Pharmacy Technician Requirements

Many pharmacy technicians are trained on the job, however, most employers prefer to hire pharmacy technicians that have had formal training or previous work experience. Pharmacy technician requirements include attention to detail, no prior history of drug related offenses, strong math and reading skills, no felony convictions within the past 5 years, and a high school diploma or GED.

Pharmacy technician training programs are accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). You can find a program directory of all of the accredited programs on their website. There are certified programs in 37 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

These training programs are located mainly in technical colleges, community colleges, and vocational schools, though there are also a few located in universities and other locations. The programs teach all of the required skills for pharmacy technician, such as the names and dosages of different medications, pharmaceutical calculations, pharmaceutical law and ethics, pharmaceutical techniques, pharmaceutical terminology, and pharmacy record keeping. Once a student has completed all of the pharmacy technician requirements of the program, they will be awarded with a certificate, associate's degree, or diploma depending on the program.