How To Become A Pharmacy Technician In Mississippi
If you are interested in a career in the healthcare field but don’t want to spend a lot of time and money in medical school, you may want to consider becoming a pharmacy technician. Pharmacy technicians work in a variety of pharmacy settings, under the direction of a pharmacist.
Their duties include processing and dispensing prescriptions, keeping up with inventory, maintaining patient records, and pharmaceutical calculations, printing out labels for prescription bottles and performing administrative work such as answering phones and handling insurance. [Leer en español]
Each state sets its requirements for licensure and certification. The following information will help you if you are interested in becoming a pharmacy tech in Mississippi.
MISSISSIPPI REQUIREMENTS FOR PHARMACY TECHNICIANS
To work as a pharmacy technician in the state, you must be 18 years of age or older and have a high school diploma or GED. The next step is to register with the Mississippi State Board of Pharmacy at least 30 days before you plan on going to work.
Next, you will need to submit a written application to the Board, pay a $50 registration fee and pass a criminal background check. Your application should include a recent passport-style photo and be notarized.
Pharmacy technician registration must be renewed annually, by March 31st of each year. A renewal fee of $50 will apply. If you renew after March 31st, a $50 late fee will also apply. Continued education is not required for renewal.
However, you must pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE) given by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or the Examination for Certification as Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT) offered by the National Health career Association (NHA) before you can renew your license during the first renewal period. You will have to show proof of certification for every renewal period after that.
PHARMACY TECHNICIAN SCHOOLS IN MISSISSIPPI
Generally, pharmacy technician programs can be completed in two years or less, and you can take them at community and technical colleges.
Accredited programs are preferred. Also, consider a program that will prepare you to take your certification exam.
The following training courses are available in pharmacy technician schools in Mississippi:
Jones College
Jones College in Ellisville has an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Pharmacy Technology program. This program consists of classroom instruction and lab and clinical experience that can be completed in five semesters.
The program has received accreditation from both the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). Students will learn about drug classifications, drug side effects, FDA testing, transcription abbreviations, and pharmacy math. Students will receive an A.A.S. degree and be prepared to sit for the national certification exams.
East Central Community College
The Leake, Newton, and Neshoba campuses of East Central Community College offer pharmacy technician training classes. Check with your campus of choice for class start dates. An orientation class is required, and then classes meet one night a week for 16 weeks. Students who finish this program will be eligible to take the PTCE.
Penn Foster Career College
Penn Foster Career College offers online degree programs that can be completed at the student’s convenience. Most of these can be finished in less than a year. They do offer a pharmacy technician training program. Penn Foster also covers the cost of the PTCE ($129) for graduates of this program. More information.
PHARMACY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION BOARD
The National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (NPCB) is a nonprofit organization that was established to oversee the certification and recertification of pharmacy technicians. The NPCB administers both the PTCE and the ExCPT exams.
You must pass the exam to work as a certified pharmacy technician in Mississippi. Once you pass the exam, the NPCB will issue you a certificate of pharmacy technician certification. The certification must be renewed every two years.
To maintain certification, you must complete continuing education credits. The NPCB offers webinars, seminars, and other educational activities that can help fulfill this requirement. You must also pay an annual fee to maintain your certification status.
CAREER AND SALARY EXPECTATIONS
The growth rate for pharmacy technician jobs in the state is expected to be 9.1 percent from 2020 to 2030. There were 3,600 pharmacy technicians employed in Mississippi in 2020, and approximately 4,200 should be working there by 2030.
This rate is just behind the national average growth rate of 5 percent.
As reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, pharmacy technicians in Mississippi make an average of $35,640 annually or $17.14 hourly. Those with more experience can make up to $45,640 annually.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AS A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN IN MISSISSIPPI
Pharmacy techs might work part-time or full-time, and even nights and weekends. Typical employment opportunities for pharmacy technicians include hospital pharmacies, retail drugstores, independent pharmacies, home health settings, nursing homes and mail-order prescription services.
Other places they may find work are medical insurance companies, drug manufacturing companies, preparing prescriptions, pharmaceutical calculations, and drug wholesale companies.
If you are looking for employment as a pharmacy technician in The Magnolia State, start with some of the bigger cities as they have higher employment rates for this career. These cities include Biloxi, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Jackson, Ridgeland, Southaven, and Tupelo.
FAQS
What are the best pharmacy technician schools in Mississippi?
- Jones County Junior College, Ellisville
- Institute of Health & Technology, Hattiesburg
- Northshore Technical Community College, Lacombe, LA
- Fortis College, Mobile, AL
- Penn Foster Career School, Online
How do you become a pharmacy technician in Mississippi?
- You must be at least 18 years old
- You must have a high school diploma or GED
- Register with the Mississippi State Board of Pharmacy 30 days before starting employment
- Pass a criminal record check
- Pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE)
How much do pharmacy technicians make in Mississippi?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, pharmacy technicians in the state of Mississippi made an average of $31,440 per year in 2018. Entry-level pharmacy technicians earned around $22,450 and some experienced professionals earned as much as $41,660.
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OUT-OF-STATE OPTIONS
Residents of Mississippi may also wish to review their options in Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Alabama.