Trainee License for Pharmacy Tech: The Essentials
Becoming a certified pharmacy technician is a great way to start your career in pharmacy. However, depending on the state, there are some requirements you must meet licbefore you begin work.
Finding out the rules regarding registration and certification in your state is important. This will determine whether or not you can work in your state.
Who is a Pharmacy Technician Trainee?
A pharmacy technician trainee is someone who is registered as such with their state’s Board of Pharmacy. This person is also authorized to take part in a pharmacy technician training program.
A pharmacy tech trainee is pharmacy support. They assist pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with their duties.
They are supervised by pharmacy technicians as they learn to do the tasks they will have to do once they get their pharmacy technician licenses.
These duties include preparing medication, doing inventory, answering patient questions, and data entry.
How to Become a Pharmacy Tech Trainee
The kind of training necessary for a pharmacy technician differs from state to state.
While many pharmacy technicians take certificate programs, they don’t have to. Taking a postsecondary education program or getting a postsecondary degree isn’t a necessity.
An associate’s degree is an option and can take up to two years to complete. This often includes practical work like an internship. Students are then eligible to take their Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) afterward.
With certain pharmacy technician training programs, a student can find a program that includes training in a pharmacy. They may also find a certification program that takes about nine months to be completed.
Most pharmacy technicians learn from work experience or on-the-job training. Becoming a pharmacy technician is also a great way to fast-track your way into the pharmaceutical industry.
One of the requirements to be eligible is a high school diploma. Alternatively, they also accept equivalent on-the-job training if you don’t have a diploma. It’s necessary to have one or the other to become a pharmacy technician.
You must then register with your state’s Board of Pharmacy to find pharmacy tech trainee jobs. Some jobs might require that you earn your national certification within 12 months of being hired to remain in your pharmacy technician trainee role.
Pharmacy technicians usually take their certification exam and get certified through a board. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) are the two recognized boards.
Pharmacy tech trainee registration
The process of getting a pharmacy technician license is different from state to state. We’ll look at a few states to give you a better idea of what’s expected.
Texas pharmacy tech trainee registration
Technician trainee registration is non-renewable and is only issued for 2 years. This means getting their PTCB certification before their technician trainee registration expires.
- Register an account on the Texas State Board of Pharmacy website.
- Click “apply for a new license” after you log in. Then click on “Initial Technician Trainee.” Enter the U.S. address where you receive your mail from the United States Postal Service.
- Pay the application fee. They accept American Express, MasterCard, Discover, and Visa.
- You will be required to have a fingerprint session with a fee of less than $50. The instructions for the fingerprint session will be sent to you via email once the board has received the application.
- If your chosen address isn’t in Texas, you’ll receive a packet in the mail. The packet will contain instructions and a fingerprint form. There will be a return address on the packet for the form to be sent in. The packet may take 2-3 weeks to arrive by United States Postal Service.
- You’ll have to wait at least three weeks for your registration to be issued. If your application is approved, you’ll be issued an ACTIVE status registration number.
- Refrain from performing any of your duties as a trainee in Texas until you have received ACTIVE status and your registration number.
- You can verify your registration here.
If you have a criminal history, your application may take up to several months to be reviewed.
Arizona pharmacy tech trainee registration
After you complete one or more pharmacy technician training programs, you should aim to become a certified pharmacy technician. Before you can get your pharmacy technician license, you must pass the certification exam.
You need to be a certified pharmacy technician to be eligible for your full pharmacy technician license in Arizona. You also need to have your trainee license to practice during your externship.
To apply for your trainee license, you have to:
- Apply for your license with the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy. You’ll need your high school diploma and U.S. birth certificate. You can submit your GED if you don’t have a high school diploma.
- The application fee for a two-year license is $46.
Iowa pharmacy technician trainee registration
In the state of Iowa, you must have a trainee license to receive on-site training or take part in a college-based technician training program. Doing either of these things without the trainee license can be seen as grounds for public discipline.
Iowa Administrative Code (IAC) 657 outlines the rules that the Iowa State Board of Pharmacy uses for the practice of pharmacy. Technician trainee duties that are prohibited are also outlined in this code.
Your application is valid for 45 days from the time that the board of pharmacy receives it. They will contact you via email if they require additional information.
If you don’t answer all the questions or answer them incorrectly, your application may be denied. You might receive disciplinary action if it’s found that you were not truthful with all your answers.
Submit your application form and any required documents with a money order payable to the Iowa Board of Pharmacy. You may also send in a check.
If you don’t submit your application within 45 days, you will need a new application form. You will also have to pay any application fees again.
Virginia pharmacy technician trainee registration
By law, licensed pharmacies in Virginia can only hire board-registered pharmacy technicians. Before you can perform any pharmacy tech trainee duties, you must be registered as a pharmacy technician trainee.
You are free to apply for registration once you have completed a state-approved program. This pharmacy technician training program must also be accredited. You also need to have been certified by passing the PTCB or the EXCPT exam.
You need to be at least 18 years old to get pharmacy technician registration. The Virginia Board of Pharmacy does not have an education requirement to register. However, the certification exams require a high school diploma.
You must also pass a criminal background check. Your application may be refused if you have a criminal history. If you have had a history of substance abuse, the board will need your doctor to confirm that you can perform your duties.
FAQs
Can I work as a pharmacy technician trainee without a license in Texas?
No. Before you have ACTIVE status, you do not have a trainee license and cannot perform your duties.
Final Thoughts
The requirements to perform pharmacy technician duties vary from state to state. Make sure that you’re familiar with your state’s laws and regulations regarding practicing with a trainee license. If you need guidance about pharmacy technician training programs, PTCB certification or pharmacy technician registration, there are plenty of online resources.
https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Career/Pharmacy-Technician-Trainee/What-Is-How-to-Become
https://www.pharmacy.texas.gov/TechTrainee.asp
https://www.pharmacy.texas.gov/TechTrainee.asp
https://pharmacy.iowa.gov/licensureregistration/technician-trainees
https://v-tecs.org/virginia-pharmacy-technician-requirements-and-training-programs.htm