Are you interested in a career in the medical field where your skills are in high demand, but maybe not a lengthy stint in school? If so, then a career as a pharmacy technician could be right for you. This is one area of medicine that allows professionals to get certified and even gain clinical experience without formal education in a school setting. You can launch your medical career in as little as 12 weeks with the right training program.
Can You Become a Pharmacy Tech Without Going to School?
Why Consider a Career as a Pharmacy Technician
Understanding How to Become a Pharmacy Technician
Do You Need Certification to Work as a Pharmacy Technician?
Embrace Pharmacy Technician Training without Going to School with Advanced eClinical Training
Can You Become a Pharmacy Tech Without Going to School?
So, can you become a pharmacy tech without going to school? The answer is yes, depending on what you mean by “going to school.”
There are many paths toward certification as a pharmacy technician, but you will need to be certified to pursue this career. That said, there are online programs available, such as Advanced eClinical Training’s pharmacy technician certification, that don’t require you to go to a school building and learn in a classroom setting. These flexible programs allow you to learn at your own pace so you can become a pharmacy technician as quickly as possible without relying on the timetable and schedule of another organization.
These programs do require some training, but the training is done fully online. For many, this approach does not align with the traditional concept of “going to school,” thereby making the career more accessible and achievable.
Why Consider a Career as a Pharmacy Technician
Is a pharmacy technician a good career? As long as there are pharmacies, there will be a need for pharmacy technicians. This career path provides a good wage option, minimal training requirements, and ample demand for certified professionals. Pharmacy technicians provide vital services to pharmacists and patients, and they also serve doctors by helping patients ensure their medications are correct. It’s a fast-paced work setting ideal for people with an eye for detail and good customer service skills.
Understanding How to Become a Pharmacy Technician
Embarking on a career as a pharmacy technician doesn’t necessarily require a college degree. To clarify the process, learn more about the essential steps of how to become a pharmacy tech. Here’s a brief overview:
1. Graduate High School
The first step is to graduate high school. If you don’t have a high school diploma, a GED would be sufficient.
2. Get Trained and Certified
In some states, individuals can begin working as pharmacy technicians with only a high school diploma. However, pursuing additional training in this field is highly recommended. This training does not necessarily require traditional classroom attendance, thanks to the availability of online programs. Prospective pharmacy technicians should seek programs accredited by either the American Society of Health System Pharmacists or the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. Upon completing an accredited program, the next step is to obtain certification by passing either the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) or the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT).
3. Start Working
Once you have obtained your certification, you are prepared to enter the workforce as a pharmacy technician. It’s important to maintain your certification by earning continuing education credits. Fortunately, like many aspects of this career path, these credits can also be acquired through online courses, offering flexibility to accommodate your work schedule and personal commitments.
Do You Need Certification to Work as a Pharmacy Technician?
While it’s possible to work as a pharmacy technician without certification in some states, obtaining certification enhances your candidacy for positions. Employers, when presented with two equally qualified candidates, tend to prefer the one who is certified. Furthermore, certification programs often include clinical experience, which is highly valued by potential employers and can significantly impact their hiring decisions.
Certification typically results in higher potential earnings. Although a range of factors can affect your salary as a pharmacy technician, having certification often means receiving a higher pay rate compared to non-certified counterparts.
Additionally, certification opens up a broader spectrum of job opportunities across numerous states. Given that certification is mandatory in certain states, obtaining it allows for greater career mobility, enabling you to pursue opportunities in any location life may take you.
Embrace Pharmacy Technician Training without Going to School with Advanced eClinical Training
If you’re interested in learning how to become a pharmacy tech, but aren’t interested in going back to school in person, Advanced eClinical Training has you covered. We offer a pharmacy technician certification program that is fully online. This means you can pursue your certification without setting foot in a classroom. In addition, our clinical experience program will help you get the hands-on training you need to succeed in this career path.
Our fully online pharmacy tech program is a 12-week, self-paced program that allows students to gain their certification and start their careers, all from the comfort of their homes. It prepares students to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. In addition, our program has partnerships with Walgreens and CVS to make clinical experience easy to obtain at a nearby pharmacy.
Are you ready to start your career without the hassle of going to school? Enroll now with Advanced eClinical Training!
