MyCAA Approved Programs: 3 Pharmacy Tech Paths To Know About

The job outlook for pharmacy techs is good. Over the next decade, the field’s estimated growth of 4% could add more than 15,000 employment opportunities. All you need to get started are a high school diploma or equivalent and short-term career training.

Pharmacy technician work is ideal for military spouses. It’s highly portable—pharmacy techs are needed all over the country—and there are many MyCAA approved programs that can help you to qualify.

Here are three programs, all MyCAA approved, that offer different pathways into pharmacy tech careers.

1. Medication Care Coordinator

If you want to work in a pharmacy and spend most of your time interacting with people, being a medication care coordinator might be a good option.

A medication care coordinator works with people involved in a patient’s medication-related treatment: doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. They discuss approval issues with insurance companies and help patients understand their medication plans.

With the Medication Care Coordinator Career Training from MedCerts, you can prepare for the job in as little as 22 weeks. You’ll learn the skills you need to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT) or a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA), both nationally recognized credentials. The average starting salary with one of these certifications is $38,000.

2. Pharmacy Technician Specialist

The Pharmacy Technician certification training program focuses on the traditional roles of a pharmacy tech. In the 16-week MedCerts program, you’ll prepare for your ExCPT certification exam, sponsored by the National Healthcareer Association.

By completing the Pharmacy Technician Specialist Career Training, you’ll also qualify to participate in MedCerts’s externship experience. This option allows you to work for 6 weeks at a CVS, Walgreens, or another pharmacy. You’ll get the hands-on experience you need to compete in the job market and enter the field with confidence.

3. Pharmacy Technician Professional (ASHP/ACPE)

What type of working environment suits you? If you’re not sure, but want to take your first steps toward pharmacy tech work, you might find the 16-week Pharmacy Technician Specialist Career Training an ideal starting point.

If you’re confident in making pharmacy tech work your career, and definitely want to work in a traditional pharmacy setting, consider MedCerts’s Pharmacy Technician Professional (ASHP/ACPE) Career Training.

The professional program is certified by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and recognized by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACHE). These organizations approve programs that provide classroom learning, hands-on simulations, and real-world experience working in a pharmacy.

As a student in the ASHP/ACPE certified program, you’ll complete 160 hours of externship work in addition to your online coursework. You’ll graduate with the knowledge needed to apply for a CPhT credential or to get certified as a physician-based coding specialist.

Which MyCAA-Approved Pharmacy Tech Program Should You Choose?

If you’re a military spouse, you can complete any of these programs with no out-of-pocket cost through MyCAA. Your first step is to check your eligibility. If you haven’t done it yet, set up an account. A Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO) counselor can help.

Meanwhile, a MedCerts consultant can help you to understand the MyCAA-approved programs available and choose the best course for your needs. When you’re ready, they’ll help you enroll and get you set up for success.