In this article I'll try to stay as straightforward as possible and explain a few practical ways on how to become a pharmacy technician. 

Keep in mind that, in general, there are two basic ways to get the job done.  First of all, you can do what is basically 'on the job training'.  Your second option is go go to a specific pharmacy technician school.  You can further drill this option down by going to an 'online' school or attending a brick and mortar institution such as the local College of Technology - or something similar.

Both have their positives and negatives.  Let's take a look at both.

Training to Be a Pharmacy Technician On the Job

I've trained a number of technicians over the years and this is frankly the option that I know best - and the option I personally recommend.  However, a major caveat, this option isn't available to everyone because in pharmacy state laws dictate what you can and can't do.  So, call your state's Board of Pharmacy to figure out if this is something you can do.

If you can, it will immediately save you hundreds, probably thousands of dollars in books, tuition and - more importantly - your time.  That is, you won't have to go to any sort of formal schooling.

From the first day you walk in the pharmacy you'll be taken under the wing of a more experienced technician and trained in that store or hospitals specific procedures.  Of course, there are drawbacks to this method.  What if you get a bad trainer?  What if the store follows sketchy business practices?  What if the tech training you doesn't want to show you everything for fear that you'll show him/her up down the road?

The point is, while it's quicker and cheaper, it isn't always the better option.

This is where you'd want to be very careful about where you choose to work.  While I could write a whole article about this very subject try to remember to base it on interviews with other techs and pharmacists around your local area.  The world of pharmacy is a small and incestuous one and if you are about to get into a bad crew you'll likely be warned ahead of time if you ask around a bit.

Then, after a certain period of time and when your supervisor feels you are ready you can go and take your pharmacy technician licensing exam.  Of course, in accordance with what I mentioned above each state has its own rules and regulations about when and how a technician can attain her license.  Some states (I've been told) require a future pharmacy technician to take formal classes.  Other states have no problem with on the job training.  So you'll have to again check for your particular area.

As an aside, while the test isn't extremely difficult - it isn't a cakewalk either.  I have known techs who've failed.  But that, frankly, was just a result of poor preparation.  As long as you've trained a few months in a decent pharmacy you should be ready to pass the pharmacy technician licensing exam.

Using Pharmacy Technician Schools

It seems like today there are more and more schools popping up, both online and offline, to meet the needs of folks who want to become pharmacy technicians.  And, while that may be a good thing in some regards, I would caution you to choose your school wisely and get feedback from former students before you spend the money - and more importantly - your time pursuing it.

Aside from former student feedback one of the most obvious considerations is your budget.  Some schools charge a modest fee - under $1000 and still offer quality.  Others, charge multiples of that number.  However, I'm not able to say how good their classes and materials are.

The main thing you want to focus on is how many students have passed through their 'doors' and how many of those students went on to get their licenses.  Also, keep in mind that the number you get may be a bit misleading because a lot of students may start and drop out before they get to the point where they are taking the exam.  But, overall, the number is still important as it will give you a general idea of how well their students are when they graduate to take the exam.

What is a good number.  I would recommend above 90% pass rate on the pharmacy technician exam.  Anything less and I would question how valuable the material is or maybe they are making the material too hard? 

Becoming a Pharmacy Tech

The bottom line is becoming a pharmacy technician is doable for nearly everyone who has a little bit of drive and is interested in the field.  It also depends on where you live.

Again, I've had the best results with simply training my techs on the job.  But that doesn't mean that going to a specific pharmacy tech school or taking a few classes won't help you.  As an aside, taking a few classes before applying for a pharmacy tech job may make you a bit more marketable as it shows you are willing to 'go the extra mile' to get the job done.