What’s the Best School for Pharmacy Technician training in Miami Lakes?

If you are ready to become a fully trained pharmacy technician, the next step is finding the right school for you. With so many pharmacy technician schools to choose from in South Florida, you may feel unsure about which program to choose.

We’re here to help you decide with more information about two of the best pharmacy technician schools in Florida: Baptist Health and Southeastern College.

What Do the Different Programs Cover?

Both Baptist Health and Southeastern College are pharmacy technician schools in Miami Lakes which prepare their students to become qualified technicians and gain employment. However, there are some differences between the two programs.

Baptist Health

Baptist Health is a 16-week, 600-hour course which requires full-time attendance. The course provides eight weeks of experiential rotations so that students get to develop their skills in numerous areas, including:

Retail and outpatient
Hospital and acute care
Advanced hospital
Acute care rotation

The course combines online learning with on-campus practical work. On completion, students can apply to register as a pharmacy technician with the Florida Board of Pharmacy.

Miami Lakes Educational Center & Technical College

The Pharmacy Technician program at Miami Lakes Educational Center & Technical College (MLEC & TC) is designed to equip students with the technical knowledge and skills required for employment in the field. The program aims to prepare students for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination and includes both classroom theory and practical experiences.

Program Details:

Curriculum: The program covers a wide range of topics including the metric system, medical terminology, medicinal drugs, pharmaceutical compounding, sterile techniques, inventory maintenance, IV preparation, handling hazardous materials, and more. Students also learn employability skills, leadership, and human relations skills, along with health and safety practices such as CPR.
Length and Schedule: The program spans 1050 hours, typically taking about 24 months to complete part-time. Classes are held Monday through Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Admission Requirements: Applicants must be at least 16 years old and not currently attending high school. An application, an interview with a guidance counselor, and fees for supplies and textbooks are required.
Cost: The estimated total cost for in-state residents is approximately $3,395. This includes tuition, application fee, material fees, ID card fee, and liability insurance. Out-of-state tuition is higher.
Graduation Requirements: To graduate, students must complete all Occupational Completion Points (OCPs), meet basic skills requirements (mathematics, language, reading), and have no financial obligations to the school. Completion of a clearance packet is also necessary to receive the program certificate.

What Are The Benefits of Baptist Health?

The course is taught in small classes of 10 people.
The program partners with inpatient and outpatient pharmacies in the area to give students real-life experience during their studies.
The Florida Board of Pharmacy has approved the program.

What Are The Benefits of Miami Lakes Educational Center & Technical College?

With classes held in the evening from Monday to Thursday, the program is designed to accommodate students who may have other daytime commitments..
Students study both professional and technical skills.

What Are The Drawbacks of Baptist Health?

Baptist Health’s program only takes 16 weeks, which could be too truncated for those looking for in-depth training.

What Are The Drawbacks of Miami Lakes Educational Center & Technical College??

The program spans approximately 24 months for part-time students, which might be a long commitment for individuals looking to enter the workforce quickly.

The Round-Up

If you are looking for pharmacy technician schools in Miami Lakes, both Baptist Health and Miami Lakes Educational Center & Technical College are great options to consider. The major factor that differentiates these schools is the timeline. Baptist Health is better suited for students who want their diploma quickly, while Miami Lakes Educational Center & Technical College offers more comprehensive training designed to prepare students for advanced careers in the pharmaceutical field.

At the end of the day, both pharmacy technician schools in South Florida will help you meet your goal of becoming a qualified pharmacy technician.