People who don’t work in the healthcare field don’t really know how important it is to receive the correct medication when sending the prescription to the pharmacy.
Medicines are the base of most illness treatments globally, and pharmacy technicians are the professionals in charge of making sure the medications are correctly dosed and labeled.
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Cost Average
- Degrees/Certificates: $400 – $4,500 for residents
What Is A Pharmacy Technician?
A pharmacy technician is a professional who works in the pharmacy field and supports the pharmacist’s work.
These professionals work under a licensed pharmacist and can help by dispensing medications, answering patient questions, performing administrative duties, and much more.
In the last case, a pharmacy technician is the last point to check where a person will receive medication.
When working in hospitals or nursing homes, technicians will prepare medications based on a patient’s chart and will be checked by a pharmacist before delivery.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statics, for pharmacy technicians, the median annual wage was $36,740 per year and $17.66 per hour in May 2021.
What Are The Responsibilities/Duties Of A Pharmacy Technician?
According to VocationalTrainingHQ.com, the major duties and responsibilities of a pharmacy technician include:
- Make sure that prescription orders are accurate and complete.
- Prepare prescriptions- count, pour, weigh, measure, and mix medications.
- Perform calculations.
- Keep accurate records and data entry.
- Organize medications.
- Checking pharmacy stock.
- Check customers out and give them prescriptions.
What Are The Costs Of Pharmacy Technician Programs?
The cost of a pharmacy technician program can vary depending on the duration of the program and level of specialization, the school if you are an in-state resident or out-state student, and the state where the school is located.
Community colleges offer degrees or certificates for pharmacy technicians that can cost about $400 to $4,500 for residents.
Extra Expenses
- Pharmacy technicians can apply for a state license after completing training or certification through the individual state’s Board of Pharmacy.
- The National Pharmacy Technician Certification costs $129.
- Depending on the institution that offers the program, the price of books can vary, but they are often between $50 to $100.
- Pursuing an IV certification is an option for pharmacy technicians who wants to work in hospitals. This certification can cost around $500 to $600.
What Are The Best Schools That Offer Pharmacy Technician Programs?
Pharmacy Technician aspirins must complete a program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) to be eligible to sit the National Pharmacy Technician Certification.
The best pharmacy technician training programs in 2022 are:
| COMPANY | PRICE | DURATION | EXTERNSHIP | FORMAT |
| Ultimate Medical Academy | $450 per credit hour | 18 months | Yes | Online |
| State Fair Community College stackable certificate program | $117 to $487 per credit hours | 18 to 61.5 credit hours | No | Online |
| Ashworth College | $799 to $999 | Up to one year | Yes | Online + externship |
| CVS LearnedRX | No cost | 4 months | Entire program is on-site | In person (job site) |
| Penn Foster | $999 to $1409 | Self-paced | Yes | Online + externship |
| North Dakota State College of Science | $150 to $263 per credit hour | One year | Yes | Online and in-person |
| U.S. Career Institute | $979 to $1279 | As little as four months | Yes | Online |
