New Jersey Pharmacy Technician Requirements
One of the first things to know when pursuing how to become a pharmacy technician in NJ is that you must be at least 18 years old. You’ll need to obtain a high school diploma or get your GED.
Registering with the New Jersey Board of Pharmacy is another essential step for becoming a pharmacy technician in NJ. You need to complete the application online, which you can do through the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs website, and provide a digital record of your fingerprints.
The board will use this to run a criminal background check. Keep in mind that having a previous offense doesn’t immediately disqualify you from the application process. What’s important is that you don’t have a history of drug abuse within the year leading up to applying.
To register, you must also be proficient in reading and writing English. You must provide an attestation confirming this. You’ll have to pay an application fee, too.
Recap of Requirements
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Pass a criminal background check
- Provide an attestation that you can read and write in English
- Register with the New Jersey Board of Pharmacy
Certification and Training Options
Another step to know when learning how to become a pharmacy technician in NJ is certification. New Jersey doesn’t require certification, but it can be a good choice because of the job advancement opportunities it can offer.
If you would like to become a certified pharmacy tech, you can complete a training program approved by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or by having at least 500 hours of work experience as a pharmacy tech.
You’ll then qualify to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE), which is a computer-based exam that grants you certification.
The PTCE covers a variety of subjects, including drug classifications, patient safety, federal requirements, and how to process orders. Passing this exam demonstrates your competency in the field. The test takes two hours, and there is an application fee of $129.
When considering how to become a pharmacy technician in NJ, another way to obtain certification is by taking the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT).
The National Healthcareer Association administers this exam, which is a computer-based test that assesses your competency in pharmacy law, medication safety, and dispensing.
To be eligible to take this exam, you must have completed an approved training program or have worked a minimum of 1,200 hours as a pharmacy technician. You must pay a $125 fee.
Although the ExCPT and the PTCE are different exams and have varied requirements, they both offer certification. Being a certified pharmacy tech provides the chance to be more competitive in the field and earn higher salaries.
An important factor to remember when learning how to become a pharmacy technician in NJ is that pharmacists can only oversee a certain number of techs. Typically, it’s two technicians for every pharmacist.
If you have a certification, however, that restriction doesn’t apply to you. That opens the door to jobs you might not otherwise be able to access.
When considering how to become a pharmacy technician in NJ, you may have a specialization in mind. To pursue it, you will likely need to obtain certification. You can then find the career path that you’re most interested in.
Renewing and Maintaining Active Status
As you learn how to become a pharmacy technician in NJ, another thing to remember is that you must renew your license every two years and pay the renewal fee. You can do this online. There are no continuing education requirements in New Jersey.
If you have obtained certification through PTCB or NHA, maintaining your credentials will mean obtaining continuing education (CE) credits. The PTCB requires 20 hours of CE to renew your PTCB certification. These credits ensure you are up-to-date on the latest advances in the field so that you can offer quality care to patients.
These CE credits are reported to an online platform like NABP’s CPE Monitor or CE Broker.
Where Pharmacy Techs Work in New Jersey
Another factor to keep in mind when learning how to become a pharmacy technician in NJ is the many potential settings in which you could work. Some of the most common employers are retail pharmacies, where you would help with prescription filling and inventory management.
Another workplace setting for pharmacy techs is hospitals. These are competitive positions that often require certification and specialization. Pharmacy tech specializations can include non-sterile compounding, oncology, sterile compounding, and nuclear medicine.
You can also work in settings that service long-term care facilities, providing support to nursing homes and other similar settings. In long-term care facilities, pharmacy techs can help prepare and dispense medications, craft blister packages, and manage inventory.
In New Jersey, it’s also possible to work in mail-order pharmacies. You would be in charge of filling and shipping prescriptions and offering information over the phone and online to patients.
Advance Your Pharmacy Tech Career in New Jersey With RxCe
If you’ve been considering how to become a pharmacy technician in NJ, having access to continuing education that is affordable and convenient is vital. Although New Jersey doesn’t require CE credits to renew your pharmacy tech license, you will need these courses if you obtain certification and to remain knowledgeable regarding new medications and advances in healthcare.
At RxCe, we provide the options you need to stay compliant with your certification requirements so that the renewal process can go smoothly. With online courses, you don’t have to worry about scheduling your work around CE requirements. It can be an affordable and reliable way of continuing to advance your career.
*In addition to being accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), RxCe has also achieved joint accreditation for continuing education for physicians and physician assistants. Stay tuned for joint accreditation articles over the next few months!
