Pharmacy Technician Career Center

Simply put, pharmacy technicians help licensed pharmacists fill prescriptions. A qualified pharmacy technician needs to know much more than how to count medication.

As their role expands, career opportunities increase. The future for pharmacy technicians is very strong. Now is an excellent time to become a pharmacy technician.

Use our Pharmacy Technician Career Center to learn how to become a pharmacy technician. Explore this solid health care career with our in-depth resources on:

• Finding the best pharmacy technician school
• Online pharmacy technician programs
• Pharmacy technician certification
• Pharmacy technician salary
• Pharmacy technician career outlook
• Canadian pharmacy technicians
• Pharmacy technician organizations

Interview With A Pharmacy Technician

Randy Brown has over a decade of experience as a pharmacy technician and a teacher. He gives you the everyday ins-and-outs of the job. Hear what else Randy has to say about being a pharmacy techncian...

Pharmacy Technician Career Outlook

The need for pharmacy technicians is increasing. Retailers are expanding their pharmaceutical services, and scientific advancements continue. Read more about your pharmacy technician career.

Pharmacy Technician Workplace

Many pharmacy technicians work in retail pharmacies, like the ones at your local drug stores. Others fill prescriptions in hospitals, work in wholesale and online pharmacies, or with government organizations. Read more about where pharmacy technicians work.

Pharmacy Technician Training

There are currently no state or federal regulations governing training programs, but employers favor pharmacy technicians who have received certificates or associate's degrees from community or technical colleges. Choose a pharmacy technician program that provides in-depth training that can increase your salary and career options. Most programs take less than a year to complete. Shorter programs may not give you enough training to pass the certification exam. Read more about finding the best pharmacy technician schools.

Pharmacy Technician Certification

Graduates from formal training programs are prepared to take the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam, which verifies that the pharmacy technician has met an acceptable standard of pharmaceutical knowledge. A certified technician needs to be re-certified every two years and must complete a certain number of training hours to be eligible. Read more about pharmacy technician certification.

Pharmacy Technician Salary

While starting out can be a challenge, experienced pharmacy technicians enjoy great job security and lots of job opportunities.

The median hourly wage for pharmacy technicians is $11.37, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Based on a 40-hour week, that works out to an annual salary of $23,650. The average salary range is $18,720 - $32,240 per year. Pharmacy technician salaries also vary a good deal by state, city, employer and experience. Read more about pharmacy technician salaries.

Steps to Becoming a Pharmacy Technician

If you are considering becoming a pharmacy technician, here is a simple outline of what it takes:

• Find a top pharmacy technician program. Right here is the best place to start. Nowadays you can study online or in a classroom. Review our list of pharmacy technician schools and choose the best pharmacy technician school for you.
• Take the pharmacy technician certification exam. Exams are given in virtually every state. All you need to do is sign up. You can take the pharmacy technician test as often as needed until you pass.
• Interview for pharmacy tech jobs. With so many opportunities, it's easy to find the best pharmacy technician job for you. Decide what is most important to you: salary, benefits, hours, location. There are plenty of online resources for pharmacy technician jobs, or you can simply apply at the pharmacies near you.
• Keep your certification current. After becoming a certified pharmacy technician, pharmacy technicians must complete 20 hours of continuing education every two years. Employers will usually cover the cost of your continuing education.