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.