BECOMING A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN IN TENNESSEE
Pharmacy technician jobs are experiencing strong growth throughout the United States. Pharmacy techs help patients by taking their prescriptions and dispensing them when they are filled. They also help count out pills, mix medications, and print prescription labels. Other tasks that pharmacy technicians perform include taking inventory, answering phones, and processing insurance claims. [Leer en español]
Each state has its requirements for becoming a pharmacy technician. Tennessee pharmacy technicians are required to register in the state before they are permitted to work.
WHAT IS REQUIRED TO WORK AS A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN IN TENNESSEE?
Those interested in becoming a pharmacy tech in the state need to register with the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy. A written application must be submitted along with the registration fee of $95.00. You also need to complete a declaration of citizenship and pass a criminal background check.
A pharmacy technician affidavit will need to be completed as well and kept on record at the pharmacy at which you work once you are hired. Registration must be renewed biannually and requires a $50 renewal fee. Renewal can be done online.
There are no age requirements to work as a pharmacy technician in the state. However, the recommended minimum age in other states is 17-18. Also, if you wish to complete a formal training program, you will need to be a high school graduate or hold a GED. Once hired, pharmacy techs must wear a name tag that identifies them as pharmacy technicians, and their licensure and certification must be on display at their workplace.
TENNESSEE PHARMACY TECHNICIAN SCHOOLS
While it isn’t imperative to receive formal education in pharmacy technology, it can help you be prepared to work in this field. You will learn basic pharmacy practices, pharmacy and medical terminology, medication dosage, and more.
Pharmacy technician programs that have been accredited through the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) will prepare you to take the national certification exam. There are more than a half dozen accredited pharmacy technician programs available in Tennessee. Below you will find a couple of pharmacy technician schools in Tennessee.
Walters State Community College
Located in Morristown, the Community College offers a technical certificate in Advanced Pharmacy Technology. This program consists of 30 credit hours that can be taken over three semesters. This program is ASHP-accredited, and students who complete the program are eligible to take the national certification exam.
Southwest Tennessee Community College
The College in Memphis offers a technical certificate in Pharmacy Technology. This program is also accredited by the ASHP. The 31 credit hours necessary to complete this program can be taken in two semesters.
Coursework includes Introduction to Pharmacy Operations, Sterile Products, Measurements & Calculations, and Pharmacology. A clinical rotation is also included in this program.
Penn Foster Career School
Penn Foster offers an affordable, ASHP Accredited online Pharmacy Technician training program. More information.
NATIONAL CERTIFICATION OPTIONS
You don’t have to be certified to work as a pharmacy tech in Tennessee, but holding certification will show your competence and could help you find more job opportunities and make more money.
If you want to get nationally certified, then this can be done by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or the National Healthcareer Association. You can either take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE) that the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board administers, or you can take the Examination for Certification as Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT) available through the National Healthcareer Association. Each exam has an exam fee, and both are just over $100.
SALARY AND JOB OUTLOOK
As claimed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual average pharmacy tech salary in Tennessee is $35,520. If you have more experience or hold certification, then you might make as much as $46,010 annually.
Pharmacy technicians are currently high in demand across all states. The predicted nationwide growth in this field is 5 percent between the years 2020 and 2030. The growth rate in Tennessee is higher than the national growth rate, at 12 percent. It is predicted that approximately 880 more jobs will be available in this field in the state by the year 2030.
WORKING AS A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN IN TENNESSEE
Tennessee pharmacy technicians can be found working in retail pharmacies, independent drugstores, compounding pharmacies, hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics.
Pharmacy techs need to have strong communication, organization, and time management skills. They also need to be in relatively good shape and health, as they must stand for long periods daily and may occasionally have to lift heavy loads.
Work is available throughout the state, but some of the more populated cities like Chattanooga, Franklin, Knoxville, Memphis, and Nashville are likely to have higher employment rates for this profession.
Work is available throughout the state, but some of the more populated cities like Chattanooga, Franklin, Knoxville, Memphis, and Nashville are likely to have higher employment rates for this profession.
FAQS
What are the best pharmacy technician schools in Tennessee?
- Hussian College-Daymar College, Nashville, Murfreesboro, and Clarksville
- Remington College, Nashville
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Dickson, Murfreesboro, Jacksboro, Athens, Huntsville, and Livingston
- South College, Knoxville
- Walters State Community College, Morristown
- Roane State Community College, Harriman
How do you become a pharmacy technician in Tennessee?
- You must be at least 17 years old
- You must have a high school diploma or GED
- Pass a criminal record check
- Register with the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy
How much do pharmacy technicians make in Tennessee?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, pharmacy technicians in the state of Tennessee made an average of $35,520 per year in 2020. Entry-level pharm techs earned around $28,110 and some experienced professionals earned as much as $46,010.
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OUT-OF-STATE OPTIONS
Residents of Tennessee may also wish to review their options in Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri.