How to Earn a Certificate from a Pharmacy Tech School

It is said that the pharmacy technician is the “backbone” of the pharmacy. Pharmacy technicians, or pharmacy techs as they are called, are the ones who perform 75% of the functions behind the counter. So, if you are looking for a line of work in the medical field, but want expansive options on your career, then getting your pharmacy technician certification may just be the ticket.

So, where are you now, and where do you hope to be when you advance? These two questions are absolutely critical in determining your set of goals for your career in the pharmacy.

What Is a Pharmacy Tech?pharmacy technician

You know that person behind the counter that is wearing the white coat, and checking filled prescriptions? Well, that’s not a pharmacy technician. They are everybody else running around back there.

One of the main things that your job will entail is making sure that little piece of paper that the patient gives you makes it where it needs to go. For instance, if that patient needs twenty Hydrocodone 5-500, then you will have to interpret the writing on the prescription, find the medication on shelves, dump out the bottle on the counting trays, count the pills by fives, recount the pills by fives, pour them from the tray and into the bottle, slap the label on the bottle, and give it to the pharmacist for checking. Once the pharmacist checks the prescription that it is correct, he or she will then place it in a bag and it goes on the shelf ready for pick-up. You will also be the person standing at the counter waiting to ring out those pills to the customer, respecting HIPAA laws, taking information, and finally making the transaction. By the way, it is worth mentioning that you need to perform all these tasks while coordinating the effort with various insurance companies through your pharmacy computer system and their formulary.

With all of these tasks that need to be performed, it is important to understand that proper pharmacy technician certification needs to be attained. Also, pharmacy technician schools can serve as a great way to really get into the game, putting you at a unique advantage over many others in your field.

The Purpose of Pharmacy Technician Certification

There are many pharmacy technicians behind the counter who are not actually “certified”. However, these technicians are not allowed to perform all the tasks associated with that line of work. For instance, a “non-certified pharmacy tech” will not be allowed to do “data entry”, which means extracting the information written by the doctor, defining what the patient needs to have. In this same way, a pharmacy tech that is not certified will not be able to deal with insurance companies.

Now, there really is no law enforcing this, but most retail companies like Walgreens and certain hospitals will not allow their name to be placed on an outbound prescription from a tech that is untrained and inexperienced. They will do everything in their power to limit the duties of the non-certified tech, also limiting his or her pay, benefits, and potential for attaining personal career goals.

So, it is crucial for you to obtain pharmacy technician certification as soon as you can. You can do this in several ways.

How to Obtain Pharmacy Tech Certification and Different Levels

One of the most common ways to get your pharmacy technician certification is to first begin with jobsite training, and taking the pharmacy technician certification test, which is administered by the State Board. This test will go over how to read a prescription, how to handle insurance companies, and even basic pharmacology. You can easily find books to prepare you, but it is important to understand the requirements for your state, as every state is different.

Some states will allow certain corporations like Kroger, who has powerful lobbyists in Columbus, OH, to take a corporate controlled test rather than test administered by the State Board. The test is rather comparable in difficulty, and it does come with a class.

Either way, the pharmacy tech will go through three levels, and the original certification will move the tech from level I to II. The second test is far more advanced, and moves the tech from level II to III. A level III tech will be able to perform functions like compounding. Also, a person who receives a pharmacy technician certification will see a $3-5 jump in hourly pay. So, a level I will see about $8 per hour, a level II will see about $11 per hour, and a level III is likely to see about $14-15 per hour. In addition to that, pharmacy technicians with seniority, or those who work in medical institutions, rather than retail, may even see wages as high as $20-25 per hour. However, this process can take years to advance through.

The Educated Advantage

The life of a pharmacy tech is fast paced and competitive. Techs compete for speed and accuracy. However, the essence of advancement for any pharmacy technician is his or her level. There is one way to expedite that process.

Pharmacy technician schools have the capability to bypass that entire process mentioned above. If you have determined to become a career level pharmacy tech, then it is a good move to go to pharmacy techn school.

You will not have to rely on jobsite experience, you will not have to tediously advance through the levels, and you will automatically gain respect within the workplace. When you get through one of the many pharmacy technician schools, you will already have your “level III equivalent” to a pharmacy technician certification.

Also, the beauty of this is the fact that you can start off earning a competitive salary right off the bat. Your work options will be greatly expanded as well, as you will be able to find employment from anywhere between retail stores to hospitals. You will have to the knowhow to do your job quickly and effectively, and you will know the laws. Many pharmacy technicians that start out at $8 per hour on the jobsite are at a major disadvantage as there is much to learn, but pharmacy technician schools will put way ahead in that respect.

A Day in the Life of a Pharmacy Technician


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