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Want to become a pharmacy technician in California? We’ve got you covered. Check out our blog post for everything you need to know about becoming a pharmacy technician in California, from education requirements to job outlook
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Introduction
In California, pharmacy technicians must have a high school diploma or equivalent and complete an accredited pharmacy technician training program. Once they have completed the training program, they must pass a national certification exam. Pharmacy technicians who wish to work in a hospital setting may need to complete an additional certification process.
What are the requirements to become a pharmacy technician in California?
To become a pharmacy technician in California, individuals must complete an accredited pharmacy technician training program, and pass a certification exam. Some pharmacy technicians may also be required to complete on-the-job training. Once certified, pharmacy technicians must maintain their certification by completing continuing education courses.
Age
To become a pharmacy technician in California, an individual must be at least 18 years of age.
Education
The California Pharmacy Technician Certification Program (CPTCP) was established in 2010 to improve patient care and pharmacy practices in the state of California. The program is overseen by the California Board of Pharmacy (BOPh) and sets out the requirements for certification and registration of pharmacy technicians.
To become a certified pharmacy technician in California, you must:
1. Complete a training program or have on-the-job training that meets the standards set by the CPTCP.
2. Pass the pharmacy technician certification exam (PTCE) administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).
3. Register with the BOPh as a pharmacy technician trainee or technician.
Certification
All pharmacy technicians in California must be certified by the California State Board of Pharmacy. To become certified, applicants must:
-Be at least 18 years of age
-Complete a Board-approved training program OR have at least 2,000 hours of relevant work experience
-Pass the pharmacy technician certification exam (PTCE) administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) OR the International Certification Exam (ICE) administered by the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT)
Once certified, pharmacy technicians must renew their certification every two years and complete at least 20 hours of continuing education every renewal period.
How to become a pharmacy technician in California
Pursuing a career as a pharmacy technician in California can offer many opportunities for those seeking to enter the healthcare field. A pharmacy technician provides an important support role to pharmacists in the dispensing of medications and other health-related products. As a pharmacy technician, you will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including entering patient information into the pharmacy computer system, answering customer questions, and stocking shelves.
Complete a pharmacy technician training program
In order to work as a pharmacy technician in California, you must complete a pharmacy technician training program that has been accredited by the California Board of Pharmacy (CBP). There are many accredited programs available, both online and in-person. Once you have completed an accredited program, you will need to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). After passing the PTCE, you will need to apply for a pharmacy technician license from the CBP.
Register with the California Board of Pharmacy
To become a pharmacy technician in California, you must register with the California Board of Pharmacy (CBP). You must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and pass a criminal background check. You will also need to complete a pharmacy technician training program.
Once you have registered with the CBP, you will be issued a registration certificate. This certificate must be renewed every two years. You will need to complete continuing education requirements to renew your registration.
If you are registered as a pharmacy technician in another state, you may be eligible for reciprocity if your registration is in good standing and you meet all other requirements.
Maintain registration with the California Board of Pharmacy
To work as a pharmacy technician in California, you must maintain registration with the California Board of Pharmacy (Board). You must renew your registration annually. The Board will send you a renewal notice approximately 60 days before your registration expires.
To renew your registration, you must:
-Submit a completed renewal application form
-Submit the required fees
-Complete at least 20 hours of continuing education (CE) per year, if you are renewing for the first time after January 1, 2009
-Be currently employed as a pharmacy technician or have been employed within the last 12 months
Conclusion
After completing a pharmacy technician program and passing the California Pharmacy Technician Exam, you will need to register with the California Board of Pharmacy. You will need to renew your registration every two years and complete at least 20 hours of continuing education during each renewal period.
