Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in Delaware
If you’d like to work in healthcare without going through years of medical school, you may enjoy a career as a pharmacy technician. In this role, you’ll help pharmacists at drugstores, hospitals and other facilities by dispensing prescriptions, managing inventory, answering patients’ questions and completing administrative work. Jobs in this field are increasing across the country, though each state has its own licensing requirements. The following information will give you an overview of Delaware’s specifications. [Leer en español]
Basic Requirements
The Delaware Board of Pharmacy, unlike most states, does not require registration, licensing or certification of its pharmacy technicians. Instead, technicians must complete training provided by a pharmacist or trained pharmacy technician within 90 days of employment. Technicians must be 18 years of age or older to work in Delaware.
Pharmacy Technician Training Programs
Educational programs for pharmacy technicians are available at various community colleges and technical schools in Delaware and surrounding states. These programs take anywhere from nine months to two years to complete, depending on whether they confer a certificate or associate’s degree upon graduation.
- Delaware Tech. Delaware Tech’s pharmacy technician program includes two brief internship rotations to familiarize students with retail and hospital pharmacy settings. Classroom instruction includes pharmacy fundamentals, math, physiology and HIPPA regulations, and all books, uniforms and testing fees are covered in tuition.
- Bidwell Training Center. Pittsburgh’s Bidwell Training Center offers a certificate program that teaches future pharmacy technicians professional skills, anatomy and physiology and pharmacy techniques, among other skills. It also includes volunteer and externship opportunities.
- Allegany College of Maryland. This certificate program in nearby Maryland teaches the fundamentals of pharmacy healthcare and also provides students with the opportunity to complete 180-hour internships in a retail or institutional pharmacy.
Certification and Licensing Requirements
Pharmacy technicians are not required to obtain any kind of certification before working in Delaware. Choosing to receive a national certification, however, may give technicians the opportunity to apply for higher-paying jobs and perform additional duties at work, such as reconstitution oral solutions and obtaining refill authorizations. Those interested must register with the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, have a high school diploma or GED, take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam and pay a fee of $129. Certification will be conferred after passing the exam and must be renewed every two years. To renew your national certification, you must meet continuing education requirements and pay a $40 renewal fee.
Career Outlook and Salary Expectations
Pharmacy technicians make an average annual salary of $34,470, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In the 10 years from 2016 to 2026, the Projections Managing Partnership expects jobs for pharmacy technicians to grow by 10.1 percent in Delaware. This is roughly on track with the national average growth rate of 12 percent during the same time period.
Working as a Pharmacy Technician in Delaware
Pharmacy technicians work in independent and chain drugstores, hospitals, clinics and nursing homes, among other healthcare facilities. Many of these locations are open late, so nighttime and weekend work may be required. Most technicians work full-time, though part-time options may be available. You should be comfortable standing for long periods of time and carrying heavy boxes. Higher-paying jobs are typically found in cities, such as Wilmington and Dover, which offer salaries that match the higher cost of urban living. Thanks to the demand for pharmacy technicians, however, you can find work across the state.
Out-of-State Options
See options in the neighboring states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and New York.