How to Pass the National Registry for Pharmacy Technicians

Pharmacy technician careers are on the rise, according to the National Pharmacy Technician Association, as the pharmaceutical industry at large is growing. Pharmacy techs work in hospital settings or retail pharmacies and help with activities that do not require the professional opinion of a pharmacist. To get a job as a pharmacy tech you have to have relevant work experience at a pharmacy and pass a national certification exam. Although you are not required to enroll in a certification course before taking the exam, it will teach you about the pharmacy technician field and best prepare you to pass the certification exam.

Instructions

Instructions

• 1

  Research and enroll in a pharmacy tech certification course. Ask your local community college if they have a pharmacy tech certification program, how much it will cost, and how long it will take. If you need a more flexible schedule, or prefer studying from home, you can also enroll in one of the many online courses available. Most courses can be completed in under a year.

• 2

  Pass the course requirements once you’re enrolled in a program, including the final exam. Be self-disciplined, study hard, and make the best grades possible to include in your resume. Pharmacists will be impressed by an applicant who made high grades in a certification course.

• 3

  While in school, try to get a job as a pharmacy assistant to gain hands-on experience, even if it means being a cashier, clerk, or shelf stocker. Some pharmacies will help pay for their assistants to get certified, so once you are hired at a pharmacy, ask if they offer any such funding for your certification.

• 4

  Register for the PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board) test at PTCB.org. The test is offered year round, so schedule the exam far enough in the future to give yourself ample time to study. According to PTCB.org, the exam consists of 90 multiple choice questions, and the candidate has two hours to complete the exam.

• 5

  Study for the exam. PTCB.org has the test's entire content outlined on its site. Familiarize yourself with the pharmacy technician training manuals listed on the resource section of the PTCB website in addition to reviewing the test preparation material you received in your certification course. Also, take a practice exam, which you can find on PTCB.org.

• 6

  Pass the test and become a Certified Pharmacy Technician. Remember to renew your certification every two years, which requires 20 hours of continuing education, completing a re-certification application, and paying the renewal fees.