What Are Pharmacy Tech Training Programs?
To become a licensed or registered pharmacy technician, requirements vary by state. In general, you must either complete a pharmacy technician training program approved by your state board of pharmacy or pass a national certification exam. The most common certification exam is the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE).
To be eligible to take the PTCE, candidates typically must have either completed a recognized training program or accumulated a required number of work hours as a pharmacy technician.
How long is the pharmacy tech program, and why is participating in one so vital? Training programs prepare you for the various tasks you’ll have to perform as a pharmacy tech.
These programs offer foundational knowledge in dosage calculations, pharmacology, and drug compounding so that you can safely provide patients with the assistance they need.
A training program also equips you to understand regulations, manage inventory, navigate pharmacy software, and handle insurance claims, ensuring you are able to assist the pharmacist in keeping a smoothly running business.
By participating in a training program, you also get standardized knowledge. This ensures an accepted level of competence across the workforce in the country.
Additionally, a training program can also prepare you to take on more advanced or specialized roles in healthcare, which is useful if you choose to pursue this path.
When deciding on the type of training program that best suits your needs, it’s essential to consider whether online or in-person learning works best for you. If you’re looking for as much flexibility as possible, online options can work better, but you must make sure they are accredited.
Classroom programs offer hands-on training, but they are typically more costly. To get the same results, in many cases, you can complete an online training program and then participate in a hands-on externship.
What Are the Typical Program Lengths?
How long is a pharmacy tech training program? Program length varies depending on the type of credential and learning format, but most certificate or diploma programs can be completed in a few months.
How long is the pharmacy tech program if you choose an accelerated option? It can be as short as eight weeks.
The type of program you pursue will impact how long it will take. Certificate or diploma programs will be faster than associate degree programs. Whether you participate in the program full-time or part-time will also impact the time it takes you to complete it.
What Is the Average Cost?
Pharmacy technician training program costs vary by provider and program type. On average, certificate programs cost between $1,000 and $3,000, while associate degree programs typically range from $5,000 to $15,000, depending on the institution and length of study.
These costs will include tuition, enrollment fees, and, in most cases, the exam fee if you’re taking the PTCE. The cost of your books may not be included, however, so make sure you consider this as you make a choice.
Students may be able to offset costs through financial aid options such as federal student aid, grants, scholarships, employer-sponsored programs, or state and workforce development initiatives. Filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can help determine eligibility for federal grants and loans.
Certification & Exam Preparation
Training programs prepare you not only for the workforce but for taking the PTCE. You get to learn about medication dosage, pharmacological preparations, patient safety, and all other topics covered in the exam. These programs give you a much better chance of passing the test, allowing you to more rapidly get the credentials you need.
The PTCE is made up of 80 scored questions and 10 unscored ones. It’s a computer-based examination that focuses on four main categories. The largest category is medications, which assesses your knowledge of drugs, dosages, storage, and a variety of other factors.
You’ll be tested on federal requirements, as well as patient safety and quality assurance. The last section deals with order entry and processing, which tests your knowledge of how to fill prescriptions.
To take the exam, candidates must typically demonstrate that they have completed an approved training program or met the required work-experience criteria.
How RxCe Supports Your Next Step After Training
After completing your training program, RxCe can help. We offer a variety of courses that can help close some knowledge gaps you may have, making it easier to pass the exam. Our online classes are affordable and convenient.
Once you have passed the PTCE, you will need to maintain your credentials. Every two years, you’ll have to complete up to 20 hours of continuing education. This needs to include one hour on patient safety and one hour on pharmacy law.
At RxCe, we provide the assistance you need to meet these requirements. Our continuing education credit courses are varied, helping you boost your knowledge and even find a specialty that could make you a more attractive candidate to prospective employers. Our courses are all affordable and conveniently online or offered live, easing the renewal process.
Check out our online courses to see exactly how we can help you pursue your career as a pharmacy tech and beyond.
*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!
