skills
• Pharmacy and medical terms
• Basic pharmacy operations
Dosage Forms and Routes of Administration
Focus
How medications interact in the body after administration and how to use basic mathematic principles for dosing
Target Skills
• Administration of medication
• Basic measurement systems and best practices
• Mathematical techniques and methodologies used in pharmacies
Science of Pharmacology
Focus
The process by which drugs are approved for general use; drug administration issues for patients
Target Skills
• Understanding of the drug approval process
• Understanding of administration processes for individual patients
Hospital Pharmacy Practice
Focus
Basic pharmacy operations in a hospital setting
Target Skills
• Hospital pharmacy operations
• Basic guidelines for working in a hospital setting
• Role of the pharmacy technician in a hospital setting
Pharmacy Ethics
Focus
The laws and ethics governing pharmacy practice
Target Skills
• Modern laws governing pharmacy and pharmacology practices in the United States
• Ethical considerations for different customer situations
• Pharmacy technician codes of conduct
Two-year Associate’s Degree Programs
Associate’s Degree programs provide a more comprehensive education – one which, in addition to pharmacy- and medical- specific courses, includes general courses in mathematics, science, psychology, humanities, and English. Coursework typically includes the following:
Interpersonal Communications for the Workplace
Focus
Effective interpersonal communication skills for working with customers in a medical environment
Target Skills
• Communication skills to interact with pharmacists and customers
• Customer service skills
• Non-verbal communication
Pharmacy Calculations
Focus
Mathematical equations and best practices for managing calculations in a pharmacy
Target Skills
• Fundamental mathematical concepts
• Applied mathematics
• Best practices for using mathematical formulas to solve problems
Pharmacology
Focus
Key principles of drug interactions and the human body; different types of drugs and their effect on the nervous system; basic principles of pharmacokinetics (the branch of pharmacology concerned with the movement of drugs within the body) and pharmacodynamics (the branch of pharmacology concerned with the effects of drugs and the mechanism of their action)
Target Skills
• Human anatomy and physiology of the nervous system
• Drugs for the treatment of nervous system disorders
Over-the-Counter Drugs
Focus
Review of non-prescription drugs for common disorders and best practices for managing customer questions about self-treatment
Target Skills
• Advanced knowledge of non-prescription drugs and medications
• Customer service skills
• Pharmaceutical ethics
Pharmacy Law
Focus
Federal and state laws governing the practice of pharmacies and rules regulating pharmacy technicians’ activities
Target Skills
• Comprehensive knowledge of relevant state and federal laws related to pharmacies
• Ethical considerations and legal issues pertaining to pharmacy technicians
Certification
While certification is not required in some states, most employers prefer to hire pharmacy techs who are certified by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) outlines state-specific requirements.
Employment & On-the-Job Training
After completing their formal education and gaining hands-on training via an externship, newly hired pharmacy technicians commonly undergo some on-the-job training specific to their place of employment. Under the supervision and guidance of experienced techs, new-hires are trained in the medical software programs used by their employer. This typically includes the following:
• Accounting software – for medical billing and reimbursement
• Database software – to check for drug compatibility
• Inventory management software
• Label-making software
• Medical software – to manage patient records and prescription processing
Continuing Education & Recertification
PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhTs) need to complete at least 20 hours of continuing education every two years for PTCB recertification.
Pharmacy techs certified by the NHA must complete a minimum of 10 hours of continuing education every two years for NHA recertification.
In addition to becoming a CPhT, pharmacy technicians can earn other certifications, which may expand their job opportunities. Among these certifications are:
• Sterile Products (IV) Certification
• Certified Pharmaceutical Industry Professional
• Chemotherapy Certification
• Compounding Certification
• Nuclear Pharmacy Technician (NPT) Training
Resources
How to become a Pharmacy Technician
There is currently no single standard of education for becoming a pharmacy technician. In the U.S. regulations regarding employment in the field vary from state to state. In some cases, a high school diploma and on-the-job training are acceptable. Many states, however, mandate that aspiring pharmacy technicians complete a specific number of formal training hours and once employed maintain continuing education credits.
Regardless of state requirements, most employers prefer to hire job applicants who are certified by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). It is important to note that starting in 2020, the PTCB will require certification candidates to have successfully completed an education program accredited by the Pharmacy Technician Accreditation Commission (PTAC). This requirement effectively means that greater numbers of technicians will undergo formal training, knowing that it is the route to professional certification, which is generally the key to employment.
Pharmacy technician degree and certificate programs are typically offered by community colleges and vocational schools. Curricula commonly include the science of pharmacology; pharmacy practice and terminology; medication dosage and administration; and pharmacy ethics and law. Externships during which students can gain experience in a real-world pharmacy are also integrated into many of these programs.