Updated Content 04/15/2024
Have you considered a healthcare career that allows you to help people and make an impact behind the scenes? You may need a career that offers stability, advancement opportunities, and job satisfaction while challenging you. If this sounds like you, a career as a pharmacy technician may be a good fit for you. 
Continue reading to learn more about why WVJC Online’s Pharmacy Technician program offers you a unique way to enter this fulfilling career path!
What Is A Pharmacy Technician?
Becoming a pharmacy technician is a great option for those who enjoy working in a fast-paced environment where they can apply the skills they have learned in their education to impact patient lives. Pharmacy technicians can work alongside pharmacists in various medical facilities, including retail pharmacies, hospitals, assisted living and nursing homes, mail-order pharmacies, and more.
Pharm tech students at WVJC Online are equipped with the skills to perform various tasks, including filling prescriptions for customers, maintaining pharmacy inventory, compounding medications, and communicating with patients. In many cases, pharmacy technicians act behind the scenes without direct patient interaction but have a significant role in the patient care process.
Why You Should Consider Becoming A Pharmacy Technician
A career as a pharmacy tech can be a good option for those looking for a challenging career that offers advancement opportunities, job satisfaction, and stability. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for pharmacy technicians nationally is expected to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032. However, this need can vary from state to state. This increased need is partly due to the aging baby boomer population and the growing demand for qualified technicians.
The career progression for pharm techs looks promising for a fulfilling career journey. According to an American Society of Health-System Pharmacist survey, 81% of those in the workforce plan to stay in their careers for five years or longer. Becoming a pharmacy technician is a good entry point into the pharmaceutical industry. Students can continue their education to become pharmacy supervisors and specialized technicians or attend pharmacy school if they choose to advance their careers.
“Being a pharmacy technician is one of healthcare’s best-kept secrets because there is so much opportunity, demand, and growth happening in the industry. It is a surprisingly rewarding industry to dive into and is more than what meets the eye!” said Jamie McGuire, WVJC Pharmacy Technician Program Director.
How WVJC Online’s Pharmacy Technician Program Is Different
WVJC Online offers a unique option for students interested in pursuing a career as a pharmacy technician. Students can expect thorough training in dosage and compounding calculations, pharmacy software management, aseptic technique, sterile compounding, and other valuable skills they will apply in their careers.
Our pharmacy technician students learn these skills and bring these learning concepts to life as they participate in hands-on training through weekend clinical activities, externship experiences, and customized simulation training.
Alongside the simulation training, WVJC Online students will receive an at-home kit with the tools they need to get hands-on training right in their homes. “The students have a unique opportunity of having the convenience of online learning without sacrificing hands-on experiences,” said Jamie. This will help them feel confident on their first day of externship and as they start to merge into their careers.
Students who complete the 18-month Pharmacy Technician program will receive the specialized training they need in their careers, be prepared to sit for the PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPHT)* certification exam, and be conferred a Specialized Associate Degree. The combination of these things can give WVJC Online graduates an advantage over the competition who may not have completed a degree program or earned industry certifications.
Students will benefit from completing their training in an adaptive and innovative environment. WVJC Online’s Pharmacy Technician program has undergone extensive review through accrediting bodies. It has been granted accreditation through the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), and approvals by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy (WVBOP). In addition, the program is currently in the process of obtaining higher-level approval through the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). It is expected to receive this credential by the end of 2024.
In addition, WVJC Online is an approved training center for sterile compounding, allowing graduates to pursue a fast-track option to becoming a Certified Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician (CSPT)** in just one year instead of three years and obtain their Advanced Pharmacy Technician** certification.
Ready To Start A Career As A Pharm Tech?
If a career as a pharmacy technician sounds like a good fit for you, take the first step in your journey today! WVJC Online’s admissions team is here to help guide you through the process. Get started by calling 877-25ONLINE or Requesting Information.
*Certification is contingent upon passing this industry certification exam. Required/Included in Tuition/Fees.
**Certification is contingent upon passing the corresponding certification exam. Optional at own expense upon completion of required post-graduate work experience.