subject: Process Of National Certification For A Pharmacy Technician [print this page] With the growing interest of the people in this field, the need for certified and licensed technicians has also increased as employer prefer to give better opportunities with higher pay to them as compared to those who are not certified.
Though there are no restrictions by state laws or federal regulations regarding the certification of a pharmacy technician but, it has certainly become a requirement to grow in the field and grab better paying opportunities. One can also become a pharmacy technician with the help of on the job training provided by various pharmacies under the guidance of a licensed pharmacist but, the increased craze of people to make a career in this field has also raised the competition level in terms of education, training as well as certification.
Some of basic tasks performed by a pharmacy technician include processing and filling prescriptions, counting the number of pills and labeling prescription bottles for easy recognition. However, the technician is not allowed to discuss the prescriptions or medical conditions with the patients as that is the job of the pharmacist and the technician is not trained on that. Now days, the work environment for a pharmacy technician has also expanded and it"s not limited to working in a hospital or a clinic. A pharmacy technician can also be part of a retail store, rehabilitation centre or any army centre.
So, the first step to attain a national certification in the field is to enroll in a pharmacy technician training program after passing the high school. Though there are no specific national requirements regarding the educational experience of pharmacy technicians but, mostly employers give preference to candidates who possess a formal training or education in the field with some practical experience as it"s invaluable for the job of a pharmacy technician.
Then, one needs to pass the chosen pharmacy technician training program which may be easily completed within a span of 6 months to two years. However, the duration of the program also depends on the course chosen if it"s a certificate, diploma or an associate"s degree course. The internship program also holds a special significance in this field as it helps the students to learn about pharmaceutical terminology, laws and ethics as well as medication usage and dosing.
After that, all the requirements for completing the graduation course should be fulfilled. The requirements may vary depending on the program in which the student is enrolled. In order to get the degree in the respective program, the student needs to pass the final examination of diploma, certification or associate's degree course in whichever program he is enrolled.
After achieving the graduation degree, the student needs to clear the national certification exam. The certification exams are conducted by some renowned organizations like the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians and the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. The certification degree is not required in all the states but, employers certainly give first choice to those who hold national certification in the field. To avoid any confusion, one can check the specific requirements of the state for the job wit the help of state"s board of pharmacy.
Then, the person should register with the state's board of pharmacy as registration requirements for every state differ. Only a few states require the degree of certification while others just need a high school diploma. Apart from this, an application fees is required during the registration process by a few states.
Last but not the least; the final step is to keep renewing the certification after every two years. For the renewal of the certification, the person needs to earn 20 hours of education credits within the fixed span of two years. Out of these 20 hours, 10 hours can be completed by doing an on-the-job training under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist and the remaining hours can be earned with the help of various college programs or pharmacy associations.
