Selecting the Best Pharmacy Technician School for You

The first and arguably the most important step in your road to becoming a pharmacy technician is to enroll yourself in a suitable training program. Thankfully, there are a lot of pharmacy technician schools out there that can give you the education and training that you need – you can literally choose of dozens of schools, depending on the state that you are in.

The challenge then, lies in selecting the best and most suitable school for you. One important factor in choosing a pharmacy technician school is to choose a program that that is duly accredited by a nationally recognized agency. The American Societyof Health-System Pharmacists or ASHP is a good example of this. 

You can also choose between state-approved and nationally approved programs. While most statesrequire their pharmacy tech students to complete a state-approved program, it will be more advantageous for you in the long run to apply for the nationally approved one. This way, your certification can be and will be recognized anywhere in the country.

If you research around the web, you will find that there are also online programs available that offer a faster and cheaper certification process. It is important to take note that many of these programs do not have the necessary accreditation and recognition (whether regional or national) to make your certification legitimate. Be careful and avoid these kind of programs as they will not help you at all in reaching your goal of being a certified pharmacy technician!

Finding Legitimate and Reputable Pharmacy Technician Schools

With so many pharmacy technician schools out there, how can you spot a legitimate and reputable one? The good news is there are many ways to do just that. For one, you can use ASHP’s training program directory – an extensive list of all properly accredited pharmacy tech institutions – to know whether your chosen school is legitimate or not.

Another certification institution, the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or PTCB, provides a list of different pharmacy organizations that provide and uphold the appropriate standards for the certification and education of pharmacy technicians.

Here is a list of some of the nationally accredited pharmacy training programs and schools around the country

• Institute of Business and Medical Careers – offers a PTCB Certification Program and Associate of Occupational Studies Degree for interested students.

• Kaplan College – offers Pharmacy Technician Diploma. They also partner with approved institutions to provide a much-needed externship opportunity for students for a more hands-on approach.

• Foothill College – Provides an ASHP-approved pharmacy technician program. Students can choose between a short 9-month program or a 2-year program that can be upgraded to an Associate in Science Degree in Pharmacy Technician.

• Ultimate Medical Academy – An NHA-recognized institution that provides training for students interested to take the CPhT certification. An Associate Degree program in health sciences concentrating on training for pharmacy technician students is also available from this academy.

• PIMA Medical Institute – Offers 20-month courses that focus on pharmacy technician training as well as the crucial IV training.

There are also many different colleges and universities that open their educational halls for their very own pharmacy technician training programs. You can also ask pharmacies as some offer courses and training as well.

The important part is to always inquire regarding the institution’s accreditation before signing up in their programs. Remember to ask about the accreditation of the program prior to signing up. Because when it comes to your future, there’s no harm in being sure.

Getting Your Pharmacy Tech Certification

As soon as you complete your training as a pharmacy technician, the next best step is to earn a special designation. You can do this by earning your Pharmacy Technician Certification. Doing so will boost your chances of being hired by a reputable company with a high-paying salary. 

While most people start off with a $9/hour salaries in pharmacies, technicians with a great deal of experience and certification either from PTCB or the National Healthcare Association (NHA) have better chances of getting promoted and earning higher salaries than the rest. 

With Pharmacy Tech Certification, more opportunities are available to individuals who want to carve a solid career as a pharmacy technician. Other benefits include:

• Wider array of job openings to choose from
• Higher starting salary
• Better designation among your colleagues
• Proof of clinical knowledge and skill
• Great show of commitment to the job and to the field
• Greater opportunities for promotions and other career advancement

There is a high demand for pharmacy technicians all over the world, with labor statistics pointing to a greater-than-average increase in the coming years. While this means more job opportunities for pharmacy technicians, it also means an increase of competition. A Pharmacy Tech Certification can give you an edge against these other hopefuls and might just help you land that coveted position in a lucrative pharmacy or hospital.

Acquiring a PTCB Certification

Getting your PTCB Certification is certainly a great plus to your career. To apply for a PTCB exam, here are the criteria you have to meet:

• A high school diploma from a certified secondary level institution. Alternatively, PTCB accepts diploma from foreign institutions or equivalent GED units
• Must be 18 years old and above. 
•  Statement of disclosure of any criminal actions filed against you (if any). Any registration or licensure action filed at State Board of Pharmacy against your license should also be fully disclosed.
• Compliance to the regulations and policies of the PTCB Certification
• Acquire a passing score at the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam or PTCE.

Take note that past criminal activities involving a candidate may disqualify him or her from taking the PTCB examination. Such activities involve criminal conduct and/or any drug-related abuse. A thorough background check will be conducted by the board for every applicant that applies for PTCB certification. Submission of legal documents is needed on some cases, if deemed necessary by the board.

Some states allow applicants below 18 years of age to apply as a certified pharmacy technician in training. If you want to avail of this program, consult with your nearest PTCB center for more details. Online application for PTCB Certification is also available for a minimum fee of $129. 

You will receive a notification if your application is approved and only then will you be allowed to schedule your examination. There are also available accommodations for applicants with disabilities made possible by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Pharmacy Technician Certification via NHA

CPhT certification is also available The National Healthcare Association or NHA. This certification is empowered by the accreditation of the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCAA). The overall cost is a little lower than the PTCB’s, with the examination costing around $105. 

NHA’s requirements are almost identical to the PTCB Certification examination, though NHA requires every passer to renew their certification bi-annually. A crucial part of the renewal process is the continuing education policy implemented by NHA wherein passers must spend 20 hours in training within a two-year period. Furthermore, it is mandatory that one hour from this 20-hour training is dedicated to studying pharmacy law. 

There is also a minimum fee that applicants are required to pay for the renewal of their certificates.

What happens if you fail to renew your certification during the two-year renewal period? Well, you can always apply for a reinstatement within a year of your certification’s expiration. 

The process is relatively the same with the renewal process, though a processing fee of $80 will be collected by the PTCB Certification Board. With this, your title as a CPhT can be reinstated.

Five Most Effective Study Guides for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)

If you are an aspiring pharmacy technician, passing an upcoming PTCB examination is one of your most important goals in life. Passing this exam will earn you your CPhT designation and will allow you to practice as a full-pledged certified pharmacy technician.

An all-important exam like this can be nerve-wracking and no doubt you are getting as much studying as you can in order to pass. But a good PTCBstudy guide can not only help you increase your chances of passing the PTCB, it can also transform your review sessions into easy-breezy ones.

Here we listed the five most effective study guides for your upcoming PTCB exam. With these, acing your exams is going to be easy!

1. Mosby’s Review for thePharmacy Technician Certification Examination – James J. Mizner

This book by James J. Mizner, an established educator in the field of pharmacy tech, is one of the most comprehensive study guides you can find in the market today. Inside you will find everything you need to pass your PTCB – from lecture notes, topic outlines, and important test-taking tips and strategies, you will find them here. 

This book also includes useful study tools such as digital flash cards and the latest PTCE blueprint so you can simulate the actual exam as if you’re actually taking it. The best part is that each of the book’s chapters are equipped with an exclusive PTCB knowledge domain. With this, you can study in parts that are easily digestible, making your review sessions light and efficient.

2. Pharmacy Technician Exam – Learning Express Editors

With its simple and uncomplicated approach to difficult problems, The Pharmacy Technician by Learning Express Editors has gained a solid reputation as one of the leading study guides for PTCB. In fact, using this book is so easy; it can even be used by people who don’t have previous experience in healthcare or pharmacy training. It also covers a great number of topics such as mathematics, pharmacy law, hospital equipment, and extensive coverage of the drug list. 

This book is definitely a handy reference for anyone wishing to take the PTCB.

3. Complete Math Review forthe Pharmacy Technician – William A., Jr. Hopkins

Definitely one of the hardest and most worrisome topics in the PTCB is mathematics. So if you’re rusty on your math, this book is recommended for you. 

With more than 750 practice problems available, this handy guidebook covers almost every math scenario in the PTCB, especially all the pharmacy calculations that are not just important in your upcoming exam but in your real-life career as well.

4. PTCE – Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam Flashcard Book – Della Ata Khoury

One of the most effective ways for studying for any exam is to use flashcards – this guidebook offers you just that. Study and memorize the various terms, medications, questions, and definitions for your upcoming PTCB through this book’s 400 flashcards. 

As a user, you also acquire an exclusive access to the online REA study center where you can join other participants in answering online quizzes and various diagnostic tools. If you find that the book’s pre-made flashcards are not working for you, you also have the option to create your own set of flashcards that will tailor to your unique studying needs.

5. Secrets of the PTCB ExamStudy Guide – PTCB Exam Secrets Test Prep Team

With a title as enticing as this, this book is one of the best-selling PTCB study guides out there. Created by a group of dedicated and knowledgeable PTCB prep team, the contents of this book will provide you with important shortcuts and tips that are essential for you to ace your certification examination. 

This guidebook is especially useful when exam date is fast approaching and you no longer have months to perform a traditional cover-to-cover review. Concise and extremely helpful, The Secrets of the PTCB Exam Study Guide is a great bonus to the other comprehensive study guides mentioned in this article.