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Earning Your Pharmacy Technician Certification Online: All You Need to Know

Thinking about a career change? If you’re passionate about healthcare, have strong customer service skills, and excel in attention to detail, a career as a Certified Pharmacy Technician could be the change you’re looking for. 

What is a Certified Pharmacy Technician

A Certified Pharmacy Technician is a key part of the healthcare industry. They work alongside licensed pharmacists and have a variety of responsibilities, such as:

  • Preparing and distributing medications
  • Interacting with patients
  • Updating patient information and medical histories
  • Maintaining medication inventories
  • Handling insurance claims and processing payments 

Where Can a Certified Pharmacy Technician Work 

Certified Pharmacy Technicians can work in several different settings, and based on those settings, will have different duties and responsibilities. 

Those settings include: 

  • Hospitals
  • Drug Stores
  • Specialty Clinics
  • Retail and Compounding Pharmacies 
  • Ambulatory Care Settings (ex: surgery centers, urgent care clinics, medical offices, etc.) 
  • Work from Home Positions (ex: insurance adjudication, customer support, medication therapy management)

Certified Pharmacy Technicians working in hospitals are more likely to be responsible for preparing IV medications, taking care of laboratory preparation, and filing and delivering patient prescriptions. In a setting like a drug store, however, Certified Pharmacy Technicians interact directly with customers, fill and dispense prescriptions, and handle insurance claims. 

Pharmacy Technician Certification Requirements 

To become a Certified Pharmacy Technician, you must pass a certification exam, which you can take through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)

To be eligible for either exam, you must complete a pharmacy technician training or education program or have equivalent work experience. Some retail pharmacies might provide on-the-job training that can lead to earning your certification, while others will require you to have your certification before you can be hired. 

How to Become a Certified Pharmacy Technician Online 

To earn your Pharmacy Technician certification online, your first step is to enroll in an accredited online program. While searching for a program that is the right fit for you, keep the following questions in mind: 

  • What are the prerequisites? 
  • Does the program offer exam preparation? 
  • Is the cost of the exam included in tuition? 
  • Are course materials included in the tuition? 
  • Does the program include hands-on practice; is there an opportunity for externships? 

After completing an online program, and when you feel ready, you can register for the certification exam. Once you pass, you’re ready to enter the healthcare industry! 

Become a Certified Pharmacy Technician at Bryan University Today! 

At Bryan University, we prepare you for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board exam and include the cost of your exam in tuition. 

Our Pharmacy Technician Undergraduate Certificate program can be completed in less than a year, includes a kit for hands-on practice at home, and prepares you with real-world practice through an externship with a pharmacy location you choose. 

Learn more about Bryan University’s Pharmacy Technician Certificate today!

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