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Online Pharmacy Technician – Program Highlight

WVJC Program Highlight Blog Pharmacy Technician | WVJC

Have you been considering a career in the healthcare field that allows you to help people and make an impact behind the scenes? Or maybe you 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. 

Pharmacy technician 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 technician 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 5% from 2021 to 2031. However, this can vary from state to state. This increased need is partly due to the aging baby boomer population and the demand for qualified technicians.  

Becoming a pharmacy technician can also open career doors. According to an American Society of Health-System Pharmacist survey, 81% of pharmacy technicians 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.

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. 

Students will benefit from completing their pharmacy technician 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), 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 a higher-level accreditation through the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and is expected to receive accreditation in the coming months. 

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 as opposed to three years and obtain their Advanced Pharmacy Technician** certification.

Why you should earn an Associate Degree in Pharmacy Technician 

While it’s not required by many employers to have formal education before beginning a career as a pharm tech, it is highly recommended that students looking to pursue this field complete a training program. At WVJC Online, students will not only receive the specialized training they need to be successful in their careers, but they will also be prepared to sit for the PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPHT)* certification exam. 

Earning an associate degree from WVJC Online can also give students an advantage when entering the workforce. Not only will they have an associate degree and certification* under their belt, but they will also have experienced hands-on pharm tech training through lab scenarios and an externship. In addition, earning a degree can also show employers that the potential employee has committed time to their education and pursuit of their career. 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.

Your experience in WVJC Online’s pharmacy technician classes

WVJC Online offers students the experience of completing coursework entirely online without missing out on the hands-on learning component or connection with fellow students and instructors. Students in the Pharmacy Technician program will be sent comprehensive hands-on weekly kits to their homes, where they will practice the skills covered in their lecture courses. These lab experiences are paired with weekly live sessions with instructors where students can receive additional help and several Saturday clinical days throughout the program. WVJC Online’s Pharmacy Technician Program Director, Jamie McGuire, describes this approach to online education, “The students have a unique opportunity of having the convenience of online learning without the sacrifice of hands-on experiences.”  

Because WVJC Online’s Pharmacy Technician program is accelerated, students will complete the program in 18 months. During that time, students will learn multiple skills that will prepare them to work in a variety of pharmacy settings, they will prepare to sit for national certification, and toward the end of their program, with the assistance of WVJC Online’s career management team, they will complete an externship with a local medical facility. The externship experience is invaluable and will allow students to apply the skills they have learned in their education to a real-world situation while building relationships with potential future employers.

Ready to start training for a career as a pharmacy technician?

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.