How to Get Certified As a Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy technicians don't require a college degree and work under the supervision of pharmacists. Technicians work hourly wages between $10-20 an hour and do not need to go to pharmacy school. There are two ways to become a pharmacy technician, getting certified or registered by your state. Most technicians work as a cashier or count pills that a pharmacist has dispensed.

Most states do not require pharmacy techs to get certified. However, individual locations may require a technician to get certified. Contact your employer or manager to find out further details. If you do need to get certified, most pharmacies offer free certifications, on the job training or classes to get certified.

What's the difference between a pharmacist and a pharmacy technician?

Pharmacists hold a Pharm.D degree and have to graduate from an accrediated Pharmacy School. They are the go-to person in a pharmacy for any questions related to medication, medicine, dosage and drug interactions. Additionally, they work with insurance companies and patients to get people their prescriptions drugs as soon as possible. Pharmacists work longer hours than technicians, much more highly trained and educated. They are paid in salary as opposed to hourly wages. Additionally, you must hold a license in order to practice your trade.
Technicians don't require a college degree and work under the supervision of pharmacists. Technicians work hourly wages between $10-20 an hour and do not need to go to graduate school. There are two ways to become a pharmacist technician, getting certified or registered by your state. Most technicians work as a cashier or count pills that a pharmacist has dispensed.

Do you need to go to college to become a pharmacy technician?

Absolutely not. One of the key things is that you must be registered in your state or at your own location you are working for to become certified to work as a technician. Pharmacist technicians are different than pharmacists since the educational requirements only require a high school diploma. Additionally, you'll receive on the job training anyways - therefore there's no need to go to college or a university to earn an undergraduate degree.

Technicians do different kinds of work than pharmacists. They cannot consult with patients on how, when, or how to effectively manage their prescriptions safely and effectively. Pharmacy technician make considerably less money and are not on a salary as full blown licensed pharmacists. Technicians are not required to take any training classes prior to being hired. However, it is recommended that you have some knowledge of communication and health sciences in your background. This is in case you want to move on from a technician to working as a full time pharmacist.

Pharmacists on the other hand have to go to a four year college, apply to pharmacy school and become certified and licensed to practice as a pharmacist. Pharmacists hold a Doctorate in Pharmacy while pharmacy technicians have no degree and are just registered to work as a technician. Most states don't even need pharmacy technicians to be registered. But it's always better off to check with your local pharmacy you are working for or call up your state certification and registration board for pharmacy technicians.

Pharmacists also work much longer hours, constantly have to stay on top of their medication knowledge as more and more medications are being released each day.