HOW TO BECOME A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN IN INDIANA

This is a great time to consider a career as a pharmacy technician. A pharmacy technician’s role will encompass all duties that do not require the clinical judgment of a licensed pharmacist. [Leer en español]

If you decide to become a pharmacy technician, some of your key duties will include dispensing medications to those who need them, handling billing and insurance, managing the inventory, purchasing and repackaging medication, compounding both sterile and non-sterile products, and performing data input.

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REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN IN INDIANA

Because of the demands of the job, Indiana’s Board of Pharmacy requires that new pharmacy techs complete specific training and testing. Like many other states, Indiana requires that you obtain training through a Board-approved program before you can begin performing specific job duties. Once licensed, pharmacy technicians can work in hospitals, retail establishments, and long-term care facilities, among others.

In Indiana, you must be at least 18 years old to apply for a pharmacy technician license or your technician-in-training permit. You must also have a high school diploma or earn your GED before you apply for your license. Other requirements include passing a criminal background check.

PHARMACY TECHNICIAN SCHOOLS IN INDIANA

To become a pharmacy technician in Indiana, you can enter an accredited pharmacy technician program through either a technical college or a local community college or university. Sometimes a pharmacy chain, such as Walgreens, will have a training program for employees interested in becoming pharmacy technicians.

If you decide to begin a pharmacy technician course, make sure it will prepare you to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) national certification exam. Here are a few pharmacy technician schools in Indiana:

  • Ross Medical Center, Fort Wayne. Ross Medical Education Center is a health school with 35 locations across seven states that offers both online and on-campus programs. The Fort Wayne campus offers a diploma after 36 weeks with well-versed instructors who cover many topics, including pharmacy law and ethics, medical and pharmaceutical terminology, microbiology, and dosages and generic names of drugs.
  • Vincennes University, Vincennes. Vincennes University offers a certificate and an associate’s degree in pharmacy technology. The program is designed to prepare students to work as entry-level pharmacy technicians and is offered online and on campus. The program takes nine months for certification and two years for an associate’s degree.
  • Indiana University Health, Indianapolis. The Indiana University of Health is the largest healthcare system in Indiana. It offers a nine-month pharmacy technology training program that begins in September of each year. Students who take this program are trained to be ready for the job and pass the PTCB certification exam.
  • Penn Foster Career School. Penn Foster offers an affordable, ASHP Accredited online Pharmacy Technician training program. More information.
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AVERAGE SALARIES AND CAREER OUTLOOK

If you decide to look for a job as a pharmacy technician in Indiana, you will find some great opportunities. Employment for pharmacy techs is expected to grow 12 percent over the next few years, which is faster than the average for most occupations.


Your salary will be heavily influenced by the specific industry that you work in. For example, a pharmacy technician who works in a hospital will make a higher salary compared to someone who works in a retail pharmacy. In Indiana, the average pharmacy technician will earn $36,360, though the range is typically between $28,750 and $46,150 annually.

WORKING AS A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN IN INDIANA

If you decide to pursue a career as a pharmacy technician, you may find yourself working in hospitals or at general merchandise stores, grocery stores, retail pharmacies, or drug stores. Your skill set will help you decide which environment is going to be best suited for you. If your strong suit is IV admixture, a home infusion or hospital might be right for you. If you have experience with customer service, you might find a retail or clinical pharmacy to be a great choice.

You can build up your skills and market these to pharmacies in Indiana, so they can use you to your full potential. Finding rewarding work as a pharmacy technician isn’t difficult, even in the more rural areas of Indiana.

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FAQS

What are the best pharmacy technician schools in Indiana?

  1. Ivy Tech Community College, Indianapolis
  2. Ross Medical Education Center, Granger, Muncie, and Fort Wayne
  3. Vincennes University, Vincennes
  4. Penn Foster Career School, Online
  5. Ashworth College, Online

How do you become a pharmacy technician in Indiana?

  1. You must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED
  2. You must complete a background check
  3. Receive training on a Board-approved program
  4. Get Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) Certification
  5. Apply to the Board for licensure

How much do pharmacy technicians make in Indiana?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, pharmacy technicians in the state of Indiana made an average of $31,160 per year in 2018. Entry-level pharm techs earned around $21,680 and some experienced professionals earned as much as $40,900.

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OUT-OF-STATE OPTIONS

Residents of Indiana may also wish to review their options in Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky, and Ohio.