Pharmacy Technology

There are a few ways to become a pharmacy technician.

At the most basic level, you will need to earn a high school diploma or equivalency, then learn the necessary skills through on-the-job training.²

However, there are also post-secondary education programs in pharmacy technology that may possibly open up more career opportunities for you.²

The cost of a Pharmacy Technology program varies greatly depending on the school you choose to attend, any financial aid you receive, and the location of your program. Refer to the Carrington College Academic Catalog for detailed information on program cost.

You do not have to have a degree to become a pharmacy technician. At minimum, you will need to have earned a high school diploma or equivalency and learn the needed skills on the job.

However, you can also enter this occupation by completing post-secondary education programs in pharmacy technology, which may possibly open up more employment opportunities for you.

Some employers and states also require you to be certified.³

Graduates of the Pharmacy Technology program at Carrington College are eligible and prepared to sit for the Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) national certification exam.

Carrington College 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.

According to the BLS, common pharmacy technician job duties include:⁴

• Collect information needed to fill a prescription from customers or health professionals
• Measure amounts of medication for prescriptions
• Package and label prescriptions
• Organize inventory and alert pharmacists to any shortages of medications or supplies
• Accept payment for prescriptions and process insurance claims
• Enter customer or patient information, including any prescriptions taken, into a computer system
• Answer phone calls from customers
• Arrange for customers to speak with pharmacists if customers have questions about medications or health matters

Most states regulate pharmacy technicians in some way. Check your state’s board of pharmacy for specific requirements. Some common requirements include:³

• High school diploma or GED
• Formal training program
• Exam
• Fees
• Continuing education
• Criminal background check

A pharmacy technician is not a pharmacist. Rather, a pharmacy technician works under the direction of a licensed pharmacist, providing support services to the pharmacist. Some of these services may include measuring, mixing, and counting individual medications and labeling and recording dosages and amounts of medications in accordance with prescriptions.⁵

Many pharmacy technicians also interact directly with the public or others, such as medical staff, on a daily basis.

A pharmacy technician should have arithmetic knowledge, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics and the ability to apply them in the role.⁵