Becoming a pharmacy tech offers the chance to work in an excellent field that puts you in daily contact with patients but without requiring that you spend years getting an advanced degree. Learn more about how to become a pharmacy technician in Ohio.
Ohio’s Requirements for Pharmacy Technicians
One of the first things to consider when looking for how to become a pharmacy technician in Ohio is state-specific requirements. Ohio allows those who are at least 18 years old and who have their high school diploma or GED to begin this career path. Proficiency in the English language is essential.
You’ll also have to go through a background check and have your fingerprints taken. Having any drug-related convictions could make you ineligible to work as a pharmacy technician.
Not all employers require that candidates complete a state-approved training program, but it’s an option that can make you a more attractive employee. In Ohio, you don’t have to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) exam, but you do need to apply to the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy, which will perform a background check and drug screening test, as well.
You can obtain certification if you’d like to maximize the opportunities you have. To get certification, you have to complete a training program and pass an exam. You can be both a registered and certified pharmacy technician in Ohio.
Education and Training Requirements
If you’d like to earn certification, you’ll have to complete an approved training program or have at least 500 hours of experience working as a pharmacy technician. There are online and in-person programs you can complete.
When searching for the right training program, it’s important to ensure it is nationally recognized and accredited so that there will be no issues when you attempt to sign up to take the certification exam.
To maintain certification, you will need continuing education credits necessary to maintain a pharmacy technician certification (ExCPT or PTCB). A certified technician is not required to complete the ten contact hours that are required for a registered pharmacy technician. Registered pharmacy technicians will have to receive at least 10 hours of continuing education in a two-year cycle.
Getting Certified: The PTCB and ExCPT
If you’ve decided that one of the steps for you to take in how to become a pharmacy technician in Ohio is to get certified, consider the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) offered by the PTCB or the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT), which is offered by the National Healthcareer Association.
The PTCE has 90 questions, with 10 of those being unscored, and it usually takes about two hours to complete. The PTCE places a significant emphasis on medications. The ExCPT has 100 questions and focuses on all the duties of a pharmacist technician.
To be eligible to take the PTCE, you will need to have completed an accredited training course or have at least 500 hours of experience working as a pharmacy technician. For the ExCPT, you will need to have completed a pharmacy technician training program within the past five years.
To prepare for the PTCE and ExCPT, there are numerous resources you can turn to. Practice tests are especially helpful, with prep courses online offering a variety that you can use to find your weak knowledge spots.
Applying for a License in Ohio
A question you may have when looking at how to become a pharmacy technician in Ohio is whether you need to be licensed. To be able to work as a pharmacy technician in the state, you must register with the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy under one of three designations:
- Pharmacy technician trainee
- Registered pharmacy technician
- Certified pharmacy technician
You will have to pass a criminal background check, maintain active registration that complies with the board’s rules, and submit fingerprints as well as a photo ID. You’ll also have to answer several eligibility questions and additional paperwork to prove that you meet the requirements.
The application fee for a pharmacy technician trainee is $25, while for registered pharmacy technicians and certified pharmacy technicians, it’s $50. Processing times can vary.
Finding a Job as a Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy technicians are highly sought-after professionals. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for this career is projected to grow by 7% between 2023 and 2033, and 47,400 new jobs are added each year.
Throughout the country, the median salary for a pharmacy technician is $40,300. Ohio’s salaries for this profession are at about that average. Keep in mind that becoming a certified pharmacy technician can mean a significant hike in the amount you make.
Some of the best places to apply for these positions include retail pharmacies and hospitals. There will likely be more open positions in big cities, but the competition will be more significant, as well.
How RxCe Helps Pharmacy Techs Meet Ohio CE Requirements
To maintain an active pharmacy technician certification in Ohio, you need to complete continuing education courses on time. For a license-registered pharmacy technician renewal, you will need 10 hours of continuing education every two years. Two of these hours must be on patient or medication safety errors and two hours on law.
Those who are certified pharmacy technicians are required to have 20 hours of continuing education. All of the necessary credits must be approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.
RxCe offers a variety of course options to help you meet your ongoing needs. We make it easy for you to check your requirements, take the online courses that are most affordable and convenient for you, take the test, and ensure the credits are reported correctly to the CPE monitor.
This process makes it much easier to prove compliance once it’s time to renew your certification.
When looking at how to become a pharmacy technician in Ohio, you need the right team behind you to make the process easier. At RxCe, that's what we can do. Check out our course listings to learn more about your continuing education options.
