BECOMING A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN IN ARIZONA
If you’re interested in preparing medication by mixing, counting, labeling, and recording dosages based on prescribed medication under the direction of a pharmacist, becoming a pharmacy technician may be the career for you.
Other terms for pharmacy technician include pharmacy tech, inventory specialist, and compounding technician. If you decide to pursue this career in Arizona, there’s a good chance that your skills and training will be in high demand.
REQUIREMENTS FOR BECOMING A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN IN ARIZONA
A high school diploma or equivalent is required to become a pharmacy technician. The Pharmacy Technician Training Program in Arizona can be done either on the job or through a post-secondary training program. These training programs are typically offered by community colleges or vocational schools and last one to two years. [Leer en español]
Subjects that are taught during post-secondary training include methods of dispensing medications, recordkeeping, pharmacy laws, ethics, and arithmetic used by pharmacies.
Important qualities to have as a pharmacy tech include organizational skills, math skills, and customer service skills, especially good listening skills. To work as a pharmacy tech in Arizona, passing a certification exam is required.
PHARMACY TECHNICIAN SCHOOLS IN ARIZONA
Several schools offer pharmacy tech programs that can give you the skills you need to start a career in this field. Some pharmacy tech education programs in Arizona include:
Arizona College
This program on the Glendale campus can be completed in 34 weeks and includes both classroom and hands-on training. An off-campus externship is included in the last section of the program.
Carrington College
The pharmacy technician program is offered on the Mesa, Phoenix, and Tucson campuses and includes both theory and practical training. You can obtain a certificate in less than nine months or an associate’s degree in less than two years.
Pima Medical Institute
This nine-month certificate program helps you develop the skills you need in prescription preparation, customer service, drug inventory, and patient profiling along with training in IV therapy. It has locations in both Mesa and Tucson.
Penn Foster’s
Penn Foster’s online pharmacy technician program can be completed in as few as 9 months. You can enroll in the course whenever you’d like, and online support is always available for students.
At the end of your pharmacy tech program, you’ll have the opportunity to gain valuable, real-world experience at a CVS/pharmacy or Walgreens near you as part of our required hands-on training externship. More information.
PHARMACY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION IN ARIZONA
Once you’ve completed a pharmacy technician training program in Arizona, you’ll need to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE). There are two levels of licensing:
Pharmacy Technician Trainee
You can apply to be a trainee if you are at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED.
Pharmacy Technician Full License
You’ll need to complete a pharmacy technician training program and pass the exam administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)
Once you obtain either of these licenses, it will have to be renewed every two years. You’ll need to complete 20 hours of continuing education to apply to renew your license.
PHARMACY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION EXAM IN ARIZONA
To become a certified pharmacy technician in Arizona, you must pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE). This exam is administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and tests your knowledge of pharmacy law and regulations, medication safety, medication administration, medication storage, and inventory control, prescription interpretation, and more. The exam consists of 90 multiple-choice questions and must be completed within two hours. You will receive your results immediately after the exam. Once you pass, you’ll become a certified pharmacy technician in Arizona.
CAREER OUTLOOK AND SALARY EXPECTATIONS
The healthcare field continues to grow rapidly, largely due to an aging population. As a pharmacy technician, you’ll be in a field that is projected to grow at a rate of approximately 23 percent from 2020 to 2030, which is faster than the average for all occupations.
Career Onestop reports that the typical salary for a pharmacy technician ranges between $25,900 and $38,540. The median hourly rate in Arizona for those that work in this field is $16.87 with a median annual salary of $35,090.
WORKING AS A PHARMACY TECH IN ARIZONA
As a pharmacy tech in Arizona, you’ll be able to work in pharmacies, hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and drug stores. Pharmacies and healthcare facilities are often open long hours, sometimes 24 hours a day, so you may be working days, nights, and weekends.
As pharmacists take on expanded roles such as giving flu shots, pharmacy technicians may need to pick up some of the work formerly done by pharmacists. The job outlook for pharmacy techs appears promising throughout Arizona.
FAQS
What are the best pharmacy technician schools in Arkansas?
- Arkansas State University, Beebe
- Remington College, Little Rock
- Walmart Stores, Bentonville
- Penn Foster Career College, Online
- Ashworth College, Online
How do you become a pharmacy technician in Arizona?
- You must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED
- Pass a criminal background check
- Pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) and apply for PTCB certification
- Apply to the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy
- Take 20 hours of continuing education including 2 hours of pharmacy law every 2 years.
How much do Pharmacy Technicians make in Arizona?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, pharmacy technicians in the state of Arizona made an average of $35,090 per year in 2018. Entry-level pharm techs earned around $24,970 and some experienced professionals earned as much as $47,760.
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OUT-OF-STATE OPTIONS
See options in the neighboring states of California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico.