What Does a Pharmacy Technician Do?
A pharmacy technician works under the supervision of a pharmacist to help dispense prescription medications to patients or health professionals. Their job duties range from measuring medications to organizing pharmacy inventories.
While a pharmacy technician’s responsibilities can vary based on work setting—retail pharmacy, hospital, compounding pharmacy, etc.—they typically include:
- Gather information needed to fill prescriptions
- Measure medication amounts needed for prescriptions
- Prepare, package and label prescriptions
- Keep inventory organized and notify pharmacists of shortages
- Answer and make customer phone calls
- Field customers’ medication questions and coordinate a time for them to speak with pharmacists if needed
- Process customer information in a computer system
- Take prescription payment and help process insurance claims
- Help operate automated medication dispensing equipment
No matter where they work, pharmacy technicians are essential parts of their pharmacy teams.
Skills for Pharm Techs
Pharmacy technicians need a combination of technical and soft skills, which can be learned through classroom knowledge and developed through hands-on training. To become a pharmacy technician, typical technical skills required relate to:
- Pharmacy terminology
- Prescription processing
- Lab equipment and materials
- Math and computation
Important pharmacy technician soft skills or qualities, as noted by the BLS, include:4
- Customer-service skills
- Attention to detail
- Listening skills
- Organizational skills
How to Work as a Pharmacy Technician in California
To become a pharmacy technician in California, you must be licensed by the California State Board of Pharmacy. Becoming licensed involves education, training and completing a detailed application.
Education requirements begin with having a high school diploma or general education development equivalent certificate. The California State Board of Pharmacy also requires that you submit ONE of the following (A, B, C, or D) PHARMACY TECHNICIAN DOCUMENTS:5
A. Affidavit of Completed Coursework or Graduation for Pharmacy Technician (17A-5 rev 10/15): An affidavit is required for one of the following:
- Associate Degree in Pharmacy Technology;
- Any other course that provides a training period of at least 240 hours of instruction as specified in Title 16 California Code of Regulation section 1793.6(c);
- Training course accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists(ASHP);
- Graduation from a school of pharmacy accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).
B. Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) certified: Submit a copy of your PTCB certificate.
C. National Healthcare Association Pharmacy Technician Certification Program (ExCPT): Submit a copy of your ExCPT certificate.
D. Military Training: Submit a copy of your DD214 documenting evidence of your pharmacy technician training provided by a branch of the federal armed services.
California Pharmacy Technician License Requirements
Once you’ve completed the required education, you can apply for a pharmacy technician license through the California State Board of Pharmacy. Here’s what the application requires:
- Completed application: Read the application instructions thoroughly, and complete the application in its entirety.
- Application fee: Submit the required $195 application fee.
- U.S. Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN): You must disclose your SSN or ITIN to apply for licensure.
- Photo: Include a 2×2” passport-style, color photograph of yourself with your application.
- Proof of basic education: Include proof of required high school graduation or equivalent certificate.
- Proof of pharmacy technician education: Include proof of your required pharmacy education. Refer to the list above to see what pharmacy technician documents are accepted.
- Self-query report: Include an original, sealed Self-Query Report from the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB).
- Fingerprints: Submit fingerprint cards through Live Scan.
For more information about California pharmacy technician licensure and application requirements, visit the California State Board of Pharmacy’s website.5
Do You Need to Be Certified as a Pharmacy Technician?
You don’t need to be certified as a pharmacy technician, but certification can make it easier to find a job. Some employers will even pay for you to become certified. The California State Board of Pharmacy also accepts a PTCB certification as adequate proof of pharmacy education.
PTCB certification
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board offers a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) credential. To earn your PTCB CPhT certification, you must meet a few different requirements—one of which is to complete a PTCB-recognized education/training program or equivalent work experience.
Once you’ve met the requirements, you can take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) to earn your PTCB CPhT certification. Many pharmacy technology programs incorporate material to prepare you for the PTCE.
ExCPT exam and CPhT certification
Taking the ExCPT exam and earning a CPhT certification through the National Healthcareer Association is another path to certification.6 This is another test that can prove what you’ve learned in a pharmacy technology program.
Pharmacy Technician License vs Certification
A licensed pharmacy technician meets requirements set by the state’s pharmacy board, while a certified pharmacy technician meets requirements set by an outside agency and passes an exam. States have varying license and certification requirements. For example, some require licensure and national certification, while others don’t. California pharmacy technicians are required to be licensed, but do not need certification.
What to Look for in a Pharmacy Technology Program
Choosing the right Pharmacy Technology program for you requires a lot of research. What factors should you consider? We created the below list of factors to help guide your search for Pharmacy Technology programs. Consider that the best programs usually offer a combination of classroom knowledge and hands-on experience.
- Reputation: It’s important to make sure the program has a good reputation. Also check that the program directly prepares you for state licensure and certifications.
- Coursework: Examine the courses offered by the program and make sure it aligns with the pharmacy technician skills you want to learn.
- Hands-on experience: Consider looking into schools that offer hands-on training. This will help prepare you for pharmacy technician jobs.
- Location: Location is an important factor to consider. How far are you willing to commute to your school? Explore Pharmacy Technology/Technician programs in your area.
- Duration: How quickly do you want to become a pharmacy technician?
- Cost and financial aid: Education is an important investment. As you research pharmacy technician programs, ask about financial aid, payment plans and available scholarships.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Pharmacy Technician?
Program length varies by school and program of study.. Certificate programs can generally be completed in a year or less. Pursuing on-the-job training or internships could also impact the amount of training it takes to become a pharmacy technician.
What Classes Would You Take in a Pharm Tech Program?
Pharmacy tech classes equip you with the knowledge necessary to help pharmacists dispense medications and keep pharmacy practices running smoothly. Pharmacy tech classes may cover topics like:
- Pharmacy law and ethics
- Pharmacy and medical terminology
- Computer data entry
- Pharmacology
- Prescription processing
- Math and arithmetic
- Recordkeeping
- Anatomy and physiology
- Pharmacy clinical applications
What Will I Learn in a Pharmacy Technology Program?
As you complete your pharmacy technology program, you can expect to learn how to:
- Determine and dispense medication dosages
- Interpret prescriptions
- Fill, refill and label prescriptions
- Organize and manage prescription orders
- Handle pharmacy lab materials
- Use pharmacy databases
- Process payment and insurance
Launch a Career in Pharmacy Technology With SJVC
Are you intrigued by the role of a pharmacy technician? SJVC’s Pharmacy Technology and Pharmacy Technician programs can help you gain the skills you’ll need to become a pharmacy technician. Earning a certificate of completion can be done in as few as nine months. Graduates are eligible to apply for licensure with the California State Board of Pharmacy providing they meet the requirements as specified by the Board, including a Department of Justice criminal background check and data bank query to determine if an act has been committed that constitutes grounds for denial of licensure. This license is required in the State of California for employment as a Pharmacy Technician. Students qualify to take the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) upon successful completion of practice exams administered during their course of study and with the approval of the Pharmacy Liaison. Students also earn their HIPAA Certification.
SJVC prepares students to take appropriate certification and licensure exams related to their individual majors. The College does not guarantee students will successfully pass these exams or be certified or licensed as a result of completing the program.
Explore our Pharmacy Technology/Technician program and request more information today.
SJVC’s Pharmacy Technology/Technician Students and Staff
SJVC is committed to the growth of its students, both personally and professionally. Our experienced faculty are passionate about sharing their knowledge and supporting your career goals. Whether you’re continuing your education to work toward your first job or preparing for a career switch, we want to help. In fact, our students come from diverse backgrounds and have a broad age range—from recent high school graduates to experienced professionals ready to make a change. We want to know your story and help you succeed.
