Pharmacy Technician Certification – How to Obtain It
There are a number of ways, in which you can increase your chances for finding a better paid job. One of them is to obtain pharmacy technician certification. This independent credential will be a guarantee for your educational qualifications and work experience.
There are two professional organizations that offer formal pharmacy technician certification. You can become a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) either through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or through the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT). Both organizations have similar requirements and examinations for candidates.
In order to be allowed to sit the exam, you have to be over 18 years of age and hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent. You must not have been convicted of a felony or pled guilty of a felony. In addition, you must not have any drug related and pharmacy related convictions of any kind. You have to hold a completely valid license from or have registration with your local State Board of Pharmacy. Applicants that have their license or registration denies, suspended, restricted or revoked will not be allowed to take the exam for obtaining the credentials.
Both organizations have similar tests. PTCB has a two-hour exam with 90 multiple choice questions. ICPT, on the other hand, gives you two hours to answer 110 multiple choice questions. The costs of taking the test are also similar. PTCB charges $129, while the ICPT fee is $105.
It is up to you to decide how you will obtain your pharmacy technician certification. The requirements, examinations and charges are similar, so you will need to check which organization has a test center that is closest to you. It is also a good idea to pick an organization in line with the speed with which they schedule testing and process the results.
