What It Takes to Get Your Pharmacy Technician Certificate

The healthcare industry is currently growing by leaps and bounds, with every area expanding and in need of qualified candidates. One highly sought-after position is a certified pharmacy technician. By 2030, the healthcare industry is expected to generate over 400,000 new pharmacy technician jobs.

To become a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT), you must complete a CPhT program and pass either the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s (PTCB) or National Healthcareer Association's (NHA) exam.

How to Get a Pharmacy Technician Certification

Working in a pharmacy requires specific personality traits and skill sets. For example, if you’re good at math, organized, and enjoy helping people, then this might be an excellent career for you. ‌

MedCerts offers four programs that include the pharmacy technician certification. Each program is entirely online and prepares you for a career in the healthcare industry.

Each program offers a variety of materials and student services such as:

• Game-based learning

• Video-based training

• One-on-one mentoring

• Exam Preparation

• Career Center

• Student advisors, subject matter experts, and career coaches

‌Pharmacy Technician Specialist

As a pharmacy technician specialist, you will gain the skills necessary to fulfill prescriptions, process insurance claims, and maintain accurate patient records. This program prepares you for the Exam for Certified Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) through the National Healthcareer Association.

Courses included in this program are:

• Introduction to Human Anatomy and Medical Terminology

• Pharmacy Technician Principles and Practices

This is the entry-level certification but it is not accepted in all states. The states of South Carolina, Louisiana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Virginia, West Virginia, Utah, Michigan, and Ohio require Pharmacy Technicians to complete an ASHP-accredited program in order to become licensed.

Pharmacy Technician Professional (ASHP/ACPE)

As a pharmacy technician professional, you gain an additional certification—Customer Service Certified (CSC) and ASHP/ACPE Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) credential. ‌

Additionally, you will gain the following advanced pharmacy skills:

• Processing prescription requests

• Managing inventory

• Creating and maintaining patient records

• Medical ethics and regulations

• Preparing chemotherapy compounding medications

‌This program provides the highest level of training as defined by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and is accepted in all states, with the exception of Washington.

Medication Care Coordinator

A Medication Care Coordinator is the liaison between all points of contact in the pharmacy and is trained to perform various pharmaceutical tasks. You improve patient care by coordinating with insurance companies, medical providers, pharmacists, and patients.

Certifications gained from this program are:

• Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)

• ExCPT Certified Pharmacy Technician

‌Skills gained in this program include:

• Processing electronic prescription requests

• Accurately fulfilling prescriptions

• Medical terminology

• Maintaining scheduling and booking patients for services

• Verifying healthcare coverage

• Performing basic office duties

Allied Healthcare Professional

The Allied Healthcare Professional program is highly respected in the healthcare industry. Completing this program will put your resumé at the top of any medical employer’s list. It is an all-encompassing program that includes 4 national certifications. ‌

Certifications gained from this program are:

• Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)

• Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS)

• ExCPT Certified Pharmacy Technician

• Medical Coder & Biller Certification (MCBC)

‌Skills gained from this program include:

• Knowledge of the human anatomy

• Utilizing medical terminology

• Learning pharmacy laws and healthcare regulations

• Recognizing and applying advanced billing modifiers

• Advanced pharmacology and management skills

Pharmacy Technician Benefits

As a pharmacy technician, you can look forward to many benefits such as mobility and job satisfaction. To stay competitive, many employers offer excellent benefit packages that include:

• Paid sick leave

• Paid vacation days

• Medical insurance

• 401K

• Career advancement opportunities.

The average salary for a pharmacy technician is about $35,000 or $17 per hour. Additional experience and certifications can increase your annual salary to an average of $55,000.

‌‌For More Information

‌For additional information about MedCerts’ Pharmacy Technician programs, visit our website. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff can help answer any questions you have.